Any treehuggers on the forum?
Just wondering if there were any treehuggers on the forum, and what their thoughts were on the future of Apple. I'm a big fan of Apple and would love to see them make a Mac mini with a low power Intel chip and a case made from recycled materials. I'd also love to see iPods get replaceable batteries in the future. Some kind of computer return/recycle program at apple stores would be cool too. I'm currently using a 5 year old eMac as my computer which I bought new in 2002. In that time I've had 0 problems with it. I'm hoping it will last a few more years before I'm forced to upgrade. 
Comments
But of course, buying an evil toxic mac is way worse than buying a throw away, eco friendly computer every other year :P
Just keep your machines for a long time and recycle them when you're going to otherwise throw them out. That, or donate/reuse them for other purposes.
*it does appear that there is actual benefit to recycling aluminum
Ah, recycling! my favourite myth*!
*it does appear that there is actual benefit to recycling aluminum
And glass, and steel, and plastic. Basically all of the non-renewables we recycle.
Paper makes the least sense and is done solely to decrease the volume of waste sent to landfills...
I'll give you steel. But the real truth of the recycling industry (particularly curb-side recycling programs) is that they use more resources than they save. Now, it might be that continuing recyclying programs will lead to better technology to more efficiently recycle resources, but that is not currently the case. Penn and Teller did a good ep of their show Bullshit on this subject, or you can google "recycling is a myth;" I thought that this was a good read. Mostly, though, recycling is good only for alleviating the individual's guilt in our consumerist society.
Great link!
I am a conservationist, but not exactly a tree hugger. I try to do my part to minimize my energy use, while maintaining a socially practical demeanor. I am also a giant supporter of nuclear power and research in that subject. Let's get serious: anything other than nuclear power -- preferably fusion as soon as it's avaialble -- isn't going to cut it in the long term. Renewable energy sources like solar are only practical as decentralized, non-primary energy sources.
Couldn't agree more. We need to get over the unfounded fear of nuclear energy based on decades old technologies. France is approaching 100% nuclear power and actually exports a considerable amount of power to surrounding countries. Japan is also highly nuclear but I'm not sure of the percentage.
there's a lot of cool stuff you can do to make the electric meter run backwards. House heating is one of the biggest energy drainers ever, and its also the easiest to do without sapping electricity. Buy a house with a daylight basement, put a big solar mass on the sunny side, and burn wood!
I live in oregon, where tree-huggers are a-pleanty.
there's a lot of cool stuff you can do to make the electric meter run backwards. House heating is one of the biggest energy drainers ever, and its also the easiest to do without sapping electricity. Buy a house with a daylight basement, put a big solar mass on the sunny side, and burn wood!
Burning wood is actually quite detrimental to air quality. Using gas, oil, or even electric heat is usually much more eco-friendly.
*stops hugging tree for a moment and cleans the sap off his shirt*
But of course, buying an evil toxic mac is way worse than buying a throw away, eco friendly computer every other year :P
Just keep your machines for a long time and recycle them when you're going to otherwise throw them out. That, or donate/reuse them for other purposes.
Treehugger checking in. I believe in the aforementioned approach as well. The way we discard our macs can be very important. Especially the batteries.
I'll give you steel. But the real truth of the recycling industry (particularly curb-side recycling programs) is that they use more resources than they save. Now, it might be that continuing recyclying programs will lead to better technology to more efficiently recycle resources, but that is not currently the case. Penn and Teller did a good ep of their show Bullshit on this subject, or you can google "recycling is a myth;" I thought that this was a good read. Mostly, though, recycling is good only for alleviating the individual's guilt in our consumerist society.
Yay, first post! After many months of lurking I finally decided to register.
I'd like to point out that the organization the author of the article is affiliated with (the Property and Environment Research Center) is a think tank based in Montana that receives generous annual contributions from a certian ExxonMobil, whoever they are.
On a slightly related matter, there is definately a new treehugger on these forums. I have all my electronics plugged into a power strip which I turn off at night, use all CFLs in my lightfixtures, and very rarely drive anywhere. However, I will be attending college in California next year, and those jet miles are going to add up.
On a slightly related matter, there is definately a new treehugger on these forums. I have all my electronics plugged into a power strip which I turn off at night, use all CFLs in my lightfixtures, and very rarely drive anywhere. However, I will be attending college in California next year, and those jet miles are going to add up.
Just tell your parents that you don't want to visit them due to the environmental damage it would create.
Burning wood is actually quite detrimental to air quality. Using gas, oil, or even electric heat is usually much more eco-friendly.
partly depends how you burn it. In any case, the wood absorbs all the co2 that it release in burning, so it's 100% carbon neutral to burn wood/biomass. Furthermore these days you can get woodchip burners that are much more efficient than conventional wood burning.
partly depends how you burn it. In any case, the wood absorbs all the co2 that it release in burning, so it's 100% carbon neutral to burn wood/biomass. Furthermore these days you can get woodchip burners that are much more efficient than conventional wood burning.
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, but I find this hard to believe. Nonetheless, buring wood is not practical on a large level because it DOES reduce air quality dramatically. If you don't believe this, go visit central florida in the spring time when they get natural brush fires.