GeekSugar

Ask a Geek Girl: What Do I Do With My Old iPod?

GeekSugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:45:01 PDT

For this installment of Ask a Geek Girl, TeamSugar user amers230 asks what she should do with her old iPod, now that she's received the new iPod of her dreams:

As a special surprise for my birthday my parents bought me the new iPod I've wanted for forever. Now that I have my 80GB Classic, I have no use for my 3-year-old 20GB. Thing is, I'm not sure what to do with it now. I'm asking around to see if any friends or family want it, but no one really is interested. I could just sell it on eBay for five or ten bucks, but I was really wondering if anyone knows of some sort of donation center.

To see my answer, just

I'm glad you're asking about recycling your iPod, since you'd be surprised how many people just toss them in the trash and end up polluting the earth. Thankfully, I have a couple donation options for you. First off, Apple offers a free recycling program throughout all of their retail stores in the US. Just drop off your old iPod to your nearest Apple Store, and in addition to saving Mother Earth, you'll get a cool 10 percent off of your next iPod purchase.

If you want to donate your old player to charity, I'd check out RecyclingForCharities. Not only can you donate your iPod, but you can also send in your old computers, cell phones, printers, digital cameras, and PDA's to a charity of your choice. Just print out your shipping label and fill out your tax forms (since donating your electronics is tax deductible), and off they go!

Has anyone else donated your old electronics? Tell us what service you used in the comments below!

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Take Care Of Your E-Waste This Earth Day

GeekSugar — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 10:00:37 PDT

Today is Earth Day, which means you should take the time to do a thorough E-waste spring cleaning! Did you know that every year more than 3.2 million tons of electronic waste is disposed in landfills? When computers, TVs and cell phones go to landfills, they can leak lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, selenium, chromium, and many other toxic materials into drinking water and have serious effects on our health. Thankfully companies like Sharp Electronics are celebrating Earth Day for the entire month of April. For all customers who buy a new Sharp LCD TV (measuring at least 37 inches), Sharp will recycle their old TV for free. When your new TV is delivered, the company will even pick up your old one. Do your part this Earth Day (and everyday) to preserve and conserve our planet. Below are some tips and suggestions to help you go gadget green this Earth Day!

Reuse and Recycle Your Gadgets Try re-using old computers and cell phones by giving them to a younger sibling or friend. You can even donate them to a local organization or a church or school. Do a bit of research and see if there is a recycling service in your community. If you exercise all of the options above and decide that you must dispose your electronics, make sure that you do not give anything to a recycler who ships waste overseas; as this just transfers the problem elsewhere.
Check out E-Waste Recycling Sites For more info, visit great NGO computer donation and recycling sites like: Used Computer, Share Technology and Earth 911

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Earth Day Deals, Bridal Week Backstage, and More

BellaSugar — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 03:08:50 PDT

Check out our latest BellaTV episode and some of our favorite stories from the week:

Earth Day is here! Save money while you save the planet.
Steal ideas from Bridal Week 2012: Badgley Mischka, Angel Sanchez, and Isaac Mizrahi.
Spend your tax refund wisely . . . at the spa, of course!
See the hottest celebrity looks from Coachella.
Catch up on DWTS with beauty tips from Cheryl Burke.
Get festival-ready with this easy scarf turban how-to.
Learn how to make tangerine lips look good for you.
Ten all-natural ingredients you will want to buy this Earth Month.
Revamp your red lipstick with these easy additions.
No makeup artist required: these celebrities choose to DIY.

Celebrate Earth Day This Weekend With These Tips

Leta Shy — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:01:59 PDT

Earth Day is on Sunday. It’s a time to think about how our daily routines are impacting the environment, while also helping us remember that our resources are not infinite. If you'd like to green your life even more, here are some ways you can celebrate Earth Day this weekend:

Time to recycle: Have an old pair of running shoes that just aren't cutting it anymore, or a yoga mat that's seen its share of Downward Dogs? Before you chuck them away, read our guide on where to donate your used sneakers, yoga mats, clothes, and more, and spend some time this weekend culling and donating your fitness gear.

