Reduce e-waste in our land fills!   This thought provoking article, '10 Handy Uses for your Old iPad or Android Tablet' by Michael Cridon, was published in online magazine 'How to Geek' on December 27, 2017.  Many of the suggestions also apply to redundant smartphones.  

"Tablet sales are slumping at the moment, probably as a result of big smartphones and convertible laptops chip away at a tablet’s usefulness. But if you have one or more tablets at home gathering dust while you happily poke away at your giant smartphone, there are probably some good ways to put them to use rather than selling them or recycling them. Here are a few ideas.

Turn it into a Streaming Media Machine  Android and iOS apps for most streaming music and video services are readily available, even if they’re not specifically for tablets. So why not augment a hi-fi stereo or a Bluetooth speaker with a dedicated tablet controller? It’s much easier to manage than, say, a remote control, and in a kitchen a tablet is easier to press buttons on than a smartphone. Pandora and Spotify are obvious examples, but in a living room a shared tablet can be paired with a Chromecast or Roku for easier Netflix browsing or streaming. And speaking of living rooms…

Use It as a Smart Remote Control    Logitech’s Harmony series of remotes is a favorite among videophiles with big AV collections. But the Harmony system can be used with Android and iOS devices too, including tablets—and in fact the touch screen makes them much easier to program. Even if you don’t have a dedicated smart remote set up, many smart TVs and standalone systems like Android TV, Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV offer remote apps for mobile devices, not to mention dedicated cable boxes and receivers. Individual quality of the apps notwithstanding, it can be a much better way to navigate long lists or complex user interfaces.

Create a Desktop Widget Screen     If you have a desktop computer workstation, or even a laptop that you periodically plug into a monitor setup for more comfortable work or play, an otherwise unused tablet can make a great accompaniment.  Paired with a stand and a charger, it can make a handy dedicated email screen (especially with push email and home screen widgets on Android), an RSS, Twitter or Facebook viewer, or even a second screen tool for PC gaming enthusiasts to check their thermal statistics. There are even programs that let you display a screen full of custom commands and macro keys that are then sent to your PC over the wireless network.

Turn it into a Second Desk Top Monitor   Want to live the dual-screen desktop life without having to buy any more equipment? There are several apps that will let your computer treat your tablet like an extra monitor, either wirelessly via Wi-Fi or with a direct USB connection (which also helps with charging). Note that, unlike most of the other uses on this list, iOS and iPads seem to be better supported for external displays, but it’s still possible on Android—just not quite as good.

​Use it as a Guest or Kid's PC   Setting up an entire computer just for guests to use when they visit you is a bit of a chore, but don’t forget that a phone or tablet is basically an all-in-one computer that doesn’t need to be tethered to a conventional monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Using guest mode on Android or iOS, it’s easy to let someone use your system and your network without having to set up a new account for them or grant them uncomfortably close access to your own data. You can even add back a stand and a Bluetooth keyboard to make things easier for them. And of course, tablets are already quite popular as “starter computers” for kids who aren’t quite old enough for a full-power Windows machine or their own cell phone.

Give it New Life as a Dedicated Smart Home Controller   If you’ve invested enough money into wiring your house with smart gadgets like a Nest thermostat, Wi-Fi lighting, automatic blinds, and even connected appliances, you’re probably already using your phone to control some or all of them. Install all of the applicable apps on a tablet, stick ’em in a home screen folder, mount the tablet on a wall with a charger, and you have a dedicated hub for controlling everything in the house. Oh, and you might want to put a PIN number on that thing, too—especially if it’s within kid reach.

Turn It Into a Dedicated Security Monitor or Baby Monitor  Your tablet has a Wi-Fi chip, one or two cameras, and a microphone. That means that if you can find an appropriate place to stick it with constant power, it’s already well equipped to be a remote control camera… which can be a handy way to create one if you’d like to save some dough on the genuine article. There are multiple iOS and Android apps specifically designed to turn an otherwise unused device into either a standard Wi-Fi camera with recording capabilities, or a baby monitor that can alert another mobile device with noise or movement notifications. It’s a great way to re-purpose your existing devices.   (The article included a link to this YouTube video:)

Convert It Into a Mini Arcade Cabinet   This one’s pretty much just for the iPads, because Android tablets aren’t standardized enough to be slipped into semi-custom cases that look like someone took a shrink ray to that ancient arcade machine from your childhood. But the results are undeniably cool: these little stand-up cases include old-fashioned button and joystick controls (connected directly or wirelessly) and uses an iPad’s screen as a replacement for an arcade CRT. There are a surprising number of old and new games on the App Store that are compatible with these gadgets, and the most widely-sold seems to be the branded iCade. Of course you could do the same thing with a regular stand and a Bluetooth controller, but where’s the fun in that?

