One Planet chat

Computer users: If you’re buying a new PC, go for a laptop rather than a desktop – on average they’re twice as energy efficient: Apple iMac 17”: 180W,
Apple Macbook Pro 17”: 85W

(I’m unapologetically biased towards Apple kit)

I’d be interested to know what the materials footprint of desktop v. laptop is though – laptops contain batteries and are generally less upgradeable, but does this mean they’re replaced more frequently?

Also, broadband modems can be safely turned off when they’re not in use – they generally only take a minute to go from being switched on to being ready to use. (I need to listen to my own advice on this one. Mine’s generally on 24/7)

My eco tip: Dont have babies if you dont want them. i know your closest family and friends think you are selfish or weird because you dont go all softie on the present of a new born, that doenst mean you are “unatural”. Try your best not to buy into THEIR desire for YOU to have a baby. Besides there are so many children in need of adoptive parents and fosterparents.
Some may find my eco-tip offensive especially if they are religious. However the truth is there are too many people in the planet!.

my eco tip is make your own things

readymade.com

Don’t have your heating come on in the morning if everyone is going out to work/school. Hot porridge / toast / tea / coffee is enough to warm the kitchen enough to have breakfast in comfort. This approach has significantly reduced our gas bill (25% or about £100).

Put black slatted blinds in south east facing windows. These get warm and the rising warn air is channeled by the slats into the room. Even when only mildly warm they’re still preventing heat in the room from escaping.

If you can’t afford solar panels, something like the Drimaster 2000 (or DIY equivalent) could save £50 in heating per year. (It pumps warm air from the loft into your home).

Everything in moderation. Try to consume when it is nessecary or when you really want to.

DON’T USE WWW.GOOGLE.CO.UK, USE WWW.BLACKLE.COM, it’s the same as google, but it’s already saved over 1,000,000 watts of energy!!!

^{^Ditto the comment above!}^

DON’T USE WWW.GOOGLE.CO.UK, USE WWW.BLACKLE.COM, it’s the same as google, but it’s already saved over 1,000,000 watts of energy!!!
identical to google, but earth saving too! ;)

I was just trying to find a new more ethical search site. Isn’t there another search site that WWF recommends that donates money to enviornmental causes???

@pritch6rd Yup – Everyclick

Re: Blackle. The savings Blackle claim are based on everyone using old-fashioned CRT screens. I don’t know the proportions, but this is a very rapidly dwindling sector as most people use flat screens or laptops. Flatscreens (LCD/LED/TFT) have very little difference in energy use whether a pixel is black or white. Full details, as ever, on wikipedia. You’d save far more energy by simply turning your screen off when you’re not using it, and not leaving your computer on standby overnight.

Putting your computer/laptop to hibernate after se instead of turning off/standby. It takes less than half the time to restart, because it doesn’t have to go through all the reboot processes.
Don’t buy bottled water!! On average for every litre of water bottled, 6 litres have been used.
Take tupperware boxes with you to takeaway places/butchers/bakers/grocers so as to save on unecessary packaging.
Set up a home takeaway service in your road/apartment block – larger families make excess hot meals which they sell to single individuals such as students/retirees in the area. Alternatively you can exchange the food for other services i.e. gardening for a few hours a week.
Lobby your local MP!!! Sign up to WWF and Friends of the Earth and fill in their petitions, nothing significant can happen without political will and government measures, look at the 80% CO2 reduction targets!!