Blogs

Finally, a high-end green graphics card

Hank Green — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:48:22 PDT

For EcoGeeks who want their computers to be both personal productivity tools and high-end gaming rigs, there haven't been very many green options. It's true that having one machine do the job of two (if you can manage not to buy the XBox) is, in itself, a green choice. But gaming PCs (and XBox 360s) are very power-hungry devices.

But now MSI has created a high-end graphics card with EcoGeeks in mind. The N9600 GT "Hybrid Freezer" boasts a 65nm G94 GPU and includes 64 stream processors and DDR memory on 256-bit memory interface. It has no problem providing the user with a pure HD experience while churning through real-time 3D renders.

The card gets green mostly because it has two modes in which it functions. During normal use, while you're online or word processing, the card enters low-energy mode. Instead of having its own fan that cools the card, the small amount of heat that is generated is removed from the chip via "heat pipes" which basically act like a tiny radiator. The card monitors its own temperature and only moves into active cooling mode when it's being used for gaming applications.

So, instead of having an efficient computer for word processing and a gaming rig that churns through power, you can have both in the same machine.

MSI hasn't provided numbers on how much power a user can expect to save, which is a bit frustrating. But it is nice to finally see graphics cards that consider the environment.

Via GoodCleanTech

My new TV is coming! Now, about my old one...

Don Willmott , Forecast Earth Correspondent — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:55:42 PDT

It's on the way! The announcement that my local cable provider, Time Warner Cable, had doubled the number of available HD channels to 50 was the push I needed. I went online, did my research, and ordered a (not-too-big-and-wasteful) 32-inch LCD TV that should arrive later this week. Hooray for me.

Now, what about the 27-inch Sony Trinitron that has been my constant companion since 1994?

We've been through a lot together: elections, Olympics, Absolutely Fabulous. What am I to do with this big glass-and-plastic monster that suddenly looks positively antique sitting on its stand?

My current plan is to take the easy way out and post it as a free giveaway at Craigslist. If you can haul it, you can have it. My hope is that it will go to someone who can really use it, or at least to someone who can sell it on and make a few bucks. The truth is that the TV has pretty much no value, if what I've seen on the site is any indication. I could also try FreeCycle, but I find it to be harder to figure out than Craigslist.

Since I've made my purchase online, I can't take advantage of any real-world store's offer to pick up my old TV when they deliver my new one, but I was happy to see that Sci Fi's DVICE blog recently did a useful roundup of the recycling policies of all the major electronics stores. This guide could help you decide where to go to make your next big-box purchase whether it's a TV or some other large appliance.

As for me, if this blogging gig continues to go well, maybe I'll budget for a new Energy Star-compliant air conditioner this summer, and then I'll have another toxic and antique appliance to dispose of.

How cheap is that electric bike really?

Peg Fong — Tue, 06 May 2008 02:08:27 PDT

It's a no-brainer. Bicycling is cheap transportation and good for the environment. But not all bikes are created equal and while they're all cheap compared to cars ... some can seem a bit steep.

And then there's the whole pedaling thing ... call me lazy, but I like the idea of my vehicle moving me, instead of me moving my vehicle. It's certainly a less green alternative, but far greener than a car.

Unfortunately electric bikes can cost upwards of a couple of thousand dollars, but an extraordinarily inexpensive option is being produced by California company Currie Technologies.Â

The $350 hybrid electric bike 388-PP can reach top speeds of 18 miles per hour and the range is 15 miles.

A rack-mounted regular sealed lead acid rechargeable battery powers the all-terrain bike. The battery, which is detachable, takes between two to four hours to charge up.

The good news is this cheap bike is available now for purchase. The bad news is if you're looking for something light, this probably won't cut it. The bike weighs a whopping 76 pounds, and so if you run out the charge, it's going to be a heavy haul with that battery weighing you down.

And the rechargeable battery has a short life span of between 200 to 300 charges before you need to buy a new replacement one from Currie for $120.

Via TreeHugger

Power-strip makes you feel guilty

Hank Green — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:11:22 PDT

I find my reliance on power-strips embarrassing. But now I can feel even more guilty with one of these!

Finally, I can see how much power I'm pulling from the wall here at EcoGeek HQ so I can feel really bad about it and, maybe actually do something about it.

