Welcome to The Digital Environment! The Internet has changed our world dramatically, and not always for the better. Here you can learn about environmental issues related to computers and the Internet and what you can do to minimize your environmental impact.
Trey
Cyber Defender &
Message Center Supervisor
As an environmental activist, Trey believes that technology has the potential to improve our world, but only if it is used and created responsibly. He encourages people to become aware of their actions and to make simple changes in their lives that will have a big impact on the environment.
A recent graduate of the Academy (class of '07), Trey runs the Message Center in Cyberspace. He loves communicating via email because it is quick, easy, and reduces paper waste.
Favorite Quote:
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
- John Muir
Vegetable Curry
Interests:Ultimate frisbee, Gardening, Recycling trash into treasure
November 11 2009
Being Green: Solar Decathlon
I’m so jealous! I just found out about this awesome green contest called the Solar Decathlon, and I can’t compete because I’m not in college! The Solar Decathlon is an international competition where 20 colleges compete to create the best entirely solar-powered house. And I mean entirely. Water heaters, air conditioners, appliances – everything must be powered by the sun! But how do you decide which house is the best? It all comes down to which solar-powered house has the best blend of power, innovation, and beauty.
The competition has been held off and on since 2002. The purpose of the Solar Decathlon, aside from being a cool way to pass the time, is to raise public awareness of new green technology and to make that technology available. I wonder if I could talk Commander Omni into starting a project like that at the Academy. Of course, I’d start with powering something smaller. Maybe a solar powered doghouse…
posted by Trey
topic: Being Green
October 8 2009
Environmental Issues: Carbon Emissions
Carbon emissions, like many other environmental terms, have been in the news a lot lately. So what exactly are carbon emissions? Carbon emissions, mostly carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, are two of the most harmful greenhouse gasses. They get released into the atmosphere from things like cars, air planes, power plants, and factories. And you.
Yes, you. And me, too. How exactly? Well, the computer you’re using to read this is using electricity, right? And your television at home? And your video game systems? We’re all guilty of enjoying things that aren’t exactly eco-friendly, if you think about it. Now, I’m not suggesting we all stop enjoying technology. I’m just saying that if we’re smarter about how we use technology, we can make the world a better place.
Here’s a really simple thing you can do to cut down on carbon emissions. When you’re done with your computer, turn it off. I know it can be annoying to turn it back on and wait for everything to boot up, but it’s worth it for cleaner air. It really doesn’t seem like a big sacrifice when you consider that devices on standby use 10% of the energy in an average house (http://www.popgadget.net/2008/04/give_your_compu.php). Even better, unplug it! Even if it’s off, the battery can suck up a surprising amount of energy. Remember, the greener you are, the happier polar bears will be!
posted by Trey
topic: Environmental Issues
September 30 2009
Being Green: RSI
Hey everybody! I know I usually talk to you about keeping the planet healthy, but today I’d like to focus on keeping you healthy! Ever play a video game for too long or text too often and get sore thumbs? I know I have! Well, if this sort of behavior happens over and over again, it can lead to something called a repetitive stress injury , or RSI. RSIs can happen any time the same motion is repeated over and over again, whether it’s typing on a computer, playing sports, or playing a musical instrument (Kids Health). It can even happen from not sitting correctly in your chairs! Think about it. Right now, are you sitting up straight with your feet flat on the ground? If the answer is no, you might be on a pain train headed straight for Injury-Ville! Population: You!
Anyway, the best way to avoid RSIs is to take frequent breaks and stretch. Get up! Walk around! Get a glass of water! Do whatever you need to do to put down the controller/tennis racket/flute for a few minutes or hours. All good things in moderation!
posted by Trey
topic: Being Green
August 14 2009
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Recycling Printer Cartridges
Did you guys know that you don’t need to throw away your used ink cartridges? It’s true! Many locations that sell new printer cartridges will refill your old cartridge for a fraction of the cost.
