Green Options » ipod http://greenoptions.com/tag/ipod Posts tagged 'ipod' Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:24:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en 6 Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Built By Teenagers http://gas2.org/2009/08/15/6-alternative-fuel-vehicles-built-by-teenagers/ http://gas2.org/2009/08/15/6-alternative-fuel-vehicles-built-by-teenagers/#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:24:57 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://gas2.org/2009/08/15/6-alternative-fuel-vehicles-built-by-teenagers/ Car companies like Tesla, Toyota and Nissan are all scrambling for a piece of the EV market. Heck, even cities like San Francisco and Portland want some.  But they all just got pwned by these kids. These vehicles run on everything from solar to soy!

Texas Teen Buys Car Off eBay, Makes It Electric

Luke Laborde turned a 32 mpg gas-burning Bradley GT II kit car into a fully electric ride for just about $10,000. The ride, which was purchased off eBay, has eight 80-pound batteries throughout including where the gas tank used to be. The car gets 40 miles on a full charge.

Student Built Race Car Is Powered By Soybeans

Five kids from West Philly’s high school auto shop class, ex-gang members and high school dropouts built this soybean-powered race car. The car gets 50+ mpg and goes from 0 to 60 in just 4 seconds! But the real win here is how the experience impacted these kids. One of the few still in high school, Kosi Harmon, went from getting D’s to being a straight-A student.

8th Grader Builds Solar-Powered Bike With GPS, iPod Dock

Eighth-grader David S. Dixon built this street-legal quadricycle powered by a solar-charged electric motor. The bike not only carries his dog and three friends, but it has also has an iPod dock and GPS. Ya, it’s that cool!

16 Year Old Converts 1988 Mazda Truck To A Plugin EV

Andrew Angelloti, after saving up $6,000 as a part time lifeguard, converted his very own truck to be a plug-in. Using 20 flooded lead acid batteries to create 120 volts and a 60 HP electric motor, the truck hits a top speed of 55 mph and has range of 40 miles. Best part, he blogs about it so others can mod their cars. You can check out his blog here.

15 Year Old Builds Air-Powered Ride Back In 1989

This air-powered car was covered by KODE Channel 12 of Joplin, MO back in 1989. You can tell by VHS-to-YouTube quality of the video. The idea was pitched to car companies but largely ignored.

Alaskan Teen Converts 1971 VW Super Beetle To Electric Car

While some VW enthusiasts are still waiting for the car company to tap the electric car market (one of those being me), senior Bart Grabman has beat them to the punch. Whether or not Bart can see Russia from his house, he has my vote! Though…can I get mine in one of these?

]]> http://gas2.org/2009/08/15/6-alternative-fuel-vehicles-built-by-teenagers/feed/ Two Thirds of Americans Would Refuse to Give Up iPod - Even if it Ruined Environment http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/22/two-thirds-of-americans-would-refuse-to-give-up-ipod-even-if-it-ruined-environment/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/22/two-thirds-of-americans-would-refuse-to-give-up-ipod-even-if-it-ruined-environment/#comments Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:46:57 +0000 Andrew Williams http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/22/two-thirds-of-americans-would-refuse-to-give-up-ipod-even-if-it-ruined-environment/

An astonishing new survey has revealed that more than 60% of Americans would refuse to stop using their iPods, even if they knew it was seriously damaging the environment.

The survey, which quizzed more than 1,000 people across the US, found that, whilst the majority of Americans are making efforts to buy greener products, most wouldn’t do so if it meant compromising on convenience or comfort.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/06/22/two-thirds-of-americans-would-refuse-to-give-up-ipod-even-if-it-ruined-environment/feed/ 8th Grader Builds Solar-Powered Bike With GPS, iPod Dock http://gas2.org/2009/06/17/8th-grader-builds-solar-powered-bike-with-gps-ipod-dock/ http://gas2.org/2009/06/17/8th-grader-builds-solar-powered-bike-with-gps-ipod-dock/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:34:12 +0000 Jerry James Stone http://gas2.org/2009/06/17/8th-grader-builds-solar-powered-bike-with-gps-ipod-dock/

Eighth-grader David S. Dixon–along with his dad David G. Dixon–has built a street-legal quadricycle powered by a solar-charged electric motor. The bike not only carries his dog and three friends, but it has also has an iPod dock and GPS. Ya, it’s that cool!

