5 Ways Technology Can Help Us Cut Back on Clutter

In many ways, technology has made our lives more cluttered. Just think for a moment: how many chargers and unused gadgets are sitting around your house? We're guessing more than a few. On a larger scale, improved technology has led to massive amounts of waste-for example, the switch to digital TV in the U.S. caused a 70% rise in e-waste earlier this year. But this doesn't mean we should all become Luddites and throw away our beloved electronics. Technology can, in fact, help cut down on the amount of unnecessary stuff in our lives-if you know how to use it. Check out some of our tips.


1. Get Rid of Your TV
OK, we realize that this sounds drastic, but many of the most popular network and cable shows are available free of charge on websites like Hulu. The iTunes store also provides downloads for thousands of TV shows and movies-for a price. If you're not ready to toss the big screen, consider cutting down on your movie collection with a DVD rental service like Netflix. And if you're really handy, consider ditching your VCR altogether and streaming movies from a computer to your TV. http://mylifescoop.com/featured-stories/2009/12/alton-brown-has-fun-with-kitchen-gear.html

2. Embrace E-Readers
E-readers like the Amazon Kindle don't have that homey old book smell, and they certainly don't look nice sitting on a bookshelf. But when it comes to saving paper, they can't be beat. If you really can't stomach the idea of reading "War and Peace" on a computer screen, at least think about using an e-reader for your magazine and newspaper needs. You won't find the Kindle lacking for selection-the device has over 360,000 books, newspapers and magazines on tap.

3. Harness the Power of the iPhone
Sometimes it seems that there is a nearly endless supply of apps for the ever-trendy iPhone. Unsurprisingly, many of these are geared towards helping us make better and more environmentally-conscious shopping decisions. Grist has a great guide to some of the best green iPhone shopping apps around. Among our favorites: GoodGuide, 3rdWhale, and shopgreen http://mylifescoop.com/featured-stories/2009/12/alton-brown-has-fun-with-kitchen-gear.html .


4. Stop Printing So Much
We've all seen e-mails that sign off with an admonition to "Consider the planet before printing this e-mail", yet many of us continue to shamelessly print unnecessary documents. One quick way to cut down on printed pages is with GreenPrint, a piece of software that removes filler pages-i.e. pages with lone URLs or images. And saving on ink is easy if you know which fonts to use. Need to hand over a signed document? No problem. Services like DocuSign let you deliver a certified e-signature.http://mylifescoop.com/featured-stories/2009/12/alton-brown-has-fun-with-kitchen-gear.html

5. Invest in Rechargeable Batteries
We take for granted that many of our electronics come with rechargeable batteries-cell phones, computers and iPods come to mind. But for all the other gadgets that use throwaway AA's, consider investing a little extra cash in rechargeable models. USBCell's batteries recharge in 5 hours via any free USB port on a monitor, laptop, keyboard, or game console. For even more options, check out Metaefficient's list of the year's best rechargeable batteries and chargers.

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Inhabitat is an online magazine devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and design towards a smarter and more sustainable future. Written by a young tech-savvy team designers and design journalists, Inhabitat delivers fresh content daily, showcasing emerging work from the cutting-edge of the global design community.