Think of it this way – each cartridge you throw away takes anywhere between 400 and 1,000 years to decompose, and on average there are 11 cartridges thrown out every minute across the globe! Imagine how much better it would be if everyone just recycled their cartridges. It’s important to know that not all cartridges can be refilled. Even cartridges that you’ve filled in the past will eventually break down after continual use. When this happens, do not throw them in the garbage! Take them to the store where you bought them and recycle them. Sometimes, the store will even give you a discount on your next ink cartridge.
Just a note to our international readers – using refilled ink cartridges can cancel your printer’s warranty, so be careful! If you’re in the US, don’t worry about it – it’s illegal for the manufacturer to cancel the warranty because of used ink cartridges. And there you have it! Though it may not seem important to recycle your ink cartridges, every little bit helps. Do your part to make this world a healthier place to live!
posted by Trey
topic: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
July 14 2009
Being Green: Keeping CDs or DVDs Clean - Continued
OK! So here’s what I found. On the very first site I checked, the writer warned against brushing the dust off a CD or DVD with your clothes. Uh oh. She suggested running it under warm water or, if you have it, using rubbing alcohol. She also wrote that if you can’t wait for the disc to air dry, the best type of cloth to use is something soft and lint-free, sort of like the cloth you would use to clean off your eyeglass lenses. Now I was getting somewhere!
I popped the disc out of my laptop, grabbed my little bottle of rubbing alcohol, and went to borrow a lens cleaning cloth from Betty. Betty seemed hesitant to give me the cloth, but after I promised her I wouldn’t ruin it, she consented. If you’re reading this Betty, thanks again! Anyway, I poured a little of the alcohol on the cloth, and, starting from the center of the disc, wiped straight out towards the edge. The dust came off so easily! Of course, the cloth looked a little worse for wear… Unfortunately, after the dust was gone I saw the real problem – a massive scratch. The good news is that my Internet research showed me a great, green way to handle this situation – with toothpaste! There are also commercially available chemicals that do remove scratches, but why deal with harmful chemicals if you don’t have to?
I went back to my room and squeezed a little toothpaste on the cleanest corner of the cloth (I’ll totally wash it before I give it back, don’t worry) and began to polish the scratch. The Web site said it was important to use a non-gel toothpaste with baking soda, which is exactly what I happened to have on hand! After my CD was minty fresh, I rinsed it under some warm water. I have to admit I was skeptical, but I figured what the heck, it can’t hurt to try. After letting my disc dry (not in the sun!), I popped it into my computer, crossed my fingers and…success! Up came all my old pics, which I immediately copied to a folder on my desktop.
And that about covers it for my green CD fixing experience! I think I’ll go outside and see if Trey needs any help with the garden.
posted by Dana
topic: Green Computing
July 13 2009
Being Green: Keeping CDs or DVDs Clean
Hi everyone! Dana here. I know Trey usually does this blog, but this month he asked me to help him out! In exchange, Trey is out in the garden getting his hands dirty pulling weeds. How is it that they grow so much faster than the plants I want? It hardly seems fair. Anyway!
So the other day I was digging under my bed for a book on vermiculture composting when I came across an old CD. After I wiped off some of the dust I realized it was a CD full of family pictures my mom sent to me during my first year at the Academy! I cleaned it off on my shirt as best as I could, rushed over to my laptop, popped it in and…nothing. Just some whirring noises and a few clicks. What a bummer! I didn’t want to lose the pictures of my grandma dancing at her 70th birthday or of my dad getting stuck in the chimney dressed as Santa! Determined to get my pics back, I decided to scour the Internet for help.
posted by Dana
topic: Green Computing
June 25 2009
The Academy Gardens
The Cadets did a great job plotting out and planting the garden. This year, we’re a little late getting things in the ground. Now that we have a plan, next year’s garden will be right on time.
She’s been keeping it a secret, but Dana’s been planning this garden for a few months now. She and I did a lot of research about where and how everything should be planted, and we asked Commander Omni for permission to start the compost bin back in March.
I’m really pleased to see all of Dana’s planning and hard work paying off. She hasn’t been nearly as unhappy since she started working outside, and I can see she’s happy that the other Cadets are also excited about the garden.
