I am celebrating 2 1/2 years of boycotting gasoline and having a car. Only got rides a few times other than carpooling or taking the bus. The main reason is for my health. The second reason is to save money on things like car insurance, repairs, and drive time. Among many other reasons.
ebook now available on iBooks, Amazon (Kindle) and Nook
Preview of my ebook
some of my latest videos:
Energy Saving devices list from ASE.org
Why do tablets use less energy than older desktop and laptop computers?
They have no moving parts such as fans, or spinning discs (other than the user moving the entire device). Everything is closer together. They have fewer parts.
They use small energy efficient displays
They also create less heat.
If you continue to use a desktop or laptop computer you can plug the tablet or smart phone into a USB port to trickle charge after you have done the 1st full charge with your charger.
If you remember to unplug the charger, it uses dramatically less energy. The charger since it is converting AC power to DC power, if left plugged in takes more power than the tablet, or smart phone it powers.
Motion sensor power strip:
Motion sensor power allows device to turn off when you aren’t in the room.
It has some outlets that stay on all the time (you would probably plug your desktop tower and router/modem into these ports)
It has some that are on only when someone is in the room: you would plug your monitor, lamps, speakers, TVs, and chargers (for phones, laptops, and tablets) into these ports.
oLED TVs/monitors
use less electricity and heat
read about other devices at
Category: Going Green
How to go Green with your technology use
1. Solar Keyboard from Logitech.
- I have been using the Windows version of the solar Logitech keyboard. I kept using wired keyboards because I didn’t like changing batteries. This solves that problem, and removes some cable clutter.
- I now also have the mac version for my Macintosh.
2. Wireless touchpad from Logitech
- It is rechargeable by USB cable, and otherwise wireless and uses the same wireless adapter as my keyboard.
- Removes cable clutter. A little bit less hard on my wrist and gets rid of the laser.
- There is both a Mac version and a Windows version with multitouch (it has basic functions in Linux and basic functions if you used the Windows for mac or vice versa).
3. Solid State Drive
- A solid state drive can increase the speed of computer
SATA Solid State Drive
dramatically. - I have installed SSDs on 3 my computers and a customer’s computer.
- It also increases energy efficiency and reduces heat
- They come from multiple manufacturers. Typically from companies that make memory and flash drives.
- I had to clean up unneeded program files and duplicate files before installing.
- I used disc duplication /imaging software that came with one of the drives.
- Also, I was able to mount it to the desktop computers since it came with an adapter mount even though they were both made for laptops.
- For my Macintosh computers I used Time Machine (Apple Macintosh’s automatic local backup program to external drive) to do the restore to the new drive.
- A 480 GB drive is the same as a 512 GB drive. (the 512 GB drive uses a different definition of GB)
Categories
What is out for 2014
Sometimes the biggest changes in technology aren’t necessarily the new things, but the old things that are no longer needed.
- Spinning hard disc drives. Any moveable part is a point of failure. Since Solid state drives and flash memory has come down in price and expanded capacity, and cloud storage is available, I no longer can recommend buying a new (or used) spinning magnetic hard drive.
- Fax machines. Secure web along with other methods have replaced fax machines.
- Outside copper telephone and cable lines. Any outside communication line should be fiber optic, to prevent spread of lightning strikes. Fiber optics allow for distance and for speed.
- Phone books, paper newspapers. With the web, and most numbers now unlisted phone books have become mostly useless. Newspapers (the actual paper version) have become obsolete. The content is old by the time it is published, and due to lost revenue and cuts the content itself has become more unreliable.
- VHS, CDS, DVDs, blue laser DVDs, floppy drives, thumb (portable flash) drives. All of these sneaker net devices are rarely needed because of networking and cloud services.
- Florescent lighting, incandescent lighting. Replaced by LED and natural lighting.
- Big Paper (and CD media) manuals. Since most people don’t take the time to read big multipage paper manuals they have been replaced by: Online and web based manuals, manuals and tutorials within the product itself (such as in a computer or phone, or on a cars display/navigation system). Also instructions are sometimes put on the products packaging itself.
I made an ebook. It’s called Datacommuting. on iBooks, Amazon (Kindle) and Nook
Related: last years list
Fiberoptics
Categories
Preview : Datacommuting
Preview of my from my first chapter of my ebook that I’m still working on.
