Blackle

Update: Looks like Blackle didn’t give all the facts. Energy efficiency is only made up on the old bulkier (CRT) monitors rather than new slim (LCD) monitors like those used on laptops. CRT monitors are being phased out and it’s rare to see them around much these days (although i’m sure theres a hell of a lot still around) so the numbers are inflated somewhat. It’s not fair to completely lambast this idea, it makes some difference and psychologically it makes you think about the environment issue when you see a markedly different coloured website. But, yes, do what your mum says and always tell the truth. Don’t make money deceivingly or the increasingly-aware internet-empowered society will bite you back.

Interesting story I read over at Innocent Drinks about saving energy consumption by changing the homepage that loads whenever you open your internet browser:

‘When your screen is white, be it an empty word page, or the Google page, your computer consumes 74 watts of energy, and when it’s black it consumes only 59 watts. A guy, Mark Ontkush, wrote this article about the energy saving that would be achieved if Google had a black screen. Taking in account their huge number of page views, according to his calculations, 750 mega watts/hour per year would be saved.’

In response, a black version of the Google search engine has been created called Blackle. I’m sure there’s going to be some counter-claim to this, but i’ve done it anyway.

Change your homepage today and do your bit! (Caveat: some users may have accessibility issues in seeing the contrast of colours on a black page, so go and hug a tree instead.)

Some other interesting eco news recently:

• As much as I despise Starbucks, they’ve partnered with Innocent Drinks recently for a Buy 1 Get 1 Tree promotion. When you buy an innocent smoothie from Starbucks and enter the attached promotional code on the Innocent website, a tree will be planted in India to help combat climate changeand provide income to local communities. Just don’t buy anything else of theirs please.
• Tom’s Shoes is a cool business I heard about over at the Seth Godin blog (a daily must read by the way): ‘If you buy a pair of these very inexpensive shoes, he gives a pair to a kid in the developing world for free. No fine print.’ The shoes are made in Argentina and the free shoes are distributed here too. ‘Tom has turned the shoe into a souvenir. A post-modern shoe, a shoe for people who don’t need shoes, but are happy to wear a statement. This isn’t the first pair of shoes most Americans will buy, it might not even be the tenth. But it will be one that people talk about when they’re wearing it.’
• The man in Seat 61. ‘Maybe you don’t like flying, or are concerned about air travel’s contribution to global warming. Or perhaps you just prefer real travel by train or ship, where the journey is part of the adventure… Either way, The Man in Seat Sixty-One will tell you how to travel overland comfortably & affordably where you might think that air was now the only option.’