green your life – ZacharyShahan.com

Solar Vehicles In India

While solar vehicles are still rather more of a curiosity than a practical transportation solution — for most purposes anyways — the technology is slowly improving. And, for that matter, it is/could-be well-suited to certain specific environments or purposes. So before you brush off the technology completely, why not take a look at some interesting, [&hellip

Solar Vehicles In India was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

By James Ayre | May 15, 2014 | Renewable Energy, Solar Energy |

Climate Science In The Classroom (Fun Climate Education + Climate Action)

In the wake of dire warnings about the future and current threats of global warming and climate change from the US government, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the International Energy Agency (IEA), it’s clear that we need to tackle our illogical fossil fuel addiction fast. It’s critical that we tackle this issue [&hellip

Climate Science In The Classroom (Fun Climate Education + Climate Action) was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

By Zachary Shahan | May 15, 2014 | Climate Change |

Republican “Hipster” Commercials & Two Great Parodies (Videos)

There’s a decent chance you’ve seen the ridiculous “young Republican” or “Republican hipster” commercials that came out on March 16. They’re so ridiculous that I think most of us thought they were parodies. Apparently, not. Of course, parodies have since been made. Below are the original commercials in case you missed them (first two), followed by some parodies.

Republican “Hipster” Commercials & Two Great Parodies (Videos) was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

Going Green Tips: 2 Key Ways To Make Your Printing Greener

How many things have you printed in the past year? Yikes, not fun to think about that, eh? Printing surely isn’t the greenest activity around, and if you’re like me, you probably feel guilty any time you print extras of anything and then they go to waste. In this week’s “Going Green Tips” post, I’ve got two tips for you that I think could help to “make your printing greener.” And, with one of those, I’ve got several sub-tips.

Use more electronic forms and documents

There are many services out there that allow you to use electronic documents or forms. You already know that, but you may not be aware of some of the things for which these exist. Here are some online forms and docs I use that might slip by you:

E-Invoicing: Stop using printed invoices. Use Google Drive to create and share your invoices, or some dedicated online invoicing service.
Online 1099 Forms: If you have a small or medium-sized businesses, there’s a good chance you have to issue 1099 forms each year. But you don’t need to use actual paper forms anymore. I use track1099.com – not only is it printer-free, but it’s also faster, safer, and more convenient.
Online Taxes: While we’re on the subject of taxes, why not just drop the paper taxes altogether. I’ve been using TurboTax for years, which I find very convenient, much easier, and very helpful when I have tax questions. Plus, no printing required.
PDF, please: Stop printing out all your records. Simply print them as PDF and file away in folder on your computer. Worried about losing them in a computer crash? Then be extra careful and store them on an external hard driver, Google Drive, or email. Also, consider asking others for PDFs instead of printed records. You can even carry a USB stick around with you for such records. Not only is this greener, but it’s also easier to keep track of everything this way.
SurveyMonkey: Want to survey your employees, your customers, your co-workers, your friends, or your family? No need to print anything. Use SurveyMonkey and you can collect surveys more efficiently and in a greener way. You can also check out the results in graph form as they roll in — always fun.
Google Forms: Back to Google, there are tons of forms that you can create and send online via Google. Application forms, vendor forms, rental application forms, order forms, etc. (Warning: scrolling through Google form templates is a bit addictive.)
E-books, articles, recipes: Well, I know you’re reading this article online… wait, do I? Many people print out articles to read later when they are offline. Consider saving these as PDFs or on a tablet for later reading when you are disconnected. Easier, cheaper, greener. Same goes for recipes, reports, and even books.

Recycle Your Cartridges!

Now, if you have a printer, one of the key things you can do to use it in a greener way is to recycle the printer cartridges. An article on that topic on Cartridges Direct states that, in Australia alone, people threw away 18 million printer cartridges in 2005. Yikes. Surely, that number has grown, and I’m also sure it’s much higher in the US. Printer cartridges are e-waste, and they should not be landing in landfills. “This is a staggering statistic, especially when you consider that the polymers used to make printer cartridges can take around 1000 years to decompose, all the while leaking dangerous toxins into the environment,” the article states.

Cartridges Direct goes on to say how it helps to remanufacture and recycle printer cartridges. It also lists a number of places in Australia where you can recycle printer cartridges. In the US, Staples will give your $2 cash back if you bring in your old ink or toner cartridges, HP will also give you cash back, and I’m sure there are other such places that will do this for you.

This article was supported by Cartridges Direct

Image: printing machine via Shutterstock

Going Green Tips: 2 Key Ways To Make Your Printing Greener was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

Electronic Cigarettes Prove To Be Green Alternative

With the EU setting member states tight energy efficiency and green targets by the year 2020, the Government and the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) have been promoting ways in which all citizens can reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint. These have ranged from promoting the much maligned Green Deal to promoting cycling to work schemes.

As we search for endless ways in which to lessen the negative environmental affect that we impart upon the planet. One simple switch that people are making in droves that could benefit the planet is by stubbing out cigarettes and using electronic cigarettes in their stead.

One of the less covered by-products of traditional cigarette smoking is the huge levels of waste and litter that it causes. In the UK alone, an amazing 200 million cigarette butts are dropped on the floor every day. This equates to nearly four littered butts per person. These cigarette butts can clog up and contaminate waterways or be consumed by animals. Worryingly, the average cigarette butt takes up to 26 years to decompose.

Alternatively, electronic cigarette brands such as Totally Wicked supply devices that are refillable and reusable. This means that a 5 minute smoking break isn’t marked by another bit of trash being thrown on the floor, but an electronic device being popped back into its carry case for use later.

