Apple’s Leaving the Green Scene

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Apple has recently run into some complications with their claims to be one of the greenest computer manufacturers in the world. Despite their previous attempts to beat out Dell as the most eco-friendly computer company, Apple’s newest MacBook Pro has steered this angle the company once had into a completely different direction. This is quite a startling piece of news, as even Greenpeace at one point gave Apple a thumbs up for their “ever-greener” products; however now this portion of their MO has fallen off the wagon in a very drastic way.

The latest Apple release of the newest MacBook Pro with Retina Display has been dubbed one of the least repairable computers ever, while also boasting a non-replaceable glued-down battery, leaving consumers to be forced into Apple Support as the only way to repair their computers should something go wrong. Not only this, but they withdrew themselves from the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), a certification program that requires participating companies to meet certain environmental standards. Now, we’re just thinking out loud, but wouldn’t it be important for a company who’s boasting “the world’s greenest lineup of notebooks” to be part of a certification program ensuring they’re legitimately meeting the set environmental standards?

After a bout of bad press, Apple decided to go back on their decision to remove itself from EPEAT, and all of their products are now back on the wagon and meeting standards. However, it makes us wonder what they’re up to that would make them want to remove themselves from something that presents immense value to their customers. Is this due to the changing of the guard since the death of Steve Jobs? Despite their EPEAT re-instatement, once thing is certain: Apple’s motives to “go green” are obviously compromised for one reason or another.

Apple’s clearly removed themselves from the running in being the greenest computer company…but why? For a while their eco-friendly marketing and policies were doing quite well for them, but now with this new move away from all things green, and then back again, we’re not really sure what to expect. What do you predict for the future of Apple? Will they return as a green Goliath, or turn the page and remain a distant ex-girlfriend of the eco-friendly computing world? Join the conversation with us on Twitter to share your thoughts.

photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/amazonsales/7181624907/

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Optimum Efficiency

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We seem to talk a little bit on here about how to stay productive, especially in the office, which is a seemingly never-ending battle between employee and workplace. However, today we are going to look at a whole different type of efficiency: energy efficiency. Now, don’t worry, we aren’t preaching energy conservation again; today we’re going to show you how by simply sitting at your desk, whether you’re sending e-mails, taking part in a webinar, or doing absolutely nothing, you can still be efficient…energy efficient that is.

A Swedish designer by the name of Eddi Törnberg has designed what may possibly be the most efficient work station ever. The concept behind this work station is that it runs on energy created by the user while they’re working. For example, the seat of the chair is specially designed to convert body heat into electricity, which can in turn be re-distributed to the work station. Another portion of this sustainable work station is a pressure sensitive carpet, which, if subject to any movement (tapping feet, chair ruffling or rolling, etc.) can generate a charge as well. Lastly, a plant is placed beside the work station creating electricity through photosynthesis and acting very similarly to a potato battery.

Though this is more conceptual than functional, the idea of creating self-sustaining work stations that produce and consume its own electricity is a very strong step towards making sustainable energy achievable and realistic. By simply sitting down and working at a desk, hopefully, one day we’ll be able to entirely depend on the self-produced energy versus 3rd party supply.

photo courtesy of EDDI TÖRNBERG

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Back to the Basics

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Technology and industrialization have played a large role in the past century, carrying humanity to its current state. We have houses as big and creative as we want, with more power and air conditioning units than we could ever need, with fast cars in the driveway…you get the idea. But, every once in a while, amidst this grid of technological infrastructure, some choose to take things back a notch, and explore the concepts of construction through more natural and sustainable methods.

One example of these is a very unique village resort in the Himalayas built by dry-stacking wood and stone without the use of cement. Now, by the sounds of it, this place can’t possibly that magical without the basic constructive element of cement…prepare to be amazed: http://www.ecofriend.com/himalayan-resort-made-dry-stacking-stone-wood-cement.html Not only is the village resort functional, but aesthetically gorgeous, architecturally marvelous, and a truly appealing vacation spot.

The notion of construction through post-dated methods seems so foreign to us, but why? Humans inhabited the earth and built many astounding things without the modern technological advances we’ve made, meaning these methods were discarded through progressiveness; however it’s not to say that these methods shouldn’t be re-visited, as they are clearly applicable to modern construction when looking at the village mentioned above.

Just because something new comes along to replace the old doesn’t mean the old needs to be so rapidly discarded. We should be re-visiting previous methods more often for menial and advanced tasks, because these methods clearly worked before, definitely could do so again. If we can build playgrounds out of recycled potato peels and veggie oil, there shouldn’t be any reason for us to explore more eco-friendly construction methods as humanity advances.

photo courtesy of http://www.ecofriend.com/himalayan-resort-made-dry-stacking-stone-wood-cement.html

 

 

 

 

 

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