- Datacommuting ebook now available on iBooks, Amazon (Kindle) and Nook
What is Datacommuting?
It is using data to commute. It can be used along with traditional commuting or a replacement for it.
- Chapter 3: Newer and improving technologies
- online backup, sharing and collaboration tools.
Subway in Washington DC - screen sharing.
- Video conferencing.
- email.
- online backup, sharing and collaboration tools.
- instant messaging.
- Chapter 4: one step at a time
- Looking up schedules for mass transit.
Sunset on BNSF railway in Brainerd MN - looking up where you are going to go ahead of time so you can save time and money on driving
- finding people to carpool with online.
- finding maps to trails online.
- Looking up schedules for mass transit.
- Chapter 5 – older forms
- even using traditional mail and delivery services instead of driving.
- can be used in conjunction with voice phones/texting.
- Chapter 6: going paperless.
- using online banking.
- Chapter 7: 3 Rs, Reduce Reuse, Recycle Buying Habits
History
The tools used to develop modern computing date back to ancient times such as using an abacus, languages/writing.
From telegraph, calculator, telephone, answering machine, typewriter, fax, camera, fiberoptics, widespread wireless network adaptation, and email halve all evolved to make data commuting possible. Downsizing of computers from mainframe, to mini, to micro, to portable, to handheld.
There isn’t one single inventor or even device that makes it possible. It is many devices and many men and women (and sometimes even kids) that have made it possible. It is heavily dependent on the Internet (sometimes called “information superhighway”), but it is still possible on networks that are not connected and of course it is also dependent on the devices connected.
Datacommuting is the next step beyond telecommuting. Although telecommuting used computers, it heavily relied on the telephone and telephone lines. Businesses had to add extra lines to their employees homes so they could do their work. Employees did not get to meet face to face with other employees or customers without going into their office. Another problem, it was mostly (possibly for accounting purposes) only used for business purposes, thus there are still too many people driving and bridges crumbling down.
Datacommuting changes all those things. know it or not, you may already be doing parts of it, but probably not enough to complete the full picture.
The advances with web technology has changed the way people learned and the positions people work. The local college, there used to be five different position has merged into one position all because of the web. Now called student services which used to be the financial aid, records/registration, information and business office combined because of web-based services and disability/admissions/counseling combined to another office.
Another thing that changed is the way students learn by web-based classes. Now during the summer the local college is mostly a ghost town because most Summer classes are just online.
Another way that has changed is that many books are not e-books so students don’t have to have backpacks for having books.
Chapter 2: More than just trying to stay green in a digital age
What is the need for Datacommuting and why do we need to change how we commute?
What is the need for Datacommuting and why do we need to change how we commute?
We over rely on our automobiles. We use them for things we don’t have to. We get less exercise.
Driving motorized vehicles is expensive and can be dangerous. Many people are hurt or killed automobile accidents on a regular basis. They take up a lot of land And other resources. This is both a personal financial burden also a burden on society as a whole.
Our overuse of vehicles that run off of dangerous fuels has also caused us to go to the extreme to get the fuel for our vehicle and has also had very damaging, sometimes non-repairable consequences.
It is part of our obesity problem. It’s not just the fast food places, it’s that people don’t even get out of their car to get into the fast food places. And when spending a lot of time in the car, it isn’t always easy to eat healthy food or get enough exercise.
- Datacommuting ebook now available on iBooks, Amazon (Kindle) and Nook
When Electricity first started DC power (direct current) was used. Things were switched to AC (alternating current) power to make things safer. But now more and more devices run on DC power even if they are plugged into an AC outlet.
I believe that buildings need to start going away from universal 110 -120 volt ac power (or whatever the standard is for the country) and switch to low voltage DC power for at least a major part of the building (not for the entire building).
Why? Many electronics as mentioned before use DC power, and to do that every device plugged in to the wall uses a Power Supply unit to convert it into DC power. These units can fail, and can go missing. The PSU can be in a computer or in one of those boxes you see on power chords or phone chargers, or built in to the electronic.
It would allow for more efficient streamlined use of solar power or other renewable and off the grid energy sources.
LED lights run well on DC power. Mobile phones tablets and many other devices could plug right into the wall without a special psu box, and the USB port (or whatever technology) wouldn’t need a conversion to DC either. The great thing about most mobile phones and tablets, and many other devices is they are already standardized to the USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface and many of the newer technologies allow for backwards compatibility to USB.