Coined as the Solar Human Hybrid (SOHH), the vehicle was launched as part of David Jr.’s middle school project for the Novato Charter School.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2009/06/17/8th-grader-builds-solar-powered-bike-with-gps-ipod-dock/feed/ Driving Unsustainability: How GM planned for obsolescence http://sustainablog.org/2009/06/15/driving-unsustainability-how-gm-planned-for-obsolescence/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/06/15/driving-unsustainability-how-gm-planned-for-obsolescence/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:27:01 +0000 John Ivanko http://sustainablog.org/2009/06/15/driving-unsustainability-how-gm-planned-for-obsolescence/ I’m coming to the conclusion that there’s very little that’s sustainable about the company known as GM.

It’s frustrating and sad, because I was raised in the auto city and had family members who worked in the industry.  I even spent a summer at the GM Tech Center (working for then EDS as an intern at the time).  I’m perplexed by the company’s name which most of us recognize only as a vehicle company.  But it wasn’t always this way.

There was a time when GM was diversified, and innovative.  I was amazed by the poor decision making at GM when it recalled and promptly crushed their all-electric EV1s after bringing them to market in 1996.  I drove an EV1 in California; it rocked!  The company used to also make refrigerators starting in the 1920s under the Frigidaire brand and airplane components during WWII (my grandfather was an engineer who worked on a few).

So when, exactly, did the General Motors Corporation stop becoming a “generalist” industrial powerhouse making motors and instead, devote all its energies to making only motors in transportation vehicles and to lesser extent, but profitable one, vehicles for the military — you know, Humvees and the like?

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/06/15/driving-unsustainability-how-gm-planned-for-obsolescence/feed/ Green Marketing 101: Make Green Second http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/05/27/green-marketing-101-make-green-second/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/05/27/green-marketing-101-make-green-second/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 14:23:09 +0000 Jennifer Kaplan http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/05/27/green-marketing-101-make-green-second/ Here’s a basic marketing tip: Don’t position your product as green.  Well, not primarily green. Instead, position your products and services first as delivering core consumer benefits then-as a second set of attributes-green. You may even find that your competitors are not onto this savvy positioning strategy.

A couple weeks ago I was looking for examples of this principle. I wanted to show how a company’s marketing message should extend beyond greenness to appeal to other core consumer attributes people expect from a good products.  I put out a query on HARO and received dozens of interesting products.  Of those, five stood out.

The first thing I noticed about Vers iPod Docks is that they are incredibly beautiful.  But, they first thing theat Vers wants you to know about their products is that they sound great. They let the fact that they have been touted as the most environmentally friendly iPod dock available speak for itself and focus instead on the benefits that consumer’s want in a an iPod dock: Great sound and good looks.  In the words of David Laituri, partner in Sprout Creation makers of Vers products:

“We tend to focus on superior sound quality and design, and environmental thoughtfulness a fast second. Since our sustainable design efforts are a work in progress, we avoid ‘green’ and ‘environmentally friendly’ whenever possible.”

Green Toys are made out of recycled milk containers and are made in the USA (so from a supply chain position they are very environmentally sound.) Green Toys are also packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable. But most importantly, they positioned as safe (they contain no traceable amounts of Phthalates or BPA and have no external coatings with lead paint) and fun (they are chunky and colorful and beg to be played with).

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]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2009/05/27/green-marketing-101-make-green-second/feed/ Augh! American TV Viewing at All-Time High http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/28/augh-american-tv-viewing-at-all-time-high/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/28/augh-american-tv-viewing-at-all-time-high/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:30:09 +0000 Cate Nelson http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/28/augh-american-tv-viewing-at-all-time-high/

*Sigh.* Sometimes I hear news that just makes me want to cry.

