After my post a few weeks ago on empty printer cartridges that a clever artist used as art, I got to wondering about what other things used ink cartridges might be made into. A quick search on Etsy turned up these bizarre lamps, made by seller Lowell & Louise, which I find oddly mesmerizing.

The popular term for recycling old materials into something entirely new like this is “repurposing.” These ink cartridge lamps have been completely disassembled and reassembled with suitable bulbs inside, custom-cut aluminum rods to hold the multi-cartridge variety together, and a basic two-pronged power plug. Available as Chandeliers, Hanging Lamps, or basic Lamps, their prices range from $30 up to $120.

They’re definitely creative, but I can’t imagine actually hanging one of these in my home. I mean, I have some Brother printer toner cartridges laying around just like everybody else. But a certain level of “bohemian chic” would be necessary to pull it off, and I’m way too old fashioned. I see them more in the loft of some artsy architectural student in New York or Chicago. But then again, that type of person would probably just make their own recycled furniture and accessories, so I suppose the market for these would sway more towards “bohemian chic wannabe.” I.E., those of us too lazy to recycle our own junk, but well-off enough to pay for somebody else’s.

Lowell & Louise claims that the art nouveau/geometric look of the lamps was inspired by the hanging pendant lamps designed by Charles Mackintosh and used at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland. I’ve included a picture of Mackintosh’s lamps below for comparison.

Charles Mackintosh's original lamps from the Glasgow School of Art

How about those old mouse pads that you tend to have a lot lying around? I know for sure that I have at least five of those things at home. A thought just occurred to me earlier – you can use them for other things and reduce your waste. Here are my top three uses for old mouse pads.

Coasters
I recently moved to a new condo and I have been shopping a bit for furniture and other odds and ends. I just realized that I do not even have to buy coasters as I can use my old mouse pads for them! How to convert a mouse pad to a coaster? Get a circular ashtray (or any other similar object), trace its edges on the mouse pad, and cut. Voila! You got yourself a coaster.

Padding for wobbly chairs
Now this might not look so cool but if you find yourself sitting on an uneven chair, and you start to frantically look for something to even the legs up, why not just cut up an old mouse pad and use it?

Padding for other heavy furniture
One thing that I hate when I move to a new place which is freshly painted is that the walls tend to get scratched easily. That is why I take great care in NOT putting tables, sofas, and cabinets up against the wall. To avoid scratching, I have discovered that cut up mouse pads can serve as a buffer between the walls and the furniture. Just use good old double sided tape and place the pads in strategic locations.

“Every year in the United States, Americans buy, use and throw out billions of batteries. The demand for batteries can be traced largely to the rapid increase in cordless, portable products such as cellular phones, video cameras, laptop computers, and battery-powered tools and toys. Because some types of batteries still contain toxic constituents, such as mercury and cadmium, they can pose a potential threat to human health and the environment if improperly disposed).” – from US Environmental Protection Agency

The Solar Pot (designed by Korean Jangho Kim) is nothing to sneeze at. Simple as the next solar re-charger, it does drive a viable point at illustrating how the simple activity of recharging your batteries (versus throwing them away) helps mother earth grow healthier each day.

We all talk about gadgets here… but hidden therein our marvelous toys is a serious issue to consider. Geeks, we as consumers have the power to steer developments of great and environment-friendly merchandize… let’s unite and make it happen. (which makes me wonder, seriously, if fruit-named gadgets are eco-friendly? hmmm.)

After all, what is the greatest gadget like if we have no planet to enjoy it in.

View more pictures over at TechEblog.
]]> http://www.forevergeek.com/2009/02/laptop_desk_from_floppy_discs/feed/ 0 http://www.forevergeek.com/2009/02/alternative_use_convert_your_vhs_in_a_toaster/ http://www.forevergeek.com/2009/02/alternative_use_convert_your_vhs_in_a_toaster/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:08:28 +0000 Franky Branckaute http://www.forevergeek.com/?p=10883

This seems a perfect recycling alternative to combat that credit crunch we are going through. Recycling with flavour.

I bet you all still have a VHS Recorder lying around somewhere but who needs those nowadays anyway? Why not convert it in to a toaster?!

How-to over at The Instructables.

Reading the title of the entry, you wou would think ‘Why would I do that, I never have beer leftovers! And although I only very rarely drink beer I must agree with that. But the folks at E-Fuel claim that regular household sugar or even beer can generate lots of biofuel with their E-Fuel 100.

For a staggering $9.995 (local tax credits may make the item more interesting).

As a collaboration with a brewery in Sierra Nevada has shown, the E-Fuel 100 is more geared at companies than your average household.

The brewery Chico produces 1.6 million gallons of unusable ‘bottom of the barrel’ beer yeast waste yearly and will have in enough of E-Fuel microrefineries in place in Q2 2009 to power Sierra Nevada’s entire fleet of delivery trucks as well as hundreds of cars in Central Valley.

The MicroFueler weighs about 200 pounds and hooks up to a 110- or 220-volt power supply and wastewater drain just like a washing machine. Depending upon the cost of electricity and water, company founder Quinn claims the MicroFueler can produce ethanol for less than $1 a gallon.

“You just open it like a washing machine and dump in your sugar, close the door and push one button,” says Quinn. “A few days later, you’ve got ethanol.”

E-Fuel 100 datasheet