GeekSugar

A Circuit Board Eyeglasses/ID Holder That Is Such a Geek Treat

GeekSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:05:35 -0800

I think this creation of geeky goodness, tops my list for ways to reuse old circuit boards. Etsy seller DebbyAremDesigns got really resourceful when piecing together this one of a kind recycled circuit board ID badge/eyeglass holder (which I'm naturally calling a necklace - hee hee). The artist says:

A funky badge holder made from recycled vintage circuit boards, vintage lucite and glass beads from the 1950's as well as recycled colored "bell" telephone wire from the 1950's! I've also taken very old capacitors from the 1940's and repurposed them into additional decorative components.

I just love how every piece is so unique and different - not to mention, the colorful beads and wire which make it all come together so nicely! Now if only I had to wear a badge at work, I'd be one sexy geek! You can purchase one online for $67.

Circuit Board Recycling Reaches Its Greenest Heights

GeekSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:00:14 -0700

I'm always in for a unique way to recycle and reuse circuit boards, but usually the novelty look of the boards makes for something that's fun-looking, like this necklace, but not objectively cool-looking.

This Circuit Board Pencil Cup, however? Definitely an exception. Check out that color! The neon apple-y green is a refreshing hue that would brighten your whole desk area. And it's green in the other, more important way!

It's so hot it's sold out for now, but similar recycled computer goodies are available from the seller in the meantime.

Circuit Board Necklace Takes a Bite Out of E-Waste

GeekSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:07:23 -0700

Be eco-geek-chic with this recycled printed circuit board necklace. Considering circuit boards account for three percent by weight of the total amount of electronic waste, you are not only getting a geekilicious piece of jewelry, but you're helping the environment as well! Each necklace is totally unique and measures over 1.5 inches wide. Pick one up from ThinkGeek for $20.

Circuitboard Ornament Set: Love or Leave?

GeekSugar — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 10:08:26 -0800

Now that you've got a pink Christmas tree covered with digital photo ornaments why not add a Circuitboard Ornament Set into the mix?! So I may be getting out of control with my geeky Christmas theme, but how adorable are these green circuit board ornaments?

I envision them hanging on a white tree with a string of white lights twinkling behind them. The set comes in a cute gift box and includes a tree, bell and a star with each being looped with a silver thread for hanging. Priced at $20 each.

What do you think of them? Love or leave? Let me know below! Thanks for sharing Calamari!

Circuit Board Chic: Where Tech Meets Art

GeekSugar — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 08:00:35 -0700

A circuit board may simply be a small, insulated board where interconnected circuits and components are mounted, but it has come to represent something much larger. In fact, circuit boards have been a source of inspiration and a material staple for designers and artists of all sorts since the widespread use of the personal computer.

I like circuit board pieces because they seem to embody the complicated and ongoing workings of a computer, but at the same time seem natural and almost organic because of their subtle, earth colors. While tech inspired art and design isn't for everyone, I've seen a real emergence of circuit board designs that are sophisticated, thoughtful - and dare I say - even geek chic.

The selection seems endless, ranging from larger pieces like the Circuit Board Lamps, which are made from reutilized computer circuit board and are stunning with the light shining through them, simple Circuit Board Luggage Tags to these cute Circuit Board Coasters, which are $19.99 from ThinkGeek.

To see some of my favorite items scroll through the widget below.

Travel In Style With Circuit Board Luggage Tags

GeekSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 00:10:51 -0800

You can never have too many luggage tags, especially when they are as cute as these ones! For the die-hard geeks out there like myself, these Circuit Board Luggage Tags are a must have traveling accessory. Not only are the tags memorable, they are cut from recycled PCBs so you are doing your part for our mother earth. Write your John Hancock on the blank address card, which is attached to the reverse side of each tag, and you are all set for a bon voyage!

Get your own set of three at Cyberguys.com for $13.

Got some cool geek gear of your own to share? To learn what a Geek Gear is and how to make one, click here.

Vancouver's Olympic Medals Are Geeky and Green!

GeekSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:33:31 -0700

Last week, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic Games revealed the designs for the gold, silver, and bronze Olympic Medals, and it turns out they have a geeky touch. The medals, designed by Canadian artists, are made from recycled materials from used electronics - 6.8 metric tons of circuit board diverted from landfills.

The medals are the first to feature a curved design, and are individually laser etched - no two are the same. I love the Olympics even more now!

geeksugar's EA Sports Active 30 Day Challenge Begins!

GeekSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:55:01 -0700

Get ready, get set, because I've teamed up with the ladies over at Green Pixels for our 30 Day EA Sports Active challenge! I'm all warmed up after a some fun cardio and strength training exercises, and am excited to see what week two will bring.

Included in the EA Sports Active kit (which costs $57) is the Sports Active Wii disc, a leg strap which will hold the nunchuck in place while you hold the Wiimote, and a resistance band to increase the intensity of certain exercises like bicep curls and shoulder presses. To get started, I was able to create my very own personalized character, customize circuits based on my interest and fitness level and I even got some words of advice from my personal EA Sports Active trainer - Bob Green (as in Oprah's fitness guru Bob Green). This game not only provides you with various workout routines, but that it combines nutrition and lifestyle factors into your challenge as well! And if you have a Wii balance board, Sports Active is balance board compatible - which means you can decide whether you want to include it in your workouts (some days I use it, some days I don't).

Unlike Wii Fit (remember geeksugar's challenge last year?), this game is intended to get you moving and sweating with exercises like cardio boxing, volleyball, squat exercises, cardio dancing and more (tennis is one of my faves!). Let me tell you, the exercises got me sweating so the short cool downs after each workout were very much needed! The intensity you select will determine how long your workouts are (medium intensity routines can range from 25 - 40 minutes).

If you have EA Sports Active it'd be great if you could join our challenge as well! No matter where you are at - starting or finishing your challenge - it'd be great if you could participate. All I ask is that you leave your feedback about the game and some progress notes in the comments below. Keep checking back every Wednesday to read my updates and progress!

Check out how the ladies (and man) over at Green Pixels are feeling after their first few days!

To see more photos of my experience getting started with EA Sports Active just read more.

View 17 Photos ›

What Electronics Can Be Recycled?

GeekSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:01:16 -0700

You can't escape the grocery, electronics or movie rental store without seeing a small cell recycling drop box, but how can you dispose of larger, more ecologically dangerous gadgets? Electronics companies have - or been forced to! - put considerable resources into making their products recyclable. A handful of states have even passed laws that require companies to take back their goods (Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Sony all do so at no charge), but you can always be green by selling or gifting the item, or giving it to a reuse effort.

To get the scoop on electronics that can be recycled, read more.

Accepted AT All Locations	Accepted AT Most Locations	Rarely Accepted
Computer Monitors CPU's (Central Processing Units) Televisions with Cathode Ray Tubes and Flat Panel Displays Printers Laptops Cables Keyboards Mouses	Answering Machines Camcorders Compact Disc Players Copiers Duplicators Electric Typewriters Fax Machines Hard Drives Mobile Phones Modems Pagers Printed Circuit Boards Radios Remote Controls Stereos Tape Players Telephones Telephone Equipment VCRs Word Processors Batteries PDAs Games (Video)	Microwaves Smoke Detectors Large Household Appliances (Refrigerators, Washing Machines, and Air Conditioners) Toasters Fans Vacuum Cleaners Lamps Specialty Cookers

This list is based on data from the EPA. Check out the EPA's guide to where you can donate or recycle your electronics.

Enviro-Mac: How Green Are Those Apples?

GeekSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:00:42 -0700

In case you missed it (and if you did, where have you been?), Apple announced their newly "refreshed" line of MacBooks, MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs at the 2008 Apple Event on Tuesday. Although I'm stoked about the new trackpad, super-sized hard drives, and upgraded graphics cards, I'm a big fan of how green these new laptops are - and I'm not talking about the color.

Apple seems to have put some hard work into making sure this line of portable computers is the easiest it can be on the environment, and have been able to cut down their excess waste from start to finish. In fact, these are Apple's first products to make EPEAT Gold status - the highest standard you can get for your environmental and energy conservation efforts. To see other eco-friendly facts about this line of MacBooks, just read more.

All of the MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and MacBook Airs are made with highly recyclable aluminum and glass, which is free from mercury and arsenic. On the inside, the circuit boards and electrical components are all made without PVC and BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants), which are toxic to the earth, and you!
All new models use their energy wisely: The 15-inch MacBooks consume only 18 watts of power while in idle with the display on. That's 30 percent less than your standard household light bulb!
The MacBooks backlit LED display uses 30 percent less power than before.
Because of the new unibody enclosure, Apple can reuse more materials for other products, reducing the amount of overall material needed.

Since Apple has always strived to be eco-friendly, and has made some impressive energy advancements this time around, I guess my question has been answered: those Apples are pretty darn green!