This thing remembers how much power has moved through the strip over the last day, week, month, or year, and thanks to an on-board battery, it remembers forever.

It can also monitor the quality of power coming into your office, which can be useful for ubergeeks. But for us average geeks, this could be a fairly useful little tool.

Two questions though:

How much power does the device, itself, consume?
How is this $99 device different from my $20 Kill-a-Watt mixed with a $10 power-strip?

Zero-watt monitor saves cash and the planet

Peg Fong — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:29:27 PDT

The first zero-watt display monitor from Fujitsu Siemens Computers will get you out the office door that millisecond faster after coming up with a design that uses no power at all in idle mode.

The zero-watt, 22-inch monitor has a switch in the power supply unit that is controlled by the computer. When no video signal is transmitted, the switch shuts down the complete circuit of the monitor.

That's savvy, saves customers money, and protects the environment.

There's also a secondary way to save power with the monitor. A sensor continuously monitors the surrounding brightness of the environment and automatically adjusts the display. Less power is required in a dark environment than a bright one.

An earlier prototype last year used a solar panel to detect the video signal, but this version will use a relay switch instead to turn off power when it detects no signal. The new monitors will be available this summer and cost the same as regular monitors.

Via Physorg

Dell unveils wooden desktop concept for greens

Hank Green — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:03:49 PDT

Dell, continuing on its path to becoming the self-proclaimed greenest computer company (and not to be outdone by Asus), has its own bamboo computer concept now.

The device isn't just green because of its case (though, that is more or less its most awesome feature). At the unveiling of the device, CEO Michael Dell listed off some of its other green credentials.

It's 80% smaller than your average desktop... and so uses less material
It contains recycled materials from plastic bottles
It uses 71% less energy than the average desktop

The price point will probably come in somewhere between $500 and $700 and, as of now, the little beauty doesn't have a name.

Papyrus device could boost student learning

Magnus Hølvold — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:13:18 PDT

It's no secret that we at EcoGeek are fans of the e-ink display technology. The low battery consumption and superior readability compared to laptops and other mobile devices, not to mention the thin form factor, all combine to bring us closer to a digital literary future. With Amazon's Kindle doing the rounds in the U.S. and the Bookeen Cybook constantly running out of stock, e-ink toting devices are inching their way into the public's hearts.

I still think that e-books have a ways to go before I'd personally get one, mostly in terms of price and features, and I have had a few of my own ideas on what would make a good reader.

However, the group of thinkers and designers over at The Greener Grass have gone and created a concept that I could wholeheartedly get behind: The Papyrus.

The Papyrus is a concept for an education-centred e-reader device that would focus on making participation in courses easier and more interactive. The concept calls for a colour e-ink touch screen and presumably a Wi-Fi connection to connects the devices of all the students together. Collaboratively, students can tag, highlight, and annotate their reading material and remotely help each other understand the text and find the important parts in it.

As a first-year university student who hadn't read a single academic text since the turn of the millennium, I can say I would have greatly appreciated such a feature in my textbooks, not to mention saving the space and weight of all those books as I cart them around.

As far as pricing goes, they're setting their sights on a hundred dollars. This seems unrealistic, but they are convinced it could be realised with the removal of unneeded hardware features (audio, for example) and the help of publishers. These publishers would subsidise the device and could sell their textbooks directly to the students through a subscription service.

The concept also makes a case for the interactivity of lectures. Many students are afraid to ask questions when there's something they don't understand. If they could just shoot the lecturer a quick private message rather than pipe up in front of a hundred other students, the idea is that lecturers would be much more aware of whether or not they are getting through to the students.

I suspect that if this device is to actually be made, the price tag will go the way of the OLPC and the Eee PC and end up at least double the initial goal. Even so, it would be a fantastic device in an increasingly digital world.

If the resolution of e-ink screens get a bump up, the prices a bump down, and the features a polish, I welcome a transition into a fully digital student life. There's still something to be said for the feeling of opening a book and reading it on the couch or in bed, but at least e-ink is getting us one step closer to that feeling without killing trees every time there's a new book (or, more likely, a very slightly altered new edition) to be published.

Via Engadget

Fuel cells double gadget life

Jozef Winter — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 01:58:05 PDT

We've been hearing for a few years that we'll soon be able to forgo traditional batteries in our cameras, iPods, and cell phones, in favor of fancy fuel cells. Well, finally the time has come.

