FAQs – Get Paid Up To £12 To Recycle Toner Cartridges with GreenTech

I’m a big fan of Michael Bloch (he runs the handy Green Living Tips blog) and the tips and tools that he shows us to help you save electricity/CO2. My favourites tips are those that are quick and easy to implement – little or no effor from me means I’ll do it. The first such tool to catch my eye (and one that I have downloaded) is from the team at Granola who claim to offer just that with PC energy savings of 10-15% without much (or very little) reduction in PC speed and performance.

Michael says “A free software application that claims to take computer energy saving a step further is Granola. The makers of Granola says their software can reduce the energy consumption of PC up to 35% (NOTE: i could not see a figure of 35% in my research so am sticking with the 10-18% as described in the Granola Benchmarking report here); with no noticeable performance loss.  How does it do it? Granola dynamically and automatically adjusts the power consumed by your computer based on CPU (processor) demand. If you’re not doing anything really intensive, such as playing a game or running video, it basically just winds back the amount of electricity required by your PC”.

Michael found these results from his first fews hours of using the tool:

Granola energy savings report from Green Living Tips

There a several ‘paid’ services out there too but this free energy saving PC tool seems to be well worth a try.

We are always busy reading and researching the latest news and features to help you point you in the direction of the very best tips and guides to help you save money recycling and lots more money saving green ideas for you and your business. The main source for this particular story was from Michael Bloch from Green Living Tips.com – Green Living Tips is an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs, consumption and environmental impact .

- Here’s An Advertisement For Our Own Recycling Scheme -

Recycle Toner Cartridges And Get Paid Up To £12 Each

You can recycle toner cartridges with GreenTech who have been running an inkjet and laser toner cartridge recycling scheme for the last 10 years  in the U.K.

GreenTech pay up to £12 for each empty toner cartridge and the GreenTech website tells you instantly what you will get paid plus they offer to pick-up from your U.K. address for free. They promise to send your bank transfer or cheque within 14 days of receiving and inspecting your cartridges. For full details of how to recycle printer cartridges with GreenTech visit http://www.gtrecycling.com/recycle

The Observer’s Green Power List is diverse, with names such as Jonathan Franzen (novelist), Michael Bloomberg (Mayor of New York), Evo Morales (politician) and even Arnie! With Canadian scientist David Suzuki – broadcaster, author and environmental activist – as number 1 on the list.

The list was announced to launch The Observer’s 2011 Ethical Awards, launched last week.

Image Source: Smart-villages

Use of energy in massive data centres for cloud computing has been a big debatable issue ever since these data centres evolved and major cloud services vendors have been trying to figure out ways to reduce the carbon footprint of these large data storage facilities. However, a recent study by Microsoft suggests that enterprise clients can slash their IT carbon footprint by 30 to 90 percent by moving it to the cloud. (more…)

In a previous post, we featured 10 green gadgets for everyday usage. There are now hundreds of other products that are powered by the abundant energy of the Sun as the solar panels get cheaper. These products however, are still little expensive compared to the regular electric or mechanical ones, however, they not only save money in the long term but do good to our dear earth.

Following is a list of solar powered products for everyday use.

1. Solar Powered Security Light

Image Source: Greatgreengadgets

This solar powered security light uses a dedicated solar panel to charge a powerful LED floodlight. Set off by movement within a 10.67 metres, 180 degree detection field, it will provide a bright blaze of light to deter unwanted visitors. It also features a 5 metre cable linking the light to the solar panel and has easily adjustable daylight sensing and motion sensitivity controls. (more…)

Image source: Gizmag

Recycling old gadgets and electrical items not only saves the environment but also help you save and in many cases earn some money. However, surgical gadgets have not been traditionally considered to be recyclable and safe. Researchers at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center are examining the legality and basic logistics of recycling pacemakers after they have been removed from a deceased person.

Pacemakers are used to correct a slow heart beat, which may be the result of a previous heart attack or old age. According to the researchers, one to two million people of the world die each year due to lack of access to pacemakers. Despite the very high demand and manufacturers reducing the cost, pacemakers still cost around US$800 (around £500), which is still more than the annual income of the average worker in underdeveloped countries. (more…)

Image Source: recyclematch

In an earlier post we told you about various examples where waste is being turned in to energy. Here’s another example of industrial waste being reused by other companies that find the waste useful. (more…)

Image Source: newlaunches

What if we could somehow turn our business and domestic waste, which we cannot recycle, into clean green energy?

Well it’s starting to happen and here we profile the latest green initiatives that are starting to get some traction, one scheme even aims to sell back the excess energy it creates turning waste into energy (in a clean way) back to grid and thereby actually making money. Wouldn’t it be great to have companies paying you for your home/business waste that nowadays goes to landfill? Surely you might say that it’s a far-away dream, but these initiatives are starting to show that it will hopefully be a reality someday (very) soon.

According to CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment), Waste to energy technologies include anaerobic digestion; incineration; use of secondary recovered fuel (an output from mechanical and biological treatment processes); pyrolysis; gasification and plasma arc heating. Currently around 8 per cent of municipal waste is treated by waste to energy facilities but it is estimated this will rise to at least 25 per cent by 2020. (more…)

Image Source: Gigaom

We have seen many renewable or alternative energy sources being discovered but what one thing we must not forget is to think about how we can reduce the energy being consumed already. Air-conditioning of large buildings is one major area of energy consumption that needs to be looked at and some major companies are working on that like Yahoo’s chicken-coop inspired green data centre that uses 100pc outside air for cooling and Capegemini UK’s green data centre project.

A US-based start-up company, Ice Energy, builds an ice-based energy storage and air conditioning system for buildings. (more…)

Image Source: Forumforthefuture

Business Green reports that “The Sustainable Cities Index from think tank Forum for the Future put Newcastle ahead of Leicester, Brighton, Bristol and London based on its performance against 13 indicators covering areas such as environmental impact, quality of life and future-proofing.”

GreenTech’s home town of Peterborough is not listed since this review only includes the U.K.’s largest cities. However neighbouring Leicester, even trumped Newcastle (more…)

Image Source: Springwise

Pest control is a sensitive topic mainly because the toxicity of the chemicals that are typically used. However, this chemical-free solar powered solution can resolve the problem of pests and end the debate.

This green Solar Trap from South Korean company Eco Solatec “uses a BLB lamp to attract mosquitoes, moths, mayflies and other common pests, and then propel them by fan into an inescapable net.” (more…)