Low Energy Computers – The Computer Geek’s Solution for the Energy Crisis

by Sarah Harper

According to a survey conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation, nearly 76 percent of American adults own a computer. What, then, is the environmentally conscious American to do with the knowledge that the average 240 computer (with a 17-inch CRT) uses 179 kilowatt hours per month and costs about $236 a year – almost as much as running a refrigerator for the same amount of time! * Can techies provide us with a viable, eco-friendly alternative to power-hungry computers?

Environmentally Friendly Computers Hit the Market

A British computer manufacturer, Aleutia, has risen to the challenge of creating a high tech, low-powered computer: the E2 Mini Computer. Coined a “sustainable computer” by its designers, the E2’s minute size (4.5” x 4.5”) requires few materials to manufacture and uses just 8 Watts to run.

Benefits of the E2 Computer

If you decide to take a bite out of the energy crisis by purchasing this palm-sized green gadget, you can enjoy the device’s many benefits:

· The computer’s ability to run Firefox® 3, OpenOffice.org, Skype™, and connectivity with printers, webcams, iPod® devices, and other add-ons make it a shoe-in for the environmentally conscious tech gadget junkie.

· Originally designed to be solar powered, the E2 addresses other power-related problems of traditional computers as well; it does not use watt-hoarding hard drives or CD or DVD drives.

· While E2’s access to Google Earth, YouTube, and BBC’s iPlayer® are either choppy or entirely unavailable, the computer’s 1GB RAM provides users adequate storage for most day-to-day computer functions.

· The E2 can fit in your palm, pocket, or Christmas stocking – the perfect gift idea for your computer savvy loved ones (or yourself). Users can also access the Internet and their personal computer files on the go, making the E2 the perfect commuter tool.

· With all that conserved energy and expense, you can treat yourself to a night on the town, a special eco-tour, or a number of other environmentally friendly gifts!

With the Aleutia E2 computer, you don’t have to unplug your fridge, cancel your electricity service, or live by candlelight. Investing in this low energy computer may be the solution to your energy consumption dilemma, your gift-giving conundrum, and your desire to work on the go. Maybe you should be a pioneer and take the plunge....

*Figures found at michaelbluejay.com, a website referred to by Newsweek online.

The Electric Concept Chevy Volt – GM Technology Goes Green

by Sarah Harper

In early September, General Motors (GM) launched one of its latest gems: the Concept Chevy Volt, a hybrid electric car complete with an E-Flex Propulsion System (a 3 cylinder internal combustion engine that compliments the vehicle’s 53 kilowatt lithium battery). The car’s fuel economy (and its white-hot sporty look) is expected to draw consumers seeking alternatives to the environmental and financial issues of using gasoline, as it allows drivers to reduce, in the long run, emissions and gasoline consumption. If you choose to purchase a hybrid vehicle, you can look forward to these and numerous other benefits....

Hybrid Vehicles – Helping Consumers Address the Petrol Crisis

According to the GM website and reports on CNET’s Green Tech blog, anticipated benefits of the Concept Chevy Volt will include:

Incredible Gas Mileage

Short trips (40 miles* or under per day) – this distance falls within the battery’s range, so no gasoline is used. Charge the battery once a day and travel gas-free.

Medium trips (40 – 60 miles*) – battery and engine work together, providing power for longer trips.

Long trips (over 60 miles*) – the gasoline motor works more than in would in a medium-length trip, which brings gas mileage down to an estimated 50 miles per gallon.

Inexpensive Operational Costs

Operating a hybrid vehicle costs approximately 2 to 6 cents per mile, versus 15 cents per mile for solely gasoline-powered vehicles.

Reduction of Emissions and Air Pollution

Hybrid vehicles cause fewer emissions than solely gasoline powered vehicles, although not to the extent of solely electricity-powered vehicles.

Reduction of Petroleum Consumption

Hybrid vehicles reduce petrol usage by as much as 3 to 4 million barrels a day in 2050, according to some estimates.

So is going hybrid the solution to our economic, environmental, and socio-political woes? Although only time will tell, it seems hybrid vehicles may provide a range of short- and long-term benefits to individual drivers as well as the global economy. Should you consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle such as the Concept Chevy Volt? The choice is yours...

*Mileages are approximate.