Shop smart: If you're stocking up this weekend at the grocery store, make smart decisions that will be good for you and the Earth. Don't forget your reusable bag, choose local, organic foods, and try to avoid products with too much packaging to shop eco-friendly. Read more tips for greening your grocery shopping here.

Green your fitness: This weekend, take advantage of the nice weather and move your workouts outside. You'll use fewer energy resources if you trade the treadmill for an outdoor run.

Shop sustainable: Besides donating old clothes for recycling, you can also take care to buy brands that are known for their eco-friendly practices. Many companies use recycled materials, sustainable fabrics, or resource-saving production practices to make high-quality fitness gear. Read our list of some eco-friendly fitness brands here, and shop our favorite eco finds here.

Check out more ideas to green your healthy routine here.

9 Eco-Unfriendly Moves That Are Losing You Money

Emily Co — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:51:07 PDT

Earth Day is coming up and although we usually celebrate by telling you what you should do, sometimes it's easier to listen to advice on what you shouldn't do. Not being environmentally friendly adds a huge cost to your wallet and your environment. Here are a couple of eco-unfriendly moves you should avoid doing:

Not using public transportation: Even if you do have a car, try to switch off with public transportation intermittently. The less cars out there, the less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are generated. You'll be saving the environment and money on gas as well. Further, taking public transportation is even known to help you lose weight as well.

Not unplugging your electronics: Leaving your electronics plugged in when you're not using them means that the gadgets will keep sucking up the energy when not in use. The average household actually loses about $200 a year from vampire energy usage, so make sure you're unplugging your appliances when you're done. Here's a tip: try to attach your gadgets to the same power strip so all you need to do is switch it off to disconnect several appliances at one go.

Not bringing your lunch to work: If you keep eating out every day, not only are you wasting money, but you'll also be adding more waste to landfills because of the disposable packaging used to contain your to-go food. Make your own lunch and use tupperware and cutlery that you can easily wash and reuse again.

Not borrowing from and sharing with friends: Start making it a habit to share and borrow items from friends. For example, pass around a book or magazine that you guys are both interested in. There's no point in buying items (like power tools, a fancy dress, DVDs, etc.) that you will only use occasionally, because it's an unnecessary expense that will just add to the clutter in your home. Read these guidelines for borrowing from your friends without annoying them.

Read on for more

Eco-fy Your Wedding!

GeekSugar — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:17:14 PDT

In honor of Earth Day (and wedding season here on PopSugar Network) we're serving up some easy and simple ways to make your wedding just a bit more earth friendly from a geek's perspective. These days, getting down with protecting Mother Earth can be simple.

From your wedding shower, to the big event and to all the details in between, little changes can certainly help our planet and our pocketbooks! Making your wedding eco friendly has never been more simple (and surprisingly) cost effective. Besides, wouldn't you rather spend all that extra cash on the honeymoon, or better yet? That flat screen HDTV you've been eyeing? Go, Earth!

Invites - We've already talked about how a wedding website can save you time, money, and the planet, and since all of your ceremony and reception information is in one place, no one will be losing the details on your big day. Allowing your guests to RSVP directly on the site at any time can reduce or negate the need for paper invites. However, if you are a traditionalist and want to send out your dream monogrammed paper invitations, make sure your paper is 100 percent recycled.

For a few more tips, just keep reading.

Easy Ways to Green Your Fitness and Daily Routine

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:38:43 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

You carry your own water bottle, use a reusable shopping bag, and sort your recyclables from the trash. Here are more easy ways to green your daily routine without thinking about it.

Choose Wisely

Look for eco-friendly companies when shopping for workout clothes and gear. Gaiam, Patagonia, and GoLite are just a few of the companies that use organic fibers in their clothing and accessories. Green your yoga session by investing in a mat made from sustainable ingredients, like Manduka's eKO Mat.

Reuse Old Fitness Gear

If you've Downward Dogged your yoga mat into tatters or have equipment from your days of being in the neighborhood soccer league, blow off the dust bunnies for a cause. Bring new life to your old gear through these programs.

Recycle Your Mat: Send your old mat (or drop it off at a participating location), and this company will work with other organizations to find creative new uses for it.