Today is one of those days. And the FDA, for once, has nothing to do with it.

Nielsen Company released a report this week that showed that American TV viewing is at an all-time high.

We are a nation of vidiots.

Yep, in the fourth quarter of last year, personal TV use was at 151 hours per month, up from 145 hours for each of the last three months in the previous year. That would be about 4 ½ hours per day per person.

American households watch, on average, 8 hours, 18 minutes of TV per day.  What the?! Oh my, why are Junior’s grades so awful? Why is he “heavy set”?

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/02/28/augh-american-tv-viewing-at-all-time-high/feed/ Sunglasses Collect Solar Power, Juice iPods on the Go http://ecoscraps.com/2009/02/26/sunglasses-collect-solar-power-juice-ipods-on-the-go/ http://ecoscraps.com/2009/02/26/sunglasses-collect-solar-power-juice-ipods-on-the-go/#comments Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:48:07 +0000 Adam Williams http://ecoscraps.com/2009/02/26/sunglasses-collect-solar-power-juice-ipods-on-the-go/

These space-age-looking glasses soak up rays while protecting users’ eyes from them. The solar juice they collect can be used to power iPods and similar gadgets while out at the beach, the ballpark and a thousand other places, more or less.

As it says at Yanko Design:

The dye solar cell is described by the designers of the SIG as “cheap organic dye [used with] nano technology [providing] cheap but high energy efficiency.” Inexpensive, light, and visible-ray penetrable. The lens turns sunlight rays, (rays that would otherwise harm the eye,) into electrical energy.

Source: Inhabitat and Yanko Design

Student Built Race Car Is Powered By Soybeans

Five kids from West Philly’s high school auto shop class, ex-gang members and high school dropouts built this soybean-powered race car. The car gets 50+ mpg and goes from 0 to 60 in just 4 seconds! But the real win here is how the experience impacted these kids. One of the few still in high school, Kosi Harmon, went from getting D’s to being a straight-A student.

8th Grader Builds Solar-Powered Bike With GPS, iPod Dock

Eighth-grader David S. Dixon built this street-legal quadricycle powered by a solar-charged electric motor. The bike not only carries his dog and three friends, but it has also has an iPod dock and GPS. Ya, it’s that cool!

16 Year Old Converts 1988 Mazda Truck To A Plugin EV

Andrew Angelloti, after saving up $6,000 as a part time lifeguard, converted his very own truck to be a plug-in. Using 20 flooded lead acid batteries to create 120 volts and a 60 HP electric motor, the truck hits a top speed of 55 mph and has range of 40 miles. Best part, he blogs about it so others can mod their cars. You can check out his blog here.

15 Year Old Builds Air-Powered Ride Back In 1989

This air-powered car was covered by KODE Channel 12 of Joplin, MO back in 1989. You can tell by VHS-to-YouTube quality of the video. The idea was pitched to car companies but largely ignored.

Alaskan Teen Converts 1971 VW Super Beetle To Electric Car

While some VW enthusiasts are still waiting for the car company to tap the electric car market (one of those being me), senior Bart Grabman has beat them to the punch. Whether or not Bart can see Russia from his house, he has my vote! Though…can I get mine in one of these?

]]> http://ecoscraps.com/2009/02/26/sunglasses-collect-solar-power-juice-ipods-on-the-go/feed/ New Device Allows Users to Charge iPods by Going for a Walk http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/11/new-device-allows-users-to-charge-ipods-by-going-for-a-walk/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/11/new-device-allows-users-to-charge-ipods-by-going-for-a-walk/#comments Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:29:34 +0000 Andrew Williams http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/11/new-device-allows-users-to-charge-ipods-by-going-for-a-walk/

Tremont Electric has launched a portable energy generator that allows users to charge handheld electronic devices simply by going for a walk.