DIY Your Own Car Stereo Screen   If you’re a gearhead who’s seriously into the tech inside your car’s dashboard, and you’re comfortable voiding a huge part of your manufacturer’s warranty, you could try replacing the head unit of your car stereo with a tablet. This is a surprisingly popular car mod, especially for smaller tablets like the Nexus 7. Check out dozens of guides and breakdowns on YouTube if you’re interested…and remember that in most places it’s illegal to watch a video while you’re driving. These kinds of mods are best for music management and performance statistics, and even then, used carefully while the car is in motion.

Use It as a Dedicated Voice Control Hub   If you’ve been drooling over a voice controlled gadget like the Amazon Echo or Google Home, it might have crossed your mind that your cell phone can already do pretty much the same thing. Ditto for your tablet—heck, Amazon is even putting screens in these things now. Google and Apple’s tablets can both be activated hands free with “OK Google” and “Hey Siri” commands, and they tie into most of the same services. That being said, a dedicated tablet won’t have the rather nice 360-degree speakers or advanced microphones in the genuine article, but for the low price of free-because-you-already-have-it, it’s not bad.

A Note on Battery Life  For a lot of these applications, you might be wondering how to use your tablet untethered and keep the battery going for more than a day or two. Consider that a lot of these suggestions are periodical rather than constant—it’s not as if you need to use a remote for hours at a time. For instances where a dedicated dock or charger is impractical, remember to use your tablet’s airplane mode if you’re not actively connecting to the Internet. Combining low standby power use, no wireless drain, and a battery two to four times the one in your cell phone, most tablets will last for a week or more off the charger.

"There are some basic energy-saving tips that anyone who is conscious of their environmental footprint or looking to save money on bills  will have heard time and time again. These are not those. We’ve gone down the unbeaten track to gather six surprising energy hacks that will take your home’s sustainability levels to the next level.  Game, set, match. 

Pack your freezer tightly As counter intuitive as it may sound, the more you have in the freezer, the more efficient your freezer will be. Avoid buying an unnecessarily large fridge and start getting into the habit of freezing leftovers rather than throwing them out. In those instances where your freezer isn’t full, use newspaper, ice trays, ice packs or bags of ice to keep the space tightly packed.

Get stove smart The smaller the burner, the less energy it uses, so simply matching your pot size to the burner you’re using can save you a huge amount of energy. In addition, only boiling the amount of water you need and adding a pinch of salt to speed up the boiling process can save you energy, and cooking with the pot lid on for as long as possible will help speed up the process.

Use a slow cooker or microwave Despite the fact that slow cookers are on for hours on end and microwaves simply seem as though they would be energy suckers, in fact these smaller appliances use far less energy than the oven. Use these two time-savers and your wallet will benefit, too.

Light up the corners Make the most of your lighting by letting it bounce off the walls to brighten an entire room. Putting a light fixture, like a lamp, in the corner of a room with a lower-wattage bulb will provide your room with an amount of light similar to that given off by a more powerful bulb in the middle of the room.

Redecorate around your heating and cooling If you have curtains or furniture blocking the heating  vents in your home, you’ll find yourself cranking up the thermostat more often than you really need to. Shuffle things around to allow for at least 30 centimetres of space so the air can get out and flow through your home.

Close your apps, use airplane mode and unplug your phone charger Our smartphones demand a lot of charging and can suck up more energy than we realise. Cut this down by closing all your apps to conserve battery, swapping to airplane mode while you’re charging to speed up the process and unplugging your phone charger when it’s not in use.
​
Making sure you’re on the best value energy plan can also help you keep costs down".

​Source:  Energy Australia
https://www.energyaustralia.com.au/blog/better-energy/6-surprising-energy-hacks

Maybe you are not ready to give up the plastic altogether but there are some easy ways to make a big difference in reducing the amount of plastic waste that is a huge burden to our environment. Recycling goes some of the way to easing the issue; however it is a much better option to avoid the use of plastic as much as possible.

