ECOITS+newsletter+2010-03

C3HUU ECOITS Newsletter Article
**ECOITS: Ecological Concerns and Battery Rejuvenation at C3HUU** © Copyleft Mark R Smith, C3HUU IT Services

Our ECO group at C3HUU is leading the way promoting more environmental awareness by providing education and information on what **//YOU//** can do to be more respectful of the Earth and her resources, as shown on the web page []

The ** Green movement ** has also come to Information Technologies in a big way over the past couple of years. Our little IT Services group at C3HUU has gotten the bug and taken steps at church to include more **Green** information technologies and a **Green** approach to IT Services in general. We have coined an acronym for a principle centered approach to implementing these concerns : ECOITS. For details see our evolving web page with more details than we could cover here at: [|http://c3huu.org/ECOITS]

We would like to share with you a short summary of what the C3HUU IT Services group is doing to promote the ideals of ECOITS:
 * replaced power hungry IT Services equipment with much lower power equivalents which provide equal or greater function
 * taken into consideration the life-cycle energy costs of equipment used for IT Services
 * purchased computers and other IT hardware from reputable outlets for recycled and refurbished equipment
 * evaluated rechargeable, and rejuvenated, batteries for use across C3HUU to replace non-rechargeable "primary" batteries wherever they work well
 * acquired and tested [|"smart" battery chargers] to rejuvenate some rechargeable batteries
 * donated, purchased, and exchanged computer equipment and electronics from the PTA Thrift Shop, the Habitat ReStore outlets in our area, and the Recycles.org program

We would like to expand these programs outside of our modest efforts on our church premises, first by increasing the awareness of the impact of doing such small things as changing to rechargeable batteries and recycling, rather than throwing away, still useful older office equipment, computers, and batteries. All of us, including our denomination's member congregations, our businesses, even in our homes can review ECOITS principles when looking to replace old office equipment and computers.

We will continue to evolve our web page [] as a resource for ECOITS pursuits. In the meantime there is one activity that we have begun and seek participation from C3HUU members and friends:
 * "rejuvenate" physically sound rechargeable batteries that otherwise would go straight to the hazardous waste stream

On March 7th when the ECO group will have its next regular battery collection an "ECOITS Battery Rejuvenation" bin will be setup to collect AAA, AA, C, and D size rechargeable batteries still in good physical condition. We offer to test and try to rejuvenate these expensive rechargeable batteries that are in good physical condition, but don't //__seem__// to accept a charge. Our goal is to extract more use out of these pricey batteries before they are added to the hazardous waste stream. At $8-$10 for a retail 4-pack of AA rechargeable batteries, these batteries are still expensive enough to spend some time trying to "rejuvenate" them. This is not a new idea; area ham radio groups have been doing such battery rejuvenations for a decade before [|"smart" battery chargers] became readily available and affordable. We have rescued dozens of batteries and kept them from heading to the hazardous waste bins by running them through [|"smart" battery chargers] before discarding them. Successfully rejuvenated batteries will continue to be used at C3HUU with discards forwarded to the appropriate hazardous waste bins, of course!

For now, AAA, AA, C and D size rechargeable batteries in good physical condition will be accepted for "rejuvenation." Please include only batteries clearly labeled as "rechargeable" nickel metal hydride (NiMH) or nickel cadmium (NiCd, NiCad). Also, we can't rejuvenate those batteries with leaking fluids or crystals appearing on the case. We have had good experience using "rejuvenated" rechargeable batteries in some applications such as the Easy Listening receivers for hearing impaired attendees at C3HUU services.

We will continue to seek out more ways our C3HUU ECOITS practices can enhance our Stewardship of this Earth while providing IT Services our staff and members require. If there are other ECOITS topics you wish to see covered, please let us know and join us in expanding the ECOITS web page: https://c3huu.org/ECOITS by sending a message to ECOITS@c3huu.org

© [|Copyleft] Mark R Smith, C3HUU, 2010 [] ECOITS@c3huu.org

C3HUU ECO Links

 * Return to main ECOITS page (references on this page)
 * Smart Battery Chargers
 * Return to main ECO page