The nPower PEG, launched at last week’s 2009 CES event, works on the principle of electromagnetic induction to create a 100% renewable energy source for everything from iPods to mobile phones. To get a charge, users simply connect the PEG to their mobile device and lay it vertically, either against their hip, or in a bag, while they go for a walk or a run.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/01/11/new-device-allows-users-to-charge-ipods-by-going-for-a-walk/feed/ Designers Create Solar Power Generating Sunglasses http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/18/designers-create-solar-power-generating-sunglasses/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/18/designers-create-solar-power-generating-sunglasses/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:36:46 +0000 Andrew Williams http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/18/designers-create-solar-power-generating-sunglasses/

A team of designers have created solar power generating sunglasses capable of charging portable electronic devices on-the-go.

The SIG, or ’self-energy converting sunglasses,’ contain integrated dye-solar cells and can be simply connected to the power jack in an iPod or PSP, allowing devices to be charged without the need to hook up to the mains supply.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/18/designers-create-solar-power-generating-sunglasses/feed/ Music Fan Charges iPod With an Onion http://cleantechnica.com/2008/11/24/music-fan-charges-ipod-with-an-onion/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/11/24/music-fan-charges-ipod-with-an-onion/#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:00:10 +0000 Andrew Williams http://cleantechnica.com/2008/11/24/music-fan-charges-ipod-with-an-onion/

Music fan Owen Louis was so concerned about the amount of energy used up by his iPod, that he figured out a way of charging it up … with nothing more than an onion.

Louis, 21, from Portsmouth in the UK, makes two holes in an onion, before soaking it in an everyday energy drink and connecting it to his MP3 via a standard USB cable. Incredibly, the technique (video) enables him to charge his iPod for a full hour. According to Louis, “A friend showed me the experiment as a laugh but I thought it was the greatest thing I have ever seen, and do it religiously every day.”

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/11/24/music-fan-charges-ipod-with-an-onion/feed/ Bad Economic News? Get Creative. http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/17/need-an-incentive-to-spend-your-year-end-marketing-budget-on-green/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/17/need-an-incentive-to-spend-your-year-end-marketing-budget-on-green/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:42:15 +0000 John Simonetta http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/17/need-an-incentive-to-spend-your-year-end-marketing-budget-on-green/ This is a guest post by John Simonetta, owner of an eco-friendly promotional items consultancy (see ProfromaGreen.com). John’s blogs are designed to keep us up to date on the “greening” of his industry.

It is becoming more and more obvious that an economic slowdown is coming.

As Ecopreneurists what does that mean to us? I think it means that we need to remember the entrepreneur part of our names as well as the Eco. Tough times are when fortunes are made. They are when more people are open to new ideas, because the old ideas no longer seem to work. Tough times are times to get creative.

Some ideas to make tough times work for you.

Money that is being spent will need to go farther as there may be less of it in your client’s or customer’s budgets. So add value by looking at the full spectrum of what you are selling. Can you offer more and make your client a better deal (i.e. you sell the stove, but what if you can sell the stove, the pots, the pans, and the power for the stove all together). By offering more you can lower your price on the complete bundle but you may make better, larger sales as you are solving more issues for the client).

Who is your competition? Take them to lunch, ask them some questions. Maybe you can serve your clients better if you team together. Or maybe your competition doesn’t have the fight for this coming slowdown and you can expand your business by taking over theirs.

Same idea one step removed. Who are your competitor’s sales leaders, their designers, their useful people? Take them to lunch. Are they scared for their jobs? Show them how they could benefit from being part of a stronger, better focused company. Fear is an amazing motivator, but it also locks people in place. If you can help someone better their position with a better job, now is the time to pitch it.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/17/need-an-incentive-to-spend-your-year-end-marketing-budget-on-green/feed/ Amish Increasingly Accepting of Solar Power, But Still Shun iPods http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/09/21/amish-increasingly-accepting-of-solar-power-but-still-shun-ipods/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/09/21/amish-increasingly-accepting-of-solar-power-but-still-shun-ipods/#comments Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:15:45 +0000 Levi Novey http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/09/21/amish-increasingly-accepting-of-solar-power-but-still-shun-ipods/ Two Amish Boys Look Out from a BuggyKnown for a living in a culture that typically disapproves of modern technology, some members of Amish communities are now bucking their traditional ways by increasingly turning to solar power to meet their energy needs.

