Diy, Green, Home Improvements

Image: jkavo

It’s been a long time coming, considering the massive size of the United States and that we use more energy than any other nation in the world, but the U.S. is finally the world’s largest producer of wind energy. The crown was just taken from Germany, which, despite the fact that it only has 1/27th of the land area of the U.S., has a strong focus on renewable energy sources.

So, in terms of gross production we’re still ahead, but in terms of actual energy use and percentages we’re lagging big time. The good news is that we’re on track to make the Dept. of Energy’s 20% by 2030 goal. However, even that doesn’t quite seem good enough.

Source: EcoGeek

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By now we all know that printing is bad for the environment and can be avoided using things like email, laptops, and scanners (to avoid the copy machine). However, there are times when we all have to print, like driving directions or research papers. Sure, driving directions aren’t ever too long but on those odd occasions when you have to print out several hundred pages of research to make reading, sorting, and citing manageable, ecofont would definitely help.

Anyway, ecofont works by putting little circles within the ink blocks for all the letters, thereby reducing the amount of ink used to print the letters. The creator experimented with different dot sizes until one that saved ink, but did not compromise readability significantly was added. Supposedly, this font, based on Verdana, should save about 20% of your ink.

For installation instructions check out the ecofont FAQ.

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Happy holidays! I wasn’t planning on just saying happy holidays, but I have an announcement! Today I rolled out a new theme for ER! It’s been a long time in the planning and a short time in the making, but here it is! Let me know if you like it or if you’d change anything, since we’re here for you.

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This is one of the hardest tips for most people to follow. There are several reasons to buy new, including mainly the quality, security, and image associated with it. However, not all of these are good reasons. I was inspired by this post to give my own thoughts on buying used instead of new in certain situations.

Trustworthy Products

A few months ago I decided to purchase an iPod Touch. This was just before the new generation was released with the lower base price of $229, so my decision was between a new 8gb unit for ~$300 or a used one for considerably less.

Now, I decided to buy used. This decision not only saved me $140, but it prevented the production of a whole new iPod with the associated packaging, cords, and other junk. Why did I feel comfortable with buying used? Because I trust Apple’s products and the iPod Touch had a fairly good reputation, I knew that even second hand the iPod would be trustworthy.

Here’s how I go about ensuring a good purchase:
- Ebay: First, I check closed ebay auctions to see what the prices were like for both used and refurbished product prices. Usually, if refurbished is only a little bit more I’ll buy that for the warranty but usually you can still save quite a bit by going plain old used, especially if your product has been on the market for a while.
- Craigslist: Next, I search for the same thing on Craigslist. If it’s popular it will usually turn up a few results, and there’s always the chance that a good deal will turn up. Because ebay auctions generally have multiple watchers the prices tend to average out, but Craigslist gives you the option of being the first to jump on deals. Plus, you can see your purchase in real life.
- Amazon: Amazon has become a great place to buy used products in the last few years. Amazon fees are cheaper than ebay so oftentimes very similar products are cheaper on Amazon. For example, DSLR camera stuff almost always seems to be cheaper on Amazon.

Not So Trustworthy Products

When I buy offbrand I tend to buy new to take advantage of warrantees and guarantees from the stores I have bought from. However, buying used from someone you trust can make you sure that the product actually works before you buy it. Surprisingly, knowing that someone has had something for a year and has been satisfied with it can sometimes make you feel better about going offbrand.

Clothes and Such

As I’ve gotten older and can not longer count on my mother to buy all my clothes, I’ve had to take a long, hard look at the way I acquire new clothes. This has been one of the main ways I’ve seen to cut down on buying new. Clothes are one of the many things that you will always have to buy more of over the course of your life, so it only makes sense to try to reduce the impact of those purchases.

However, instead of spending $100 on designer organic blue jeans, you can head to the local thrift store and spend $5 on a pair of old jeans that are likely perfectly good. Not only will you be reusing old stuff, but you’ll be helping the charity that benefits from the thrift store and saving money.

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