Green Options

Buying second-hand products is always green, but it’s easy to be discouraged by the stories of broken laptops from eBay or Craigslist. To quell these fears, here is a 10-step checklist on how to find a used laptop that isn’t just a high-tech lemon.

Most wouldn’t flinch at the idea of buying a used car, but the thought of a used computer sends them squirming. The tech industry tries their hardest to keep it that way: they advertise new products in such a way to render the previous models perceptually obsolete; they block even the simplest hardware upgrades; and they sell bottom-of-the-line models that simply break within a couple years.

This shouldn’t scare you away from a used computer purchase, but know that they are imperfect machines; some research, determination, and basic knowledge is required. To make this list, I used both my own experience along with some tips from Peter Montesano of Peter’s PC Repair, one of the most highly regarded repair shops in San Francisco.

Editor’s note: Biking is a very green form of transportation; new bicycles, though, can be expensive. This week, Lighter Footstep’s Chris Baskind has some pointers for buying a used bike. This post was originally published on August 30, 2007.

Other than walking, there’s no more Earth-friendly mode of transportation than a bicycle.

Bikes have an incredibly low manufacturing footprint in comparison to a motorized vehicle. They’re cheap to operate, don’t pollute the

[...]

You want to help the environment, but you still love to go shopping? No worries, there is a way to shop and not consume resources. In fact, celebrities have made it famous. It’s Vintage, darling, and it’s absolutely fabulous.

Patronize vintage stores. In code, that means buy used stuff! Give furniture a chance to build memories for a new family, jewelry another chance to shine, and that sweater another winter to keep you warm. By buying

[...]