Philly.com highlighted this transition among the Amish in an interesting article that was published on their website this weekend. What is most surprising to me is that the Amish have fewer doubts about using solar power for purposes that relate to work, than they do for use inside their homes.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2008/09/21/amish-increasingly-accepting-of-solar-power-but-still-shun-ipods/feed/ Apple Introduces an Environmentally-Friendly iPod http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/15/apple-introduces-an-environmentally-friendly-ipod/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/15/apple-introduces-an-environmentally-friendly-ipod/#comments Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:18:47 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/15/apple-introduces-an-environmentally-friendly-ipod/ ipod nano

If you’ve been holding back from buying an iPod nano for environmental reasons, it might be time to rethink your decision.

Last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the fourth generation iPod nano, which he claims is the most environmentally-friendly iPod ever built. The new nano is made with arsenic-free glass, and unlike previous versions, does not contain Brominated Flame Retardant (BFR) or polyvinylchloride (PVR). The Apple website also claims that the device has a recyclable aluminum enclosure.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/15/apple-introduces-an-environmentally-friendly-ipod/feed/ Apple Reveals “Cleaner” iPod, Removes Toxins and Reduces Packaging http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/11/apple-reveals-cleaner-ipod-remvoes-toxins-and-reduces-packaging/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/11/apple-reveals-cleaner-ipod-remvoes-toxins-and-reduces-packaging/#comments Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:01:05 +0000 Robin Shreeves http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/11/apple-reveals-cleaner-ipod-remvoes-toxins-and-reduces-packaging/ iPod NanoMy Nano is ancient. It doesn’t even show video. Every time my husband has asked me if I wanted to get a new one, I’ve stoicly told him, “no.” It plays music just fine. There’s no need to buy something new. Plus, I don’t want to instill in my children the idea that perfectly useful things need to be replaced just because something newer and shinier with more bells and whistles is available.

Yesterday, when the news started flying around about Steve Jobs introducing iTunes 8 and the new 4th generation Nano at Apple’s September event, I kind of glossed over it. My husband mentioned a few things about it last night, though, and I got curious. Looks like Apple is further making good on the promises they made in 2007 to green their products and their processes.

What’s greener about this new Nano than my ancient one?

  • It has arsenic-free glass
  • It doesn’t contain any PVC, mercury or brominated flame retardants
  • A metal casing that is very recyclable

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/11/apple-reveals-cleaner-ipod-remvoes-toxins-and-reduces-packaging/feed/ Solar Necktie Powers Young Professionals & Gagdetry http://ecoscraps.com/2008/08/25/solar-necktie-powers-young-professionals-gagdetry/ http://ecoscraps.com/2008/08/25/solar-necktie-powers-young-professionals-gagdetry/#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:51:02 +0000 Adam Williams http://ecoscraps.com/2008/08/25/solar-necktie-powers-young-professionals-gagdetry/

Iowa State University has figured out a way for the youngest and/or hippest generation of go-getters to power their iPods while maintaining that business professional look: solar neckties.

Via: Gagdets Blog News

Student Built Race Car Is Powered By Soybeans

Five kids from West Philly’s high school auto shop class, ex-gang members and high school dropouts built this soybean-powered race car. The car gets 50+ mpg and goes from 0 to 60 in just 4 seconds! But the real win here is how the experience impacted these kids. One of the few still in high school, Kosi Harmon, went from getting D’s to being a straight-A student.

8th Grader Builds Solar-Powered Bike With GPS, iPod Dock

Eighth-grader David S. Dixon built this street-legal quadricycle powered by a solar-charged electric motor. The bike not only carries his dog and three friends, but it has also has an iPod dock and GPS. Ya, it’s that cool!