MTI MicroFuel Cells recently announced the development of prototype camera and integrated cell phone and MP3 player fuel cells, which it showcased at the 4th International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo in Tokyo.

This camera cell, designed to be the size of a conventional grip-style power pack for DSLRs, will last twice as long as its lithium-ion counterpart, allowing you to take between 2,800 and 4,000 pictures per "charge." No word on weight, but that's a lot of pictures!

What if you run out of juice? No problem, just open the fuel cell, pour in some methanol (which you'll obviously have on hand for the occasion), and you're instantly back in business.

The introduction of this new technology can mean great things for the environment: we won't have so many messy batteries being tossed out each year, we reduce the amount of toxic metals and chemicals used in manufacturing and disposal, and, quite frankly, since the majority of batteries in small electronics go dead over time as they are not being used and must be replaced, it saves money.

How can even a rechargeable battery that takes hours to juice up compare to the instant gratification of a fuel cell?

While still only prototypes, the company is tooling to mass produce the cells and promised to have the technology on the market in 2009.

And while, at first glance, this seems like it would be greener than batteries, we're still going to have to find a nice clean way to get all that methanol. Sounds to me like corn would be a good first place to look.

via CNet and MTI Micro

Absolving (some of) the guilt of buying a flat-screen TV

Don Willmott , Forecast Earth Correspondent — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:02:17 PDT

I've just started the research for my next big purchase: a flat-screen TV. Hey, somebody's got to kick start this economy, right?

The good news is that I'll be ready to sit back and watch the Summer Olympics in glorious high definition. The bad news is that my electricity bill is going to go up because even though they're nice and slim, plasma and LCD TVs use more power than old-fashioned tube TVs on an inch-by-inch basis, according to EnergyStar.

So what to do? Seek out a flat-screen that does a few little tricks to mitigate its power consumption.

One example that's a little too big for my humble apartment but that could make sense for you is the Philips Eco TV. Among its features is a sensor that detects the ambient light in your room and dials down the TV's backlighting to achieve a picture that's always easy on the eye. It's even smart enough to tone down the backlighting in accordance with what's actually being shown on screen, something not many TVs can do. Philips also says that the TV is built with lead-free components and is shipped in recycled packaging. Every little bit helps. And I should add that at around $1,200, this feature-rich TV seems to be a good deal, too.

Keep in mind that you can always turn down the backlighting on your flat-screen TV if it's too bright for the room or if you just want to save some energy. All you have to do is figure out how. Did you keep the manual?

Nokia's eco-phone isn't so eco

Hank Green — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:42:42 PDT

We've been wondering how Nokia's "eco-minded" 3110 Evolve really is. Our first impression was "not very," and it turns out that's pretty accurate.

Smart Planet did a quick review of the phone and, based on that assessment, I'll give you the same advice I give everyone else: the greenest phone is the one you're already using.

The Evolve's green cred comes from a few places, all of which should be included in every single phone being sold today. These features include: Less packaging, more recycled content in the packaging, bio-plastic keys, and a charger that eats less power when the phone isn't plugged into it.

None of these things are going to have a significant impact on the world unless they're used in all of the billion phones out there. Why is Nokia still using overblown packaging for the rest of its phones? Why doesn't the company use recycled paper in all of its packaging. Why do the vast majority of its chargers suck power from the wall even when nothing's plugged into them?

So your best choice? Don't get a new phone every year -- my LG VX9800 continues to be the only cell phone I've ever owned, and having a phone that lives twice as long is basically a phone that is twice as green.

Give your solar gadget a boost

Magnus Hølvold — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:34:58 PDT

Let's say you're the happy owner of the excellent solar battery booster Freeloader, but it's just not getting you enough juice. Also, for the sake of the argument, let's assume that you're too lazy to carry around the 2,000 lb. Powercube when you're on holiday.

Enter the Supercharger, an add-on for the Freeloader that you can attach to your bag to charge the Freeloader when you want some extra boost.

This 1.5-watt solar cell will fully charge the little battery booster in four hours, giving you plenty of extra life on your iPod, phone, or whatever other gadgets you may be carrying around. The enclosure for the panels is hardy enough to withstand most of what nature can throw at you.

I've found that my solar charger can't really pull much power in my cloudy climate, so the Supercharger might be quite necessary for some of us.

