Linux captures the ‘green’ flag, beats Windows 2008 power-saving measures
For this test, we examined power consumption as a way to judge whether Windows Server 2008 or Linux is, in fact, the ‘greener’ operating system.
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Our tests point to Linux as the winner of the green flag by margins that topped out at 12%.
link: http://www.networkworld.com/research/2008/060908-green-windows-linux.html
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by Sandy Shields
Save time and money by trying these simple household cleaners!
Window Cleaner
Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 quart warm water.
Floor Cleaner
Mix 1 cup vinegar with 2 gallons water.
Glass Coffee Pot Cleaner
Place crushed ice, salt and sliced lemons in pot and swirl till clean.
Furniture polish
Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 3/4 cup oil (olive, vegetable, lemon).
Brass, Copper, and Pewter Cleaner
Mix equal parts salt and vinegar, then thicken with flour.
General Cleaner
Mix 4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water, or use plain baking soda with a wet sponge.
Read More »
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It’s possible to recycle many more types of items than you might have imagined, as the following articles illustrate:
Then again, you might not be able to recycle the things that you thought you could:
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Bottled water has become ubiquitous over the last decade or so. In fact, in 2006, Americans spent $15 billion on bottled water. (via) Of course, as consumers have proved time and again, just because a product is popular doesn’t mean it’s a good thing for the planet, or even for their own health.
Every year about 1.5 million tons of plastic go into manufacturing water bottles for the global market, using processes that release toxic chemicals. (via) Some of these chemicals may leach from the plastic bottle into the bottled water before you drink it. Most of these bottles end up in landfills.
While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has strict water quality standards for tap water, it doesn’t oversee or regulate bottled water. (via) So, is bottled water any tastier or any better for you than plain tap water? Not necessarily. According to a 1999 study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), one-third of the 1,000 bottles of water they tested contained “significant contamination”.
The bottled water you drink may even be the same water that you get from your tap. Nestle was sued in 2003 for advertising treated common ground water under the label Poland Spring as “pure natural spring water”. From Water & Wastes Digest:
The suit alleges Nestle uses heavily treated water taken from common ground water sources when bottling Poland Spring, but then labels the bottles as spring water and charges consumers a premium price for supposedly higher quality water. (via)
Nestle later reached a $12.1 million settlement with consumers, however the settlement did not require that Poland Spring change its labeling. (via)
After all that I have to ask — is this the most ridiculous bottled water ever? See an unscientific taste test.
Also:
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One of the biggest water wasters in residential houses is the toilet. Your toilet may leak water silently, without being noticed, and can waste up to 100-200 gallons per day.
An easy way to check for this type of water leak is to simply drop a little food coloring or other type of dye into the tank on the back of the toilet. Wait 15-20 minutes, then if you see color in the water in the bowl, you know you’ve got a problem. Here’s a short video on how to fix it.
More info on identifying and fixing toilet leaks.
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Phantom load, or standby power, is the electricity used by electronic appliances when they are plugged in but NOT turned on. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off (via).
While unplugging such appliances will definitely keep them from drawing electricity, one easy way to make sure they’re really “off” is to plug everything into an external power strip, then switch the power strip off when you’re not using them. Or, smart power strips are now available that will automatically cut the power off for you.
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68 ° F and 78 ° F in the wintertime is commonly recommended. According to the US Department of Energy, for every degree that you lower your thermostat you can save up to 3% of your heating cost. (via)
See 10 more thermostat tips here.
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Paper or plastic? While both paper and plastic bags are recyclable, the best answer is to carry and use reusable bags. A couple points:
When 1 ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil are saved. (via)
Each year, Americans throw away some 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags. (Only 0.6 percent of plastic bags are recycled.) (via)
Windblown plastic bags are so prevalent in Africa that a cottage industry has sprung up harvesting bags and using them to weave hats, and even bags. According to the BBC, one group harvests 30,000 per month. (via)
As the issues surrounding plastic bag waste become more well-known, some cities, and even entire countries, are moving to ban plastic grocery bags altogether.
Reusablebags.com carries reusable bags in a huge variety shapes, styles, colors, and materials, as well as more information on disposable plastic bags.
For the plastic grocery bags you do still end up with, you can find out where to recycle them, and read creative tips for how to reuse them.
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