16 Year Old Converts 1988 Mazda Truck To A Plugin EV

Andrew Angelloti, after saving up $6,000 as a part time lifeguard, converted his very own truck to be a plug-in. Using 20 flooded lead acid batteries to create 120 volts and a 60 HP electric motor, the truck hits a top speed of 55 mph and has range of 40 miles. Best part, he blogs about it so others can mod their cars. You can check out his blog here.

15 Year Old Builds Air-Powered Ride Back In 1989

This air-powered car was covered by KODE Channel 12 of Joplin, MO back in 1989. You can tell by VHS-to-YouTube quality of the video. The idea was pitched to car companies but largely ignored.

Alaskan Teen Converts 1971 VW Super Beetle To Electric Car

While some VW enthusiasts are still waiting for the car company to tap the electric car market (one of those being me), senior Bart Grabman has beat them to the punch. Whether or not Bart can see Russia from his house, he has my vote! Though…can I get mine in one of these?

]]> http://ecoscraps.com/2008/08/25/solar-necktie-powers-young-professionals-gagdetry/feed/ E-Wasted: Where Will Your Computer and iPod Go to Die? http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/05/e-wasted-where-will-your-computer-and-ipod-go-to-die/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/05/e-wasted-where-will-your-computer-and-ipod-go-to-die/#comments Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:34:34 +0000 Simran Sethi http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/05/e-wasted-where-will-your-computer-and-ipod-go-to-die/

Electronic wasteSimran Sethi and Sarah Smarsh are writing a series on the impacts of everyday things. They will be posting previews on Green Options before launching the posts on Huffington Post. Want to know how to green your internet porn (or emailing or iTunes) habit? Check out these tips and a post-mortem of where your computers go to die.

Recently, the world computer population surpassed 1 billion. It’s a legion of artificial intelligence that will never die, at least not while humans are around to see it.

The computer species appears to have a high mortality rate (whether due to the rapid progress of technology or an industry conspiracy to ensure that products must be replaced regularly). They “crash” and “die” in droves, their human counterparts literally kicking them to the curb. But there is no heaven, no place in the clouds, for the cold, hard shell once warmed by electrical currents. Once it has left your desk, your computer doesn’t disappear. In a sense, it lives on.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/08/05/e-wasted-where-will-your-computer-and-ipod-go-to-die/feed/ Tech Gadgets for Kids: When is a Child too Young for a Cell Phone, Digital Camera, and iPod? http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/21/tech-gadgets-for-kids-when-is-a-child-too-young-for-a-cell-phone-digital-camera-and-ipod/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/21/tech-gadgets-for-kids-when-is-a-child-too-young-for-a-cell-phone-digital-camera-and-ipod/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:19:58 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/21/tech-gadgets-for-kids-when-is-a-child-too-young-for-a-cell-phone-digital-camera-and-ipod/ boy with toy cell phoneI dislike electronic toys for children, such as so-called “educational” toys made by LeapFrog.  As I have stated before, I think that children learn more from playing with wooden blocks than any battery operated gizmo can teach them, but what about other tech devices, such as iPods and digital cameras?  At what is it appropriate for a child have these “grown up” toys?

Ever since my daughter could hold our camera, we have shared it with her. Last year, her grandmother decided to buy her a digital camera for her birthday.  At first, we looked at several digital cameras designed for children; however, in the end, we decided to buy her a real camera that would last her many years. The quality of children’s digital cameras is poor, and we have made a commitment to giving gifts that last our children as many years as possible.  As an eco mom, I won’t buy junky toy emulations of technology designed for children that will only break and end up in a landfill.  As an artist and a photographer, I felt a good camera would help my young child develop her artistic expression.  Her compositions amaze me, and her photographs help me view the world through her “lens”.  I can see what is important or interesting to her by what she photographs.