To do this some devices would need to be changed: desktop computers could have PSU removed. Laptops would have to have a new standardized plug (and possibly new standardized voltages). Besides PSUs draining energy, they are prone to failure, and can hold a dangerous electric charge that can be a shock hazard and in rare cases fire hazard.
Wall plugs would have to change, it could be USB, or something compatible. (I like the lightning plug that is on the phone side of the Apple iPhone since it’s less likely to break or get dirty)
One of the main reasons solar power or any other power sources aren’t efficient as it can be is because of all the unnecessary (in today’s world) conversions (and transporting). Renewable sources work best when everything they power is energy efficient.
I think these concepts would work well on new buildings, buildings doing a major renovation, and buildings that are in remote locations where electricity is hard to get or unreliable.
And it doesn’t need to be done for a whole building or all electronics, it can be done for just some of the electronics to start.
Another concept during the day similar to a sky light, you could use fiber optics to use natural lighting from sun without any conversions (maybe some mirrors to capture and UV filter) no photovoltaic cells or electricity needed and it can be done on multiple floors and without ruining insulation (R Values) and without ruining fire barriers. Night time solar powered battery LED lighting could be used with the fiber optics.
Nathan Steffenson Published July 20 2014
Disclaimer: This is currently just a concept. I’m not an electrician and have no prototype. Although not all working together as a system, many of these components exist and are readily available. I haven’t done thorough research for prior art.
Here’s a Throwback Thursday for you
- The work and costs involved in using and retaining paper are much higher than being paperless.
I have been personally been working on being paperless for at least 5 years now.
The costs of having paper:
- Disorganized: Paper made me very disorganized, whether it was a messy desk, locker, room, or apartment. The number one thing making me disorganized was paper. Now being closer to paperless, I’m able to be somewhat organized.
- Storage: there are a lot of cost associated with the storage of paper. It can be square footage, shelving, or file cabinets.
- Physical work, physical pain. Having papers has caused me a lot of physical work as well as physical pain. I’ve got papercuts, back pain from too many books, and sliced my foot on a paper cutter. Shock and burn from laser printer. Other health problems with the dusts from paper. Physical work putting furniture together and moving furniture.
when I was 12 years old making a book shelf for the books I accumulated
cutting with a miter saw as part of an OK 4-H project
me with a backpack carrying books and papers in the early 1990s - Actual tangible costs of paper, folders, printers, ink, pens, pencils, printing, mailing, recycling, and disposal.
- Paper is harder for people with certain disabilities to use.
My solutions:
- get everything electronically in the 1st place and keep them electronic. Instead of printing important emails, I just save them. I use online banking, online bills, automatic deposits and payments, and insurance statements and download and backup.
- Share my items electronically instead of printing. Such as photos and documents. Sending receipts by email to customers. Use online meetings and share with online storage.
- Scan every paper item I can that is not already in electronic form. This includes receipts, paper bills, and paper notices.
- Use digital photography and only have my best photos printed, or only when someone request one printed.
- Recycle all junk mail, and recycle scanned items that do not need a physical paper copy.
- Request to be taken off junk mail lists and phone book lists:
- Yellow Page optout
- Opt out of pre-screened Credit Card Offers
- Direct Marketing Associations Mail Choices
- Contact companies directly through their web site or sometimes by phone.
- Read newspaper online or a shared copy. Use eBooks instead of paper books.
- Have all of my important public information for my business on my web site.
- Use the notes feature, calendar, reminders, and contacts on my smart phone and computer.
- Older Methods I use to be paperless using marker board and message / plastic letter boards
Message/ menu /letter board
Marker board
directory / plastic letter board - Sell the furniture at a low cost after I get rid of enough papers
20 years after making it, I sold the bookshelf. An accomplishment of going towards being paperless.
When thinking about repairing a product to be green 1st we have to go to how we get the product in the first place.
1. The first thing would be, Reduce, as in the first steps of (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
Ask yourself or (the group that make buying decisions) these questions:
- Do you really need or even want the computer, electronic item or gadget?
Example who really needs to buy brand new DVD or Blue Ray players. or anything that takes a disk or cartridge. (not talking about buying used or reusing because there is a green element to that) besides the discs you buy take additional energy and waste to make and buy. - What are the alternative to this product? Now more than ever there are alternatives to almost every product.