Granted, you might scoff at the garish colours, but I bet you won't scoff at the price. You can get it for Â£20 ($40) from Solar Technology, or you could get the full-on, Â£50 globetrotter pack with the Freeloader, carrying case, and Supercharger.

Solar Technology via Engadget

Mobile energy solutions

Hank Green — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:15:25 PDT

Cords suck. But we need them. We've got to power our fantastic new digital lives!

Maybe some day, we'll be able to capture the energy that surrounds us daily, and our lives will get a bit more wireless. There's power everywhere -- the sun's rays, the wind, the motion of our bodies.

At Inhabitat's Greener Gadgets Conference in February, there was a panel on just this kind of energy harvesting. I realized that I've never shared it online, and so I wanted to do that now.

Companies and technologies featured in this video: M2E (kinetic energy), HyMini (mini wind chargers), Solio (portable solar chargers), Boston Power (long-life batteries), and MTI (fuel cells).

This summary video is definitely worth watching, while the full-length panel is also available for more die-hard EcoGeeks.

Via Inhabitat

TV recycling picking up steam... because it must

Don Willmott , Forecast Earth Correspondent — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:42:53 PDT

When the government-mandated switch from analog to digital TV takes place next Februrary, countless old TVs will suddenly become not quite junk but something approaching it.

Sure, lots of people will try to figure out the whole digital-to-analog converter box thing (your grandparents may be calling you), but many more will simply decide it's time for a TV upgrade. And then it's off to the landfill with the old Trinitron.

Or maybe not. Sony is leading the way in holding "takeback" events to which you can bring your old electronics for recycling. Green Daily reported that Sony will even bring back a few of its vintage TV commercials from the good old days as a way to remind us to recycle.

A successful event was held at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego in early March, and up to 40 more all around the country are planned for 2008 although the schedule is not yet definite.

Try to participate if you can. The EPA says that only 380,000 tons of e-waste were properly recycled in 2005, while more than two million tons ended up in landfills.

Another try at a solar-powered laptop

Don Willmott , Forecast Earth Correspondent — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:30:25 PDT

Design blog Tuvie.com has some images of a solar-powered notebook prototype that raises the question of just how unwieldy any gadget dependent on solar panels for power will have to be.

While we've all seen compact handheld solar chargers such as the well-known Solio, it's important to remember that when it comes to solar, the size of the charger is directly proportional to the amount of juice it can deliver.

In Nikoladesign's solar laptop prototype, we see that the solar panel required to generate enough power to get a serious computer running is about as big as the computer itself. It's a sort of third flap that folds out like an awning from the top of the screen -- clumsy for sure, but could come in handy for outdoor research types who find themselves in the middle of nowhere with the need to stay in touch via the Internet access, satellite phone, and GPS system that are part of the prototype design.

Luckily, the solar panel can be detached and charged separately while the notebook runs off an internal battery. That would seem to be a necessary component of any solar notebook design, since as things stand today, the solar panel itself will make any portable PC a whole lot less portable.

Rascally rabbit ears and your old TV

Trystan L. Bass — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:57:50 PST

We've written about how to recycle your old TV, but what if you want to keep the vintage boob tube around?

Starting February 17, 2009, all U.S. television stations will start broadcasting only in digital signals. This means the old analog TVs -- yep, ones with rabbit ears -- won't work.

But over on Green Options, Jim Gunshinan points out that you can get an analog-to-digital converter for around $50. Better still, the government is offering coupons that will cover most of the cost.

You have until March 31, 2009, to request up to two coupons. Go to DTV 2009 to apply, and the coupons will be mailed to you.

If you have a working analog TV, this is a great way to keep it out of the garbage and reduce pollution. Plus, you'll save money. Thanks for the tip, Jim!

Recycle that old TV

Elizabeth Hurchalla — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:50:39 PST

Before you trash your old TV set for any reason, consider that many municipalities have banned TVs from landfills.

And for good reason, since your old set contains up to eight pounds of lead, a poison that can cause nervous system damage. Lead is there to protect you from radiation while it's still in your TV, but when the TV is crushed in the garbage truck and then in the landfill, bad news: that lead is going to leach out.

Unfortunately, you can't just drop off the TV at the local thrift store or recycling center and call it a day. Some charities don't accept used TVs anymore since the cost of disposing of broken sets is too high to offset the money they could make by selling working ones.