Bring your own shopping bag
I am thinking hessian is best. Or why not make your own out of left over fabric? In addition to bigger
carryall bags, you can take your own reusable produce bags or don’t use produce bags at all.

Ditch bottled water
Such an easy way to reduce waste. Keep a refillable bottle handy and take it wherever you go. Bottled water is incredibly expensive compared to the tap. Say ‘no’ to bottled water.

BYO Coffee Cup
Coffee Cups are usually lined with a polyethylene making it difficult to be recycled. Take your own refillable cup....you may even get your coffee at a reduced price!!

Choose cardboard over plastic bottles and bags
Try pasta in a box instead of a bag, detergent in a box instead of a bottle. Even better, see if the cardboard is from a sustainable source.

Say ‘no’ to straws
They are just not necessary. Paper or stainless straws are an option. Get plastic out of the makeup drawer and bathroom

Research microbeads.
Aim for none in your products.

Skip the disposable razor

Re-think your food storage
Try to use glass instead of plastic for fridge/pantry storage. Take your own containers for the left over restaurant meal. Use reusable sandwich wraps e.g.‘Keep Leaf’ eco-friendly bags.

Use cloth nappies over disposable nappies

Shop in Bulk
Consider joining the BSFG Bulk Food Co-op. Keep your eye out for places with refill stations or bulk purchases.

Think about fashion choices
Do you really need another item of clothing?  Consider clothes swapping with your friends and family. Check out the Op Shop.

Travelling?
Try to follow the practices you have at home. Carry a lightweight rolled-up reusable carry bag. Purify the tap water – choose to avoid the bottled water. My daughter recently travelled Sri Lanka, India and Nepal for 3 months and used a ‘Steripen’ handheld water purifier....was fantastic, easy to use, saved heaps of dollars, and heaps of plastic bottle waste.

CHOOSE TO REFUSE
Check out the ABC’s “War on Waste”:
http://www.abc.net.au/ourfocus/waronwaste/
And the website for “Plastic Free July”:
http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/
Also recommended reading:
http://treadingmyownpath.com/2017/01/12/onlinezero-waste-plastic-free-stores/

Wendy Baker
​BSFG Plastic Bag Action Group

Check out this link on treehugger.com - ​https://www.treehugger.com/green-home/11-easy-ways-reduce-your-plastic-waste-today.html

The ABC reached out to community members for ideas on the best ways to keep cool during a heatwave if the power cuts — or if you don't have air-conditioning to start with.  They are energy reducing at any time. 

"Use cold packs and frozen tea towels:

• Cold packs in your pillow at night works great, or fill a hot water bottle with ice cold water, says Nel Edwards.
• Jenny Grimes suggests putting wet face washers and tea towels in the freezer, then draping them over the head and arms and around the neck.
• Spray the bed sheets with water, suggests Craig Gilmore.
• Helen Robinson uses a damp handtowel in the back of the neck, frozen peas for dogs and cats to play with, and frozen watermelon cubes for people, dogs and chickens.
• Hang wet hessian bags, sheets or towels on screen doors or open windows, suggests Robin Smith. Any breeze will cool down once it goes through the wet cloth.

Keep it cool outdoors:

• Have to walk somewhere? Ruby Moon suggests completely soaking a hat with tap water beforehand and periodically pressing the brim to your forehead. She says carrying a bottle of water to pour on yourself can also help.
• Invest in a kiddie pool that everyone can fit in, says Millie Moocher. The leftover water can be used on the garden.
• Kerrie Green says she and her sister used to get a bucket of water to put their feet in. When it gets warm, refresh the water — it's surprisingly successful in lowering your body temperature.
• Anna Salleh from ABC Science highly recommends having a blow-up pool around to lie in and cool off throughout the day.
• ABC Emergency recommends staying out of the sun … but if you need to be outside, wear a shirt, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Sunburn will affect your body's ability to cope with the heat.

It's important to make sure animals are also kept cool and comfortable.
Here are some tips from the Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge's animal coordinator, Jess Moody:

• Put ice in your pet's water.
• Give pets a kid's pool to splash in or drape them in cold towels.
• Use sprinklers, misting hoses and fans to cool pets down.
• Dim the lights or draw the blinds and keep outside animals in the shade.
• Only walk pets in the early morning or late afternoon.
• Make sure you don't leave pets inside parked vehicles.