The added longevity reduces the amount of units that need to be sold daily to citizens. A 20-a-day smoker may routinely buy a new pack every day – leading to greater waste and environmental impact caused by the increased production. Compare this to the flagship Totally Wicked Odyssey which offers a 5 year guarantee – meaning that buyers won’t have to fork out for another device for half a decade. In this period, a 20-a-day cigarette smoker may invest in and throw away 1,825 packs of smokes.

In 2010, cigarette butts accounted for 38% of the World’s litter, demonstrating just the start of the huge impact that electronic cigarettes have on the environment. Up to 600 million trees are cutdown every year to use in cigarette products. The machinery used for this process creates significant and damaging carbon emissions.

One of the World’s first electronic cigarette brands, TECC, has produced literature detailing how environmentally friendly their products are in relation to traditional cigarettes. An infographic developed by the brand demonstrates how a significant amount of an electronic cigarette is recyclable. Like many environmentally-friendly products, this green approach renders a monetary saving as well as a planetary one.

Models such as the eMode by Joyetech also grant the user to closely monitor how much they are using the product. This allows the user a greater conscientious control over their habits, practices and effects.

Electronic Cigarettes Prove To Be Green Alternative was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

This Little Candleholder Reincarnates Your Candle Almost Infinitely… Well, Sort of

This is pretty cool — the opposite of planned obsolescence, this little candleholder pictured above turns your old, burning candle into a new one ready to be burned. I think you get the idea from the pictures, but in case not:

The candle burns, melts, goes down into the hollow candelholder, hardens, and can be burned again!

Of course, some of the wax doesn’t make it into the new candle, but this is a lot greener than your typical single-minded candleholder (you know, the ones that only put their attention into holding the candle).

“How long it lasts, Shine says, depends on the specific candle — some burn faster, some are drippier — but you might be able to reuse the wax as many as five times,” Adele Peters of Fast Company says.

“Seeing one of those cascading drip candles triggered the idea,” says the UK-based designer Benjamin Shine. “What if a candle’s melted waste wax could form another candle?”

Btw, the name of the candle is the “Rekindle Candle.” And don’t try to steal the idea. Shine (I know — apparently, that’s really his name) has a patent pending.

via Grist

Images via Rekindle Candle

This Little Candleholder Reincarnates Your Candle Almost Infinitely… Well, Sort of was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

Tesla Models Current & Future — A to Z

Think you can predict Tesla’s next 23 models or so? One for each letter of the alphabet? Well, you couldn’t do much worse than this attempt from Jalopnik from 2012. Of course, you’re attempt probably wouldn’t be as funny either.

Check it out, via EV Obsession:

Chart of Potential Tesla Models (A to Z) (via EV Obsession)

This is actually sort of old, but I just ran across it and it is a lot of fun, so thought I’d share. As you can see on the chart, it’s from Jalopnik. Given that Tesla has now patented Tesla Model E and the next Tesla model is supposed to be an affordable…

Tesla Models Current & Future — A to Z was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

Rooftop Solar Owners Like Dolphin Babies, But…

Originally published on Solar Love. This isn’t a new commercial, but I ran across it recently and had to share again. It’s so funny and so well done. And it does nail the #1 reason why people go solar. Check it out

Rooftop Solar Owners Like Dolphin Babies, But… was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

By Zachary Shahan | March 22, 2014 | Renewable Energy, Solar Energy |

Tesla Sales In China & Europe Expected To Be Double North American Sales

This was reported by Elon Musk on Tesla’s last financial call, but it seems to have slipped under the radar. Reuters recently ran a short article on the news, which made me think I should as well.

As Tesla moves into the European and Chinese markets more, the company is expecting to see about twice as many sales there as in the United States and Canada by the end of the year.

Tesla sold 22,477 cars in 2013, most of which went to the US market. European sales started in the Fall.

In China, Tesla is going against the tide. It isn’t jacking up its prices there to “rip off” customers and make a bigger profit. The price will be higher due to shipping costs, duties, taxes, etc, but Tesla doesn’t intend to make any more off of it there than in the US. (The same goes for Europe, by the way.) In a market so fond of exclusive, expensive, luxury vehicles, it’s unclear how that will turn out — but one would think it will turn out very well.

It’s all about doing what’s right, Elon said. However, he thinks it also makes good business sense.

While it’s going to take a few months to get vehicles over to China, sales should be big there once they are available. “Towards the end of the year, we expect sales in those regions combined to be almost twice that of North America,” Elon said.

European sales have been decent so far, but not sky high. They’ve been great in Norway, but not so hot in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. However, word on the street this weekend is that Tesla Model S prices in Europe are getting a big cut:

Tesla PR in America hasn’t responded to our request for confirmation, but online sources show the drops are fairly substantial. In Germany, for example, Tesla has dropped almost 7,000 euros ($9,700 US at today’s exchange rate) off the price, down to 65,300 euros ($90,600), while in Holland, the new price is down 4,000 ($5,500) euros to 66,200 ($91,900). No reason was given for these drops, but we can’t help but suspect that demand isn’t too strong at the moment.

Maybe this has been in the plans all along, as logistics got worked out and streamlined. Who knows?

Image Credit: Tesla

Tesla Sales In China & Europe Expected To Be Double North American Sales was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

If You’re Gonna Knock Someone Off Their Bike, At Least Give Them A Mattress To Land On (VIDEO)

Originally published on Bikocity. This looks like a stunt or a fake video or something, but apparently it’s not. A Brazilian bicyclist was minding his own business when a guy driving a truck (quite fast, I might add) saw the bicyclist at the last minute, swerved, and delivered a mattress to the bicyclists backside… after [&hellip

If You’re Gonna Knock Someone Off Their Bike, At Least Give Them A Mattress To Land On (VIDEO) was originally posted on: PlanetSave. To read more from Planetsave, join thousands of others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage.

By Zachary Shahan | March 22, 2014 | Bicycle |

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