- I try to limit what I buy by using devices that have multiple features and using them. For my clock/ watch: I use my microwave, my computer, crank clock radio charger flashlight, and my mobile phone.
(a printer is one multifunction device I would Not recommend as it is not green and is used less and less as technologies advance) - I quit buying flash drives, since I use online storage to meet my backup and sharing needs. (I still have 2 flash drives, and also use an external hard drive, but I won’t be buying more)
- use phone, email, chat, web, video conference instead of driving
- You can use a computer as a TV like I do, or some TVs have the capabilities that computers do, and the lines between product continues to blur with tablets, smart phones and even cameras.
- Buy, rent, and checkout ebooks, music, software, video games, videos, and photos digitally online instead of buying the physical product or physical media.
- I try to limit what I buy by using devices that have multiple features and using them. For my clock/ watch: I use my microwave, my computer, crank clock radio charger flashlight, and my mobile phone.
- How likely is it to break? How long is it likely to last without being repaired?
- Although having modular parts may make things easier to fix or upgrade, Having any moveable parts is likely to cause failure.
- In the case of a laptop, the hard drive (one that is not a solid state drive SSD) is most likely to break.
- For a smart phone: the glass, because the whole phone is a moveable part when you move it, and any connectors. (batteries can sometimes be an issue too for anything portable)
- How much room does it take? How much does it weigh? Will it be hard on my back? or in the case of e-readers – how much easier on my back will it be than carrying a bunch of clunky books?
- How much energy does the product take? Is it made from recycled materials? How far away is it made?
These questions come before you ask how repairable, upgradable or recyclable it it is.
2. The second part of the cycle is Reuse.
- The main thing about reuse is taking good care of your products ( if possible). It’s not an easy task, I have had to have most my cameras repaired. But taking care of your products and doing preventative maintenance helps avoid the need for repairs.
- This may include having a decent place to keep your products such as desk or a case.
- Cleaning your products properly. Keeping your products clean (and keeping them in clean places) is a good preventative maintenance and is a good way of avoiding repairs.
- When a problem happens, unless it is an obvious hardware problem, I usually check if there is a software solution first. Other than turning a product off and on , cleaning, or tightening connections; software solutions are cheaper, quicker, and greener than getting new hardware or part.
- If hardware component does fail(not just because it is dirty), then this is where a repair or part replacement comes in. And the old part still needs to be recycled properly.
- Sometimes a simple upgrade in memory can help speed a computer up. (if you have to replace one instead of filling an empty slot the old one can either be reused in another computer or recycled)
- If your product works well, but you aren’t in the need of it anymore you can either give it away or sell it to someone that wants or needs it.
- Buying a used product that works well and meets your needs, not only can reduce waste, but can also save money.
3. The final part is any electronic waste needs to be properly recycled including any parts that are replaced in a hardware repair or upgrade that you won’t sell or use again.
Here is a list of collectors in Minnesota
According to me, Nathan Steffenson.
5. Robot vacuum. I bought 2 iRobot Roombas (700 series with Hepa filter) one for my office and >
one for my apartment. Since both my apartment and office are small they actually replaced my conventional upright vacuum. It also has helped keep my place a lot cleaner than before since it goes on its own everyday and goes under the furniture. There are other brands and models of robot vacuums as well, they may be as good, better, or worse.
Update November 2015 Both vacuums are still running that were bought in January 2013. Some of the parts have had to be replaced though. When I moved out of my office, one of the vacuums went to my friend’s apartment.
4. Smart Phone. I like having a smart phone, because it consolidates 
the items in my pocket. I personally use the iPhone, but there are also some good Android phones out there as well. I like having the camera, phone, watch, and pocket computer all in one. It is lighter than carrying a laptop around. Now if you can get by without a cell phone, An iPod touch or tablet may work as well.
Update November 2015 on my first 2 smartphones. My first 2 smartphones only lasted a little over a year. The first 2011 was a Samsung intercept Android phone (a model they no longer make) which ended up being too slow and I accidentally stepped on it and broke the screen before I had funds to purchase a new phone. Ended up taping the touch screen to get by until a new phone could be ordered.
