Something to get you thinking

Top 10 computing energy savers

Well if you were looking for a great excuse to upgrade your desktop to a laptop, or replace your CRT screen with an LCD screen, or even change from a Dell to an Apple, these power saving tips might just give you the reason. Interesting reading, which has got me to go and reset my energy saving settings on the computer - and even turn my computer off each night. Check out the site at lifehacker.
There are more links from this site so it could keep you busy for a while.

useful for collage and 'junk' play?

I was just reading the latest 'Elements' magazine from the Wellington Regional Council, and found a link to 'The Waste Exchange' They are trialling one in Wellington (starting in February), which I can see being really useful to Kindergartens and Childcare Centres. A similar scheme in Palmerston North has been great. The homepage has a map of all the regions in New Zealand, so go and have a look - you never know what you might find!!

How much electricity?

I was just finally checking my netnewswire and found an interesting article in the NZ Herald about, how by 2020 all our techie gadgets will use half of our household electricity consumption (surely not more than heating I ask?? as I sit in front of the heater that has been on all day) - especially with many not even having an off button. Then as I consider all my new gadgets that I have got recently I can certainly understand this happening - I suppose the next question is about what to do about it. Wouldn't it be helpful to have an automatic remote that turned everything off (that you wanted of course) when you left the house or went to bed. No doubt someone will create something that helps us keep control of all these things. Perhaps one of those solar panels to power your computer or a crank handle on the $100 computers (see picture courtesy of engadget)would atleast make us appreciate the power we use.