PR representatives will often approach me about an environmental initiative some huge company is starting, and generally, those emails will wind up in my trash folder. But every once in a while, there’s an initiative that hits home. HP’s Power to Change challenge is one of those exceptions. So why does it resonate with me so much? Well, because it doesn’t require any money, it’s a simple change, it really can help us save energy (and money) as it claims, and it’s something I need a reminder to do myself. That’s why, as much as I appreciate HP for providing my ENERGY STAR rated DV2 laptop for BlogHer, I am only sharing this campaign because it is something I can honestly get behind.

The Power to Change campaign simply encourages computer users, regardless of whether they are HP customers, to turn off their computers when they aren’t using them. It really is that simple. Just turn the things off when you’re done with them.

We don’t have cable at home, so my husband and I tend to watch a lot of our favorite shows online when we lay in bed for the night. After a long day of work and toddler-chasing, this generally means one, or both, of us will fall asleep before our show of the night is over. And the computer and speakers will stay on all night. I also have a nasty habit of leaving the computer on because I tell myself I’ll be back to use it, then never return. We’ve heard over and over again that we should unplug all electronics when not in use, because they draw ghost power. The same concept applies to our computers. HP also created the Power to Change widget, which will help you track your computer’s energy use and remind you to turn it off.

If you need further incentive to turn off your machine(s), there is a gadget that can help you save even more energy. It’s called a smart strip, and it’s essentially a power strip that has a “control” port. Plug your TV or some other device into the “control” slot. When you turn off that device, it will cut power to the entire strip, so it will also turn off any other gadgets you have plugged in to the same strip. For example, if you plug your computer in to the control port and actually remember to turn it off, it will automatically turn off all your peripherals (printer, speakers, etc.)

(sponsored opp): HP was one of my BlogHer sponsors and provided me with a laptop

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Putting together the eco-friendly man cave for the Green Rooms in a Box series the other day reminded me of two things:

1. How much I love my husband, because I really want to give him a room like that when we have our own home, and
2. How integral our electronic toys are in our everyday lives

Most interior designers worth their fee will tell you that your TV shouldn’t be the focal point of any room. But the fact of the matter is, that way of thinking is a bit outdated. These days, TVs, stereos and other electronics are a big part of our lives, and it’s not always possible to hide them for the sake of a beautiful, magazine-cover ready home. So you have a couple of options. You can hide that big-screen TV behind a piece of art or a folding screen, or you can buy your electronics with aesthetics (and of course the Earth) in mind, so you don’t have to hide them.

I’ll try to present you with more options for beautiful electronics here at Green Your Decor, since it’s unlikely we’ll all forgo our TVs and computers when decorating. These speakers from Pioneer Electronics are a great example of beauty and Earth-friendliness. The speaker boxes are made from reclaimed oak whiskey barrels. Soaking the wood in whiskey gives the speakers a beautiful oak patina and, apparently, a deep, mellow tone. This may sound like nothing more than a gimmicky claim, but all the tech reviews I found claimed there was a noticeable improvement in sound quality over traditional speakers.

I know my husband would get a kick out of knowing where the speaker boxes came from. Of course, if you like building things and happen to have some oak whiskey barrels laying around, you could probably make these speaker boxes yourself. But since neither of those applies to me, I’d consider these a great buy, perfect for a music lover.

Why It’s Green:

• Speaker boxes made from reclaimed oak whiskey barrels

Price: $299/ea.

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One of the things I’ve been looking to focus on more here at Green Your Decor is technology. Gone are the days when interior designers could create a room completely devoid of TVs or computers of any kind. They are an integral part of our lives and often, an integral part of our decor. So as Green Your Decor continues, I will present you with some technology options that are both stylish and green, so you don’t feel like you have to hide your computer/TV/gadgets for the sake of a well-designed room.

The first product in this category is a product that I have used and absolutely, positively love. The (re)Drive from SimpleTech by Fabrik is a beautiful, eco-friendly 500 GB external hard drive that you would be proud to display on your desk. Mine is right at home next to my Dell Studio Hybrid PC, a green computer I will be reviewing later thanks to my participation in the ElevenMoms group. You can see my setup in the photo below.

The {re}Drive case is made of sustainable bamboo and reinforced aluminum with up to 30% recycled content, which is fully recyclable. The bamboo case makes it quite a statement in style, and it also means that the drive doesn’t get hot, which is a big deal for a drive with such an impressive amount of storage. With 500GB, instead of having to delete digital photos when your camera’s memory card gets full, you can simply archive them.

What I also love is that the (re)Drive doesn’t start using any power until it is plugged into both your computer and an electrical outlet, so turning it off is as simple as unplugging it from your computer. This makes it more energy-efficient, and the Energy Star power adapter increases that efficiency. Personally, I don’t want to have to think about the ghost power all my electronics are drawing when they are not in use, so this is a great feature and one I have relied on quite a bit.

Another great feature that has served me well is that it is both Mac and PC compatible — absolutely a must since I have one of each. You literally just plug it in to an available USB port on your computer and it works. If you have a Turbo USB port, the drive will be even faster than it already is. Even with a regular USB port, it took me a matter of a few short hours to transfer all of my huge graphic design files from the 5 or 6 jump drives where they had been housed to a well-organized archive folder on the [re]Drive. Now, all — and I mean ALL — of my files are in one place, which makes for a more organized desk for me.

And even the packaging is eco-friendly. I kept the box it came in knowing that we will likely be moving into our own space in a few months (we’re living with family now), but there is no styrofoam. The outer box and cushion packaging are both made of recyclable cardboard, although the drive itself was in a plastic bag marked #4 recyclable. Many stores like Kroger and Walmart will allow you to recycle plastic bags, so it is no-waste packaging. Add to that free online storage (which I haven’t tried yet) and unlimited tech support, and you’ve got a winner.

I absolutely love this drive, and it is proof that no matter what product you are looking to buy, you can find a greener alternative. Anyone who has a computer could use an external hard drive. If you’d like to give one as a , and this one would be a tech-friendly way to introduce them to green living.

Why It’s Green:

• Made of bamboo and aluminum with up to 30% recycled content that is also recyclable
• Doesn’t emit wasted energy in the form of heat
• Power-saving system only powers on when plugged into both your computer and an outlet
• Energy Star adapter requires up to 90% less energy than comparable drives

Price: $139.99

WANT TO WIN ONE?

The team at Fabrik has offered up a (re)Drive for one lucky reader of GreenYourDecor. Trust me when I tell you this is one prize you WANT to win. So how do you do that? Visit the SimpleTech website, then come back here and leave a comment about something you liked or learned. Do this by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 to enter.

Want to enter more than once? Boost your chances of winning by completing one or more of the tasks on this list. Please leave a separate comment for each entry:

1. If you haven’t already, sign up for Green Your Decor’s email updates by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 16, 2008. You must verify your email subscription to be eligible. After you sign up, FeedBurner will send you a verification email. Please do not ignore it — your entry will be invalid if you do not verify. All current subscribers are eligible to win. And there’s no need to leave a comment letting me know you subscribe by email. I’ll know you’re a subscriber
2. If you’d prefer to receive your updates via RSS, sign up for the GYD feed. Then please leave a comment letting me know that you’ve done so, and be sure to include your email address. RSS subscribers are anonymous otherwise.
3. Blog about GreenYourDecor.com and post a link to