And some unethical recycling firms charge substantial fees to recycle old sets and then just ship the old TVs overseas.

You can't leave the old set sitting on the curb. Instead, try these sites:

Search through Earth 911's database of recycling, disposal, and donation alternatives. Just enter your ZIP code and get a list of options instantly. Need more? Look through the Electronic Industries Alliance list of state-by-state e-cycling resources.
Some retailers and manufacturers, like Best Buy and Sony, offer recycling programs. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency's list of participating e-cycling companies to find out what's available in your area.
Check with local charities. The Earth 911 and Electronic Industries Alliance searches include some nonprofits that accept used working TVs, but if you can't find any in your area, try calling local thrift stores to ask if they'll take your set or know who will.
If your set doesn't work, look into whether your town has specific disposal days or drop-off locations via the Electronic Industries Alliance site. If not, that site also provides information on private recycling firms that will take your television for a fee.

If you do go that route, just make sure you're dealing with a reputable company. For starters, find out if they've signed the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship. The Electronics Industries Alliance has also compiled a list of questions you can ask to ensure your old television is handled responsibly.

Picture a greener print

Trystan L. Bass — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:11:31 PST

The holidays are over, and the decorations are packed away. All that's left are the memories ... and the photos. In fact, if you're like most of us, you probably have a year's worth of digital photos on your computer with oh-so-helpful names like PICT0027.jpg and IMG_3108.jpg.

The dark days of winter are a good time to stay inside and organize those photos into albums so you can share them with family and friends. And you can do it in fun, creative, earth-friendly fashion too.

Keeping digital pictures digital is green because you use almost no additional resources. Plus, many online photo albums are free of charge, depending on how many files you upload. Most sites have privacy options so you can choose who sees your photos. Some also provide printing for a fee.

Yahoo! offers Flickr, and you can find various other services out there too.

But even though we love the Internet here, at some point, you really want to put a photo in a frame on your desk. Or you want to carry a picture in your wallet, or maybe you're a scrapbooker. Here are some low-impact tips for printing photos.

First, look for recycled-content paper. The Green Guide has an excellent discussion on what to look for in sustainable papers, because the labels can be a little misleading.

One brand to try is GreenPix. This paper claims to be the only 100% post-consumer recycled content photo inkjet paper. It's also process chlorine free (less nasty chemicals in the making), and the paper is archival quality so your photos will last a good, long time.

Now, you may be used to buying packs of photo paper to print photos. In my experience, you don't always need that heavy, glossy stuff for pictures. It depends on what you're using the photo for.

In scrapbooks and other craft projects, glossy photo paper can be difficult to work with, and I prefer a matte, mid-weight paper. If you're putting the photo in a frame, the glossy paper will often look best.

Before you print, make sure to measure your picture frames, craft projects, wallet sleeve, etc., so you're printing the right size and don't have to cut away paper later.

Also, make sure to get the most out of each sheet of paper. In whatever software you're using, try to fit as many photos as possible on each page. All you need is a very slim margin of white space (if any) around each photo's edge. Set the page margins to the smallest possible for your printer too.

If you're not already using recycled cartridges in your ink-jet printer, check out our previous post about the benefits to the planet and your wallet.

Moo has some nifty option for printing photos as well. You can buy mini-cards (like business cards), greeting cards, note cards, postcards, and sticker books, all made from digital photos you upload. If you have pictures on Flickr, you can transfer them easily. While it doesn't give specifics, Moo does say it uses paper from sustainable forests.

Recycle, re-ink

Trystan L. Bass — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 15:56:18 PST

Want to save a few bucks while keeping some plastic out of the garbage? Recycle the cartridges from your printer, and buy refilled cartridges instead of brand new ones.

Almost eight printer cartridges are junked every second in the U.S., according to Cartridge World, one of many businesses that take old inkjet and laser cartridges, clean 'em up, and refill them to work like new in printers.

Office Depot notes that remanufacturing one laser toner cartridge can save a half-gallon of oil, plus keep two and a half pounds of plastic out of landfills.

Refilled (also called remanufactured) printer cartridges cost 15% to a third less than the original price, and I've found positive reports online.

I've been using refilled inkjet cartridges in my Epson printer at home with no problems, and the same goes for my husband's business which does a lot of color graphics printing. Likewise, the laser printers here in Yahoo!'s HQ use many remanufactured cartridges that are recycled after each use.