The 2nd in 2012 was a iPhone 4s which eventually failed twice. However it worked well enough I was able to get a credit for returning it after just over a year. I had a custom case, which could have made it worse. The phone also didn’t tolerate Minnesota weather well.
The 3rd in 2014 was an iPhone 5c which I still have today and works fine (other than some iCloud /Macintosh connectivity issues). I used the bumper case since I didn’t want to chance a custom case.
One problem with smart phones that I have in particular is bending to look at the screen too much /looking at phone too much.
3. Going Paperless. I use a number of different methods to accomplish this, some that cost extra money and some that save money. Online Banking and online billing: this is one that saves me money, since with my credit union when I get statements online I get free online bill pay so I don’t need to mail out checks for bills. With online billing I download the statements and I also have most of my bills paid automatically. I also use a Neat receipts scanner to scan in receipts and documents, and also use their Neat Cloud. Do book keeping using accounting software(Quickbooks) sending receipts by email or text message. Also, I do my taxes online and filed electronically, and save the PDF on my computer. Of course, my photos and video are digital as well.
See post about Neat
2. Crank flash light. As long as you remember to wind it up every month, no batteries or light bulbs to buy. (Just don’t buy too many of them) Bright LED bike lights allow me to bike in the dark and batteries usually last a long time.
1. Video calling, screen sharing. You may not even have to buy a new device or software. I like both Facetime which comes with Apple products and Skype which works with most computers, tablets, and smartphones that have a high speed connection and camera. Sometimes I use Skype plugin with Facebook -since many of your contacts are already there. There are other premium products such as GoToMeeting or you can have an upgraded Skype account.
According to me, Nathan Steffenson.
5. Plastic gift cards, printing coupons. If you use gift cards you might as well do e gift carts that can be either read on a smart phone or redeemed online. Plastic cards are easily lost or stolen. If you are buying a printer or computer just to print coupons, you are wasting your money (and trees).
4. Automobiles. Not completely electronics but you see there advertisement in almost every place. They are expensive to maintain, and to buy gasoline for. Even if it is one of those new “greener” cars, they are still very expensive, and not as green as riding a bike, walking, using electronic communications, mass transit, or being closer to where you commute (or walk).
3. Blue Ray players (and new standalone DVD players, CD players, tape players) These are all being replaced by Internet streaming, and download services. Even though they have gone down in price, the disc are expensive and take quite a bit of room if you have 
large collections.
2. Tube TVs / monitors (CRT) – Don’t know if you can even buy these anymore, but I’m putting on the list anyway. They take a lot of heat, use more electricity are full of lead, and are very heavy. Take up a lot of room too. You may not want to get rid of one if you still have one and if you do get rid of one you must recycle it properly.
1. Printers – they are heavy, and we have better electronic means to communicate and store information now than what paper can do. If you need something printed why not pay the few cents per copy at you local printing place, or photo developer, or have it mailed to you.
Categories
Save energy
Cut out driving as much as possible: how?
- Use web based services, telephone, and mail instead of driving.
- Combine your stops along a single route.
- Use Public Transit where available.
- Car Pool
- Walk
- Ride Bike
- Live closer to where you work, or Work closer to where you live
- Kids walk, bike, or take bus to school.
If you do use your car:
- Keep up with regular maintenance
- Stay Below 60 Mph
- Keep it clean, to keep weight down
- Use windows down going less than 45 Mph when it’s hot. Air conditioning when going more than 45 Mph.
In your Home:
- Unplug chargers when not in use. Chargers such as phone, tablet, even some laptop chargers can take more energy just being plugged in than the device itself. Also Unplug printers if not in use for a long period. Make sure there aren’t orphan cables that go to nothing.
- Use washer and dryers during cooler times when possible and cook during cooler times when possible. Using a microwave during warmer times may also save energy.
- LED lighting (including on monitors, tvs, regular fixtures, refrigerators) can keep your place cooler.
- Use of blinds, or curtains, in warm weather.
- Use energy saving (power) settings on your computer (in control panel in Windows, and system preferences on Macintosh)
- Drink tap water (I use a filter pitcher)
Home & Office
- Use less paper, do less printing
- Recycle – Recycled materials take less energy than raw materials.
- Allowing a casual dress code, so workers can dress appropriately for the weather.
More in my e-book Datacommuting available on iBooks, Amazon (Kindle) and Nook