Sports Gift: Organize a collection in your neighborhood, school, or office for old gear like soccer balls, tennis rackets, and athletic shoes, and this nonprofit will ship them to underprivileged children worldwide, so they can enjoy sports too.

Reuse-a-Shoe: Donate worn sneakers to Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program, and they'll turn your pair into material for playgrounds and other Nike products. Find a drop-off location or start your own shoe drive at Nikereuseashoe.com.

Keep reading for more green fitness tips.

Savvy Links: Is It OK to Use a Coupon on a First Date?

Emily Co — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:28:03 PDT

Is it OK to use a coupon on a first date? - Budgets Are Sexy
Achieve greater financial intimacy with these five tips - LearnVest
11 hotels that'll help save the Earth while you travel it - Tecca
Am I too young to want a baby? - HuffPost Women
How to save $5,000 this year - Real Simple
Ways to beat bill shock - Bankrate
Amazing true stories that end with "I quit!" - The Grindstone
Your daily work commute is slowly killing you - The Jane Dough
10 cheap, tasty wines to get you through tax season - Wise Bread
Combat clutter: tips on organizing everyday items - AllYou

3 Ways to Eco-fy Your Beauty Routine

BellaSugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 06:00:00 PDT

In honor of Earth Month, Josie Maran (pictured left) is rereleasing her eponymous brand's cult favorite argan oil with an added charitable element. The beauty entrepreneur even recruited some of her model pals, Petra Nemcova (pictured right) and Angela Lindvall, to design the limited-edition bottles ($52 each) for the line's Model Citizen campaign. Available at Sephora, through QVC, or on Josie's site from now to mid-Summer, 10 percent of the profits from the sale of the oils will benefit the Happy Hearts Fund (through Petra's design), Healthy Child Healthy World (through Angela), and Women For Women International (through Josie).

Additionally, Josie and Petra are sharing their tips for going "chicological" (that's chic, high-performing, and ecological) with us. For starters, "I think using kinder, gentler, healthier ingredients overall - especially if you're wearing makeup every day - makes a huge impact on the beauty of your skin," explains Josie. See more of what the duo had to say about greening your beauty routine, when you read more.

3 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint With Your Workout

Leta Shy — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 03:05:46 PDT

Now that it's April, we're thinking about Earth Day, when we celebrate our continuing commitment to reduce waste and do our part for the planet. Calculating and reducing your carbon footprint, the amount of environment-unfriendly emissions it takes to make it through your day, is one important way to go eco. So how does your workout factor in? Here are three ways to reduce your carbon footprint while you exercise.

Commute as workout: The average commute takes about 15 miles each way, which can translate into over a ton of carbon dioxide emissions per year. If possible, try biking to work once or twice a week: it can help save you time, since you won't have to worry about fitting in a workout that day, and cutting out drive time just a few times a month will cut your carbon footprint. Never biked to work before? Here are some tips for how to bike to work safely.
Skip the gym: It's not just driving to work that can add up in emissions. Driving to the gym can also rack up carbon emissions, as can all the energy and resources it takes to keep you cool and comfortable once you get there. Running, biking, even strength training outside can be more convenient and more fun than trekking to the gym every day. Plus, working out at home can cut down on a lot on resources, like all those extra towels or the energy it takes to power a treadmill.
Heat up naturally: Hot temps may be on the horizon, but Spring days and nights can still be chilly. That can mean turning up the heat on the thermostat to stay comfortable or opting for a comfortable car ride over a walk to the store. Wherever you are, raising your heartbeat for just a few minutes can make things comfortably warm. If you're taking a walk, increase your pace or do a few minutes of lunges first. If you're cold at your desk, do these five discreet strength-training moves at your desk. You'll be burning calories and raising your body temperature without having to turn up the heat - keeping your thermostat down by two degrees can save you one ton in carbon emissions if you do it throughout the year (along with raising the temperature of your air conditioner in the Summer).

Turns out, your workout can really help your eco-friendly ventures! If you need more ideas to help offset your carbon footprint, here are more ways to green your fitness.