You can take your empty cartridges in and buy refilled ones at places like Cartridge World, many stores online, or big chains like Staples, Office Max, Office Depot, and Walgreens.

Check the store's website or call ahead to see what kind of discount you get for bringing the old ones -- sometimes you'll get a direct discount, and some stores simply sell the refilled cartridges at a low price regardless of what you bring in.

Also, some brands of laser cartridges (such as Hewlett-Packard) have the original packaging designed so it can be re-closed, and you can mail the empty cartridge back to the manufacturer for recycling. Makes it easy not to toss it in the garbage.

But whatever you do, I don't recommend refilling inkjet cartridges yourself. The results aren't pretty.

Getting savvy about standby power

Noah Buhayar, Fellow, Rocky Mountain Institute — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:47:33 PDT

Noah Buhayar is a fellow at Rocky Mountain Institute.

Ever wonder how much electricity your household appliances use when they're supposedly off-in "standby" or "ready" mode? Think of the clock on your microwave, your DVD player that's on but not playing a movie, or the little sensor on the bottom of your TV that waits for a signal from your remote control.

It turns out that these "vampire" loads are gradually sucking away power-a lot of power.

An estimated 13 percent of household electricity use, according to a recent study published by the California Energy Commission, is from appliances in low-power mode (which is to say, not performing any of their primary functions).

Standby mode, the least amount of energy an appliance can use without powering down, is just one example. Many appliances have multiple low-power modes.

A DVD player, for instance, may have both a standby and sleep mode. Computers, as well, often save power by shutting down one or more components without turning completely off.

What it costs
The costs of these low-power modes are enormous. Standby power alone accounts for 5 of that 13 percent of household electricity use.

In 2000, a group of researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimated that each year Americans spend about $4 billion just on standby power.

Generating that electricity puts roughly 27 million tons of CO2-equivalent emissions into the atmosphere (more than 3.7 million cars' worth) every year.

While the amount of low-power mode energy required by most new appliances is going down, the number of appliances (from washing machines to air conditioners) with continual power needs is increasing-eclipsing those savings. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that standby power could consume as much as 20 percent of household electricity by 2010.

Worse yet, some of our electronics never go into low-power mode because they're hooked to networks that require constant feedback. Most desktop computers are left on all the time for just this reason-drawing (on average) a steady 70-watt current. The monitor may be off, but the processor, fan, and other hardware may still be running.

Your cable box, too, is perpetually drawing current as it talks to the network. Have an Internet phone? That, as well, is always on, ready to take a message.

Energy-efficiency experts are busy identifying ways that manufacturers can reduce the amount of energy required to maintain a network presence, hold a channel, or answer the phone when you're not there. Some promising work can be found here.

Why we don't sacrifice convenience?
If the net impact of all our leaky appliances is so huge, why aren't we compelled to change our habits-or do without a little convenience?

A colleague of mine here at Rocky Mountain Institute shares a useful anecdote. His home A/V system (TV, cable box, DVD player) and communications system (cable modem, WiFi router, Internet phone, and cordless phone with answering machine) uses about 45 watts of electricity continuously.

Even though he'd like to save that energy, he leaves the system on all the time. If he turns off the power bar that links everything to the wall, his phone won't take messages and he'll lose Internet connectivity.

What's the cost of this convenience? He estimates about $40 dollars a year.

What you can do
If you're looking to reduce your energy use and tread more lightly on the planet, changing your habits is a good starting point.Â

Shut your computer and printer down (all the way) when not in use. Some people find it useful to plug all their IT equipment into one power bar, then flip the switch once they've shut down.

If you have an A/V system that can be turned off entirely without sacrificing performance, do so.

Keep cell phone chargers out of the wall when you're not charging the phone. Those little power bricks often draw a little current-even when your phone's not connected.

Making informed choices
Most importantly, educate yourself. The U.S. government's Energy Star program rates appliances and often has information about their standby (or low-power) mode energy use. For home electronics, low standby power use is a key criterion for qualifying products.

In 2006 alone, the program saved some $14 billion on Americans' utility bills and helped avoid more than 35,000 megawatts of peak power demand (equivalent to the capacity of 70 new power plants).

These small changes may not make a huge dent in your monthly electricity bill, but they can add up.