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May 29, 2008
More green tips!
May 25, 2008
How to clean your mouse
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Mouse cleaning is a process that is often overlooked. You should clean your mouse about every 6 months (depending on use) or whenever you notice the cursor doesn’t move as smoothly over the screen as it should.
How to avoid a sticky cursor:
Avoid spilling liquids on your mouse.
Keep your mouse pad clean and dry.
Use a slick mouse pad rather than a fabric one.
Clean your mechanical mouse regularly.
Materials Needed:
Tweezers
A can of compressed air
Cotton swab
Rubbing alcohol
Cleaning your mouse:
Unplug the mouse from the back of your computer.
Turn your mouse upside down.
Locate the plastic ring that holds the mouse ball in place.
Using both thumbs, rotate the ring in the direction of the arrows until it won’t turn any further. If you don’t have arrows, just turn it whichever way it will go.
Pick up your mouse and pour the ball and ring into your hand.
Set the ring aside and wash the ball under lukewarm water.
Set the ball aside and let it air dry.
Carefully remove any lint and debris with the tweezers. (You can use a couple shots of compressed air to remove some stubborn lint from the inside of your mouse.) Use caution to keep the can upright so you do not spray moister into your mouse.
Put some rubbing alcohol on the end of your cotton swab (do not saturate the swab) and swab the rollers and the inside compartment.
Let your clean mouse air dry. For you impatient folks, using a hairdryer on a low setting will work fine to speed this process.
Re-assemble your mouse and plug it back in to your computer when you are sure that it is completely dry.
May 22, 2008
Green Computing Tips!
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Energy Efficient Computing
- Do not leave your computer running overnight and on weekends. Also, wait until you are ready to use it before you turn it on.
- A modest amount of turning on and off will not harm the computer or monitor. The life of a monitor is related to the amount of time it is in use, not the number of on and off cycles.
- Try to plan your computer-related activities so you can do them all at once, keeping the computer off at other times.
- Do not turn on the printer until you are ready to print. Printers consume energy even while they are idling.
- Do not print out copies of email unless necessary.
- If you spend a large amount of time at your computer, consider reducing the light level in your office. This may improve CRT (cathode ray tube) screen visibility as well as save energy.
- Most computer equipment now comes with power management features. If your computer has these features, make sure they are activated.
- The best screen saver is no screen saver at all - turn off your monitor when you are not using it. This option is second best only to turning off your computer all together.
- Use “paperless” methods of communication such as email and fax-modems.
- When typing documents, especially drafts, use a smaller font and decrease the spacing between lines, or reformat to keep your document to as few pages as possible, especially when typing drafts.
- Review your document on the screen instead of printing a draft. If you must print a draft, use the blank back side of used paper.
- Use a printer that can print double-sided documents. When making copies, use double-sided copying.
- Always buy and use recycled-content paper. Look for papers with 50-100% post-consumer waste and non-chlorine bleached. Also, recycle your paper when done.
- Buy a monitor only as large as you really need. Although a large monitor might seem more attractive, you should remember that a 17-inch monitor uses 40 percent more energy than a 14-inch monitor. Also, the higher the resolution, the more energy it needs.
- Ink-jet printers, though a little slower than laser printers, use 80 to 90 percent less energy.
- Request recycled/recyclable packaging from your computer vendor.
- Buy vegetable (or non-petroleum-based) inks. These printer inks are made from renewable resources; require fewer hazardous solvents; and in many cases produce brighter, cleaner colors.