Old Gadgets Can be Useful, Too

From the USA.gov Blog:

Old Gadgets Can be Useful, Too:

By Felicia Chou, a program analyst in the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery at the Environmental Protection Agency

‘Tis the season to be gushing about the new electronic gadgets you’ve received for the holidays, and figure out what to do with your old ones. Sure, you could keep them in your closet or attic, waiting for the day VHS tapes are all the rage again, or when radio-sized phones are back in style. Maybe that old TV can be used as a giant paperweight. But there are plenty of better alternatives to put your unwanted electronics to use.

I’ve had this laptop since college and believe it or not, it still works. Well, besides the fact that the touchpad and keyboard aren’t working; and I have to keep it plugged in because the battery is pretty much dead. If, like me, you don’t want to part with your old computer just yet, see if you can upgrade the hardware or software to put it on par with your new gadgets. In my case, I would replace the battery and the keyboard, and plug in a new wireless mouse. Or, after clearing out your personal data (PDF), you can donate working electronics to those who need them.

The next best thing is to recycle your old gadgets, but before you start carting loads of electronics to your nearest electronics collection program or drop-off point, check if they’re working with a third-party certified recycler. You’re probably thinking, third-party what? Well, companies that recycle electronics can be certified by outside organizations (like R2 Solutions and eStewards) and regularly audited to make sure that your electronics will be managed safely. That way, you can rest assured that your old gadget is being recycled in a way that is protective of our health and the environment. Check out R2 Solutions and e-Stewards for a list of certified recyclers.

So, why shouldn’t you just let your electronics sit at home and collect dust, or worse, get thrown away in the garbage?

Electronics are made of precious metals and materials, like gold, copper, and glass. If they’re thrown away, all that precious material that required a lot of energy to mine and manufacture will go to waste. When you recycle your electronics, those precious materials can be used in other products, such as electric cars or watches. You’ll also be preventing the pollution that would have been caused by having to mine and manufacture raw materials. In fact, recycling one million laptops saves enough energy to power over 3,000 US homes for a year.

So while you’re having a blast trying out all the new features on your shiny new gadgets, just remember to put your old ones to good use. I, for one, will be looking forward to the new battery and keyboard to keep my beloved laptop working for as long as I can.

Find out more about what you can do to green your holiday season.

Watch For New E15 Labels on Gas Pumps

Watch For New E15 Labels on Gas Pumps: "
New gas pump labels will soon show up at filling stations across the country designating a new E15 gasoline. E15 gasoline blends contain more than 10 and up to 15 percent ethanol.

Vehicles capable of running on E15 gasoline include:

• flexible-fuel vehicles
• model year 2001 and newer cars
• light-duty trucks
• medium-duty passenger vehicles.

To avoid confusion and possible misfueling, all E15 gas pumps will be labeled to specifically state what vehicles can and cannot fill up with the E15 blend.

Learn more about E15 gasoline.
"

Bike To Work Day on Friday

Bike To Work Day on Friday: From USA.gov: "
Friday is Bike To Work day and events are being held around the country to encourage bicycle commuting. Riding your bike to work is a great way to save money on transportation costs and improve your health.

Here are ways you can get involved from the Environmental Protection Agency:

• Pick 5 for the Environment! Biking to work is one of those simple steps you can do to make a difference where you live. When you Pick 5, just select “human powered modes of transportation” under the Air category.
• Submit photos! If you take pictures biking to work, submit a few to the State of the Environment photo project!
• Share your thoughts! Check out the Greenversations blog post “Bike to Work Day — Who’s In?” about biking to work, and tell us about your ride to to the office or wherever you go.
• Learn more! Find more ideas you can use on the road to cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the nation’s dependence on oil, and save money.

Find more about bike safety and Bike To Work Day events happening in your area.
"

EnergyGuide Labels Help You Select Most Energy-Efficient TVs

EnergyGuide Labels Help You Select Most Energy-Efficient TVs: From USA.gov blog: "


If you’ve replaced your old TV with a big flat-screen HDTV, you may have noticed a rise in your electric bill too. While the new technologies are generally more energy-efficient than the old tube TVs, the increase in screen size often offsets any efficiency gains.

To help you buy an energy-efficient TV, the Federal Trade Commission is requiring that all TVs manufactured after May 10 have EnergyGuide labels marked with the set’s estimated yearly energy cost and the cost range of similar models.

To find the most energy-efficient models, keep your eye out for the Energy STAR label. And for other important considerations when buying a TV, read these shopping tips from Energy STAR.
"

Oil Spill Volunteer / Donation Information

Oil Spill Volunteer / Donation Information: From GovGab: "Things I wanted to write about today: Certain Hollywood starlets being sent to the slammer, the ending to the movie "Inception", the Phillies current performance making me lose my appetite.
However, none of these things make the rankings on the USA.gov FAQ page of the most searched topics by citizens.

