Super Eco

Photo credit: whatleydude on flickr

The jury is still out in the case to prove that cell phone radiation causes abnormalities in the brain but considering that motorists who use cell phones while driving—even hands free--are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves or someone else, it makes sense to treat our cell phones, our fellow humans and the environment with a lot of love and respect.

Personally I love having and using a cell phone they are so darn wonderful for so many reasons and are at the same time such a temptation to abuse. Aside from the etiquette factor it is so easy to convince oneself that just this once it won’t be problem to use it hands free while I’m driving or to try to call someone when my signal is bad.

Delaying gratification does not come easily to most of us and yet it is so important to practice it and to teach it to our children. So let me step off of my soap box and share some tried and true tips for optimizing and greening your cell phone usage:

1. When you cannot talk or are not using your cell phone---during meetings, on the bus, while driving etc., power it off completely so that you are not wasting battery power.
2. Charge your phone only when it needs to be charged and unplug the charger itself from the wall when not in use, they are a surprising energy suck!
3. Power your phone off when charging, it will charge faster, more completely and help to prolong your overall battery life.
4. Don't use your blue tooth as a fashion accessory! You may look terribly important but this drains your battery very quickly.
5. Remember that batteries like to be cool, try not to leave your phone in the sun or expose it to unnecessary heat, this will shorten battery life.
6. Try not to use your cell phone while roaming as this burns a lot of battery. Find out where cell towers in your area are an wait until you have a strong signal.

When it is time to shop for a new phone, remember to donate or recycle that old phone and take the time to research and make an eco-friendly choice!