What makes a certain computer “hybrid” is well over my head, but I know that if it is using less material, and uses less power, that it surely is green!

Dell has come out with a Studio Hybrid Computer that is 80% smaller than most desktop towers (much less material), and uses 70% less power than most (meets Energy Star 4.0 Standards). The packaging for this computer is made of 95% recycled materials, and comes with a recycling kit.

Besides just being greener than most computers, it has some other great features. The tower is designed so that it can stand vertically or horizontally, depending on your work space, and it has all of the ports you would need in one panel. You can pick from a variety of six different colors, or even choose a bamboo sleeve. The desktop comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse, to help keep your workspace the way you want it. All sold right now for prices ranging from $449 at it’s simplest to $799 with a monitor.

Purchasing other Dell products? When you are customizing your product, Dell will offer several options such as recycling your old computer for free, the option to have Dell plant a tree for a couple of dollars, or the option to have Dell plant a tree and send you a recycling kit for $6.

Know of other companies that are creating greener/hybrid products? Let us know!

Check out Amazon.com and compare prices!

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We all know the importance of having a surge protector connected to our computers so that a power surge cannot damage all of the sensitive hardware, but what if there was a surge protector that did more?

BITS LTD. sells a product called “The Smart Strip” What make’s this device “smart,” is that when an appliance that is plugged into the strip is not being used, the strip will cut off all power to the appliance. This concept is important because of the  “phantom effect,” which means that your appliances can still use power when they are plugged in and not turned on. “The Smart Strip” has several outlets for appliances that cannot be turned off when not in use, and remaining outlets for those that can. Think of the money, energy, and time you will save. Your energy use will decrease, your electricity bills will decrease, and you won’t have to spend your time shutting off each device. We call this one a “no-brainer.”

How smart are your outlets? Consider buying one of these for any important appliances you have hooked up in your home and start saving!

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You might have noticed that on our sidebar we have a countdown timer for Earth Hour, but have wondered, what is it? Earth Hour is a movement that’s raising global warming awareness with no frontiers. All you have to do is turn the lights off at your home, office, or wherever you may be at 8:30 pm on March 28th. Each home counts for a vote. This year’s goal is to have 1 billion votes which will be presented “to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming.”

What are you going to vote for?

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Ever wondered what a certain green term meant? Below is a list of green lingo. Please let us know if you would like other words defined in this blog! This is EcoYourself’s Green Glossary. more…

LG Electronics is bringing green to mobile phones. To be released in green concious Europe by the end of this year, LG has created an eco-friendly cell phone made of recycled products with a solar panel battery cover. The panel can convert solar energy into electricity just by leaving the phone in the sun. Ten minutes of solar energy will provide for a 3 minute phone conversation, which is great for emergencies. Leaving the phone out for longer periods will negate the necessity for charging devices.

Samsung also plans to release their eco-friendly phone (blue earth) made of recycled water bottles by the end of the year.

Making the planet greener one cell phone at a time…

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A Green Village is being proposed in Ithaca, NY for building as early as next year. Villagers will be able to live, shop, and work from home in one of the 400 houses that will make up the zero carbon footprint community. Wind and solar energy will be used along with recycled water for land use.

Walking trails and electric cars (included with the price of each home) will eliminate automobile carbon emissions. However, each home comes with a lofty price of about $300 per square foot, meaning a 1700 square foot home would cost $510,000.

How much would you pay to create a zero carbon footprint?

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