In response to the numerous inquiries we have received, today we talk about: the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Each night the news bums me out with reports of how many people and animals are being affected by this crisis, with no real solution to the problem in place. It didn't surprise me that this was the #1 searched topic in the USA.gov FAQ database for the month of June. What DID surprise and please me was that the #1 searched issue was not the disaster itself, but how to volunteer to donate to help the relief effort. I'm thrilled that so many people are eager to take action to help, because placing blame ultimately doesn't do anyone much good.

For state-specific volunteer opportunities check out: Restorethegulf.gov

If you have a boat that can be used to help aid in the clean-up effort go to: Restorethegulf.gov/vessels

If you personally want to volunteer to help, call: 1.866.448.5816

Do you know any other ways to help? What do you think can be done?"

Cash for Your Appliances

Cash for Your Appliances: from GovGab: "In March, I told you a number of states and territories were starting to offer rebates to residents who bought energy-efficient appliances with the energy star label. The rebates are part of the $300 million Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program which is sponsored by the Department of Energy and more commonly referred to as "Cash for Appliances."
Now, almost every U.S. state and territory is offering appliance rebates through this program. Guam and the District of Columbia will be the last to start later this month. The rebates have been so popular in some places that 17 states' programs have already closed because they ran out of funds. If you are in the market for a new appliance, you should check the status of your state's program before funds run out.

People can expect to receive between $50 and $250 in rebates towards the purchase of
refrigerators, dishwashers, furnaces, air conditioners and other appliances. You
won't have to trade in your old appliance and there are even some states with special
programs that will pick up your old appliances and give you money for them.
Have you taken advantage of the "Cash for Appliances" program?"

Send Money to Effective Oil Spill Charities and Avoid Scams [Giving]

Send Money to Effective Oil Spill Charities and Avoid Scams [Giving]: From LifeHacker: "As oil continues to flow in the Gulf of Mexico, organizations helping to heal, assist, and rescue need regular help. Here are trusted, checked-out charities you can donate to, and tips on avoiding less helpful groups and outright scams.

Photo by NASA Goddard Photo and Video.

As was the case when earthquakes ravaged Haiti, a lot of fast-acting organizations, both new and existing, mobilized to help, but some were inefficient, some non-specific about where funds were headed, and some outright scams.

The U.S. Better Business Bureau (BBB) offers a list of 13 agencies working in the Gulf that meet the corporate responsibility agency's Wise Giving Alliance's Standards for Charity Accountability. We've listed, and properly linked, those 13 firms below. If you'd like the BBB's findings on expenditures, governance, and reputation of each charity, hit the link at this post's bottom for individual reports.

• American Bird Conservancy


• Defenders of Wildlife


• Ducks Unlimited


• EarthShare


• Environmental Defense Fund


• Friends of the Earth


• Greenpeace Fund


• International Fund for Animal Welfare


• National Audubon Society


• National Wildlife Federation


• Natural Resources Defense Council


• Nature Conservancy


• Oceana

The BBB is not a perfect arbiter of justice and fair-minded spending, mind you, but its research on national-scale charities seems fairly sound.

If you're looking to donate or offer help to an organization not on the list, or not widely known in general, consider the advice we compiled in avoiding scams during the early stages of Haiti's crisis. We're reprinting it here, in abbreviated form:

• Send money, not stuff. Charity organizations can use your financial help to restock their supplies, but sending clothes, food, or other items is, at best, misguided.


• Charity Navigator is an independent evaluator of non-profits and aid organizations has a list of gulf-related groups that have attained three- or four-star ratings from their studies, and are generally considered trustworthy and efficient.


• If you first see an offer to donate or pledge money online or through a specialized text message online, through Facebook, or in a mass email, be sure to do a good bit of research into the group and the specific offer.


• Check out any group you're not entirely familiar with (and some you are) at The Foundation Center web site, where you can look up that group's most recent tax filing and non-profit status.

If you've found a great group that's helping heal the Gulf coast and wildlife after the Gulf spill, be sure to tell us about it in the comments. Where else have you been able to have an impact?

Gulf Oil Spill Recovery: Tips for Donors and Volunteers [BBB News Center via The Consumerist]

"

Help Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Recovery

Help Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Recovery: From GovGab:

"Over the last week, the National Contact Center has received many questions from people who want to volunteer to help the Gulf of Mexico recover from the Deepwater Horizon incident. Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama all have created webpages for those interested in volunteering and you can also call 1.866.448.5816 for opportunities.
Some people have also asked us about making charitable donations to help recovery efforts. No organizations are soliciting in-kind donations at this time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does have a place where people can submit a technology solution for the spill. Also if you have a dog, you can actually donate your pup's hair to help.
As far as where you can give money, advising people on proper financial donations is always a risky business. As we have told you before, you need to be careful with your charitable donations, especially after a disaster because of scams. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is already soliciting tips about suspected spill fraud on its phone lines. There are some funds that have been set up specifically for the gulf coast oil spill.

Do you plan to help with the recovery?"