webdevmatt

So we are looking at a new challenge facing IT and it’s users. A shift from security v. usability to green v. usability. We have made the pledge for green and we must comply. We as users have to understand the commitment we are making and look at this as a positive change, not an inconvenience.

History
Security policy has always been a mode of contention between IT and it’s users. Whether it’s entering passwords, or even more obtrusive the old time out for inactivity. “15 minutes isn’t enough time.” has been an age old rumbling.

Next Step
With that short piece of history. Now we are going green with IT, and will be following EPA recommendations which has the potential to compound these rumblings.

1. The screen will go dark after 5 minutes, a definite challenge for those doing presentations. Will there be any reprieve for this type of activity.
2. The hard drive will go to standby or hibernate mode after 30 minutes. I have heard the occasional rumble of “45 minutes isn’t long enough.” This action will require a press of the power button and a logging in at the security window.

A new battle has begun. We must change our thinking once again in order to adhere to our commitment to lowering our carbon footprint. This is a good thing, and maybe even a point of discussion when our screens time out during a presentation, it’s all positive.

As I watch cars skid out in font of me and allow the ambulance by I’m riding in another star performer in a hybrid. If you remember from previous, posts, the Prius did a nice job in the snow there was just an issue with its longer front end and low clearance when going into the slightest angled entrance or exit. the Altima has a much higher clearance but we will have to see how it performs as the snow gets higher.WELCOME TO WINTER.

IT WAS A SUCCESS :)! Air drying my clothes, while it’s the green alternative, for me it appears to be the convenient option. While I spent about 5 - 7 extra minutes up front hanging the clothes they were dry the next morning and, they were already hung up :|, saving that same 5 - 7 minutes and or the procrastination of a week or two of hanging them up after they come from dryer. In addition, I didn’t have to go up and down the stairs to restart the dryer, which usually happens sometime between 1 minute - 1 day after the dryer goes through its first cycle.

I have read some articles about speeding the process of air drying, but for now I will stick with the hang and wait. If my lifestyle changes sometime in the near future or someone wants to see how fast one can air dry clothes I’ll give it a go. Until next time “Stay Green USA”.

Another week, another green act. The clothes dryer is the #1 consumer of fuel in your home, when used. So today I start air drying my clothes. One small step to a greener earth you ask we’ll see. I’m curious of the effectiveness of this technique, especially when done indoors.

With my dryer my clothes take quite a long time to dry in general, so I’m not sure this will effect my lifestyle to much. Especially since I typically need to add more time to the dryer during the process my clothes can take up to a day and a half to dry in the dryer. With this technique all I need to do is to, all together, “SET EM AND FORGET EM”.

While I have read techniques for speeding up the process, I’m starting with a baseline of, out of the washer, onto hangers, and starting the clock. I’ll keep you all up to date on this experiment, and if you have any tips, please, let me know. Better yet if you don’t have tips and currently use a dryer, try the air drying, what do you have to loose?

So I’ve been driving a Prius for the past 4-6 months, and it has been a pleasure. Runs well in the snow, very reliable, might take a while to heat up on the bitter cold mornings, but, all and all quite a pleasant experience. So my next step is to purchase a green machine. I’m up in the air right now on which I will be getting, but my main concern will be getting the right one for the environment that will satisfy my need for an A - B machine with all the tech goodies. I’ll keep you posted on my decision, and the information I find on the competitors.

Front runners :
1. Nissan Altima
2. Toyota Camry
3. Toyota Prius