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/07/21/tech-gadgets-for-kids-when-is-a-child-too-young-for-a-cell-phone-digital-camera-and-ipod/feed/ Erasing Electronics Buyer Remorse http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/06/12/erasing-electronics-buyer-remorse/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/06/12/erasing-electronics-buyer-remorse/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:39:57 +0000 Paul Smith http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/06/12/erasing-electronics-buyer-remorse/ Recycling as an everyday practice has become more and more common these days. But what about all those gadgets you accumulate? What happens to them? There are many options out there, but for most, they involve more cost, effort, and time then our busy schedules or motivation will allow. Sure, there are some newer options such as Second Rotation, the company I profiled in January that quotes you a value for your product based on the condition you claim it’s in, then they inspect it, and either give you that amount, or a different agreed upon one. But even there, with the free shipping and the possibility of getting cash rather then spending it to recycle, it’s based on current market value, a wildly fluctuating amount, as the new half price twice the speed iPhone exemplifies.

What if you could guarantee exactly how much you’d get, based on how long you’ve owned it, at the time of purchase? This is now a reality, via the company Tech Forward. You can buy a product at any store you like, then purchase their Guaranteed Buyback service, which covers a wide range of electronics, from MP3 players to desktop computers.

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]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/06/12/erasing-electronics-buyer-remorse/feed/ It’s Solar Bikini Season http://ecoscraps.com/2008/04/04/its-solar-bikini-season/ http://ecoscraps.com/2008/04/04/its-solar-bikini-season/#comments Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:09:02 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://ecoscraps.com/2008/04/04/its-solar-bikini-season/ solar bikini

Bikini season is almost here. How about a photovoltaic bathing suit to charge your iPod?

For a more practical look at green bikini options, please visit Green Option’s newest blog Feel Good Style.

Source: Gizmodo

Student Built Race Car Is Powered By Soybeans

Five kids from West Philly’s high school auto shop class, ex-gang members and high school dropouts built this soybean-powered race car. The car gets 50+ mpg and goes from 0 to 60 in just 4 seconds! But the real win here is how the experience impacted these kids. One of the few still in high school, Kosi Harmon, went from getting D’s to being a straight-A student.

8th Grader Builds Solar-Powered Bike With GPS, iPod Dock

Eighth-grader David S. Dixon built this street-legal quadricycle powered by a solar-charged electric motor. The bike not only carries his dog and three friends, but it has also has an iPod dock and GPS. Ya, it’s that cool!

16 Year Old Converts 1988 Mazda Truck To A Plugin EV

Andrew Angelloti, after saving up $6,000 as a part time lifeguard, converted his very own truck to be a plug-in. Using 20 flooded lead acid batteries to create 120 volts and a 60 HP electric motor, the truck hits a top speed of 55 mph and has range of 40 miles. Best part, he blogs about it so others can mod their cars. You can check out his blog here.

15 Year Old Builds Air-Powered Ride Back In 1989

This air-powered car was covered by KODE Channel 12 of Joplin, MO back in 1989. You can tell by VHS-to-YouTube quality of the video. The idea was pitched to car companies but largely ignored.

Alaskan Teen Converts 1971 VW Super Beetle To Electric Car

While some VW enthusiasts are still waiting for the car company to tap the electric car market (one of those being me), senior Bart Grabman has beat them to the punch. Whether or not Bart can see Russia from his house, he has my vote! Though…can I get mine in one of these?

]]> http://ecoscraps.com/2008/04/04/its-solar-bikini-season/feed/ What Can You Do With Jeans? http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/03/20/what-can-you-do-with-jeans/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/03/20/what-can-you-do-with-jeans/#comments Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:21:27 +0000 Skye Kilaen http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/03/20/what-can-you-do-with-jeans/ recycled blue jean organizer I have never met a woman who loves shopping for jeans. Finding a pair of jeans that fits can involve endless shopping trips, trying on pair after pair in the unflattering light of dressing rooms. Even in low-rise styles, finding the right hip to waist ratio can be maddening. But if rips or patches don’t really fit into your personal style and your current jeans are falling apart, at some point you have to bite the bullet and shop.

Once you replace the well-worn pair of jeans, though, what’s next? Since I’m currently facing the demise of my favorite (and only) pair of jeans, I thought I would take a spin around the web and see what I could do with them.

First up is this recycled blue jean organizer, perfect for craft supplies.

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