Remember, animals can succumb to heat stroke quickly — even in conditions that don't feel too bad to a human.

​How to keep cool when you're at home:

• Fill the bath with cold water, suggests Craig Gilmore, and hop in. It's a good thing to do across the day, or just before going to sleep.
• Fill some plastic bottles with ice and tie them to the back of the fan with a drip tray, suggests Anna Salleh from ABC Science.
• Handy tip from ABC Emergency: Draw your curtains, blinds and awnings at the start of the day to keep as much sun out of your home as possible.
• Wear a wet T-shirt and continue to wet it as it dries out, suggests Neil Mcnally — sitting in front of a fan or in a breeze will help with the cooling effect.
• Put bubble wrap on the windows for insulation."

ABC 11 Feb 2017 'How to keep cool if you are struck by a blackout'

Link to Planet Ark's '12 Do's' website to find out more!

Vinegar and bi-carb soda were non toxic products used by our grandparents and parents as cleaning agents before the advent of mass produced, heavily marketed, usually plastic bottled 'specialist' cleaners.  
​
​If you are interested in finding out more about the use of bi-carb soda, you can access 'McKenzie's Bi-Carb Soda Tips and Uses' booklet by clicking on the image.  

Recipes are provided for making a paste (combine 3 tablespoons of Bi-Carb Soda with 1 tablespoon water. Adjust for your desired consistency; a solution (dissolve 3 tablespoons of Bi-Carb Soda in 1 litre of warm water) and for wiping: (apply  Bi-Carb directly to a damp or moist cloth). 

BSFG member and paramedic Jenny often travels overseas, both for pleasure and to volunteer as a paramedic in disaster zones.   Jenny reports discovering a great use for those single use shower caps which are provided in most hotels.  Her idea?  To use them instead of single use cling wrap to cover bowls of left overs etc. in the fridge.  Jenny says they fit well on many bowl sizes and that they remind her of  the durable use plastic covers with elasticized edges her mother used in the fridge.  (I'd forgotten completely about these - and suddenly had a flashback of similar covers in my parents' and grandparents' fridges...) Good thinking, Jenny!

We found this link on http://www.plasticbagfreevictoria.org.au - looks like a fun and sustainable rainy day activity.

How frustrating and what a huge waste of paper to print content from a web page!  A year or so ago I was pointed in the direction of PrintFriendly.com and ever since have used it on occasions when a printed copy was needed. All you need to do is copy the web address you want to print; go into www.printfriendly.com, paste the address into the URL box provided and voila, a print friendly copy which can then be printed or downloaded as a pdf file.

​From PrintFriendly's web site... "The PrintFriendly Story"  - Web pages usually look terrible when printed, and waste tons of paper and ink. It's bad for your wallet and the environment. In 2009, I had had enough, and set to work on solving the problem with PrintFriendly.com. The PrintFriendly team is Taylor Norrish(Founder, Customer Support, and Light Tech Stuff) and Manu Janardhanan (Programming, Servers, and Serious Tech Stuff).'​

 Source: North East Waste & Recycling Recovery Service--What Can I Recycle? 

Do you know that there are 'green hacks' and 'digital green hacks'... and that you can find digital green hacks at http://bienvivreledigital.orange.fr (in French... need to click to translate). 

Digital green hacks are keen on 'e-cleaning' and adopt practices such as

• sorting emails as soon as they receive them
  
• deleting the biggest emails - sorting emails in size allows them to delete the biggest emails quickly
• clearing out the spam folder and unsubscribing from unnecessary newsletters
• emptying the trash folder regularly

On our 'Links' page you will find a link to the 'Ecoportal'.  The Ecoportal's 'Articles' page is a wonderful source of light ideas.  Articles are written for and sourced from the weekly 'Living Lightly' column in the Border Mail.  'Light Ideas' abound!  You can also subscribe to the Living Lightly mailing list from this page. 

On December 2nd, 'The Joy of Op Shopping' by 'eco-friendly Mum Melissa Kane', featured in the Living Lightly column.  It's well worth reading through the articles!  

Here's the direct link to the 'Living Lightly' articles on Ecoportal - http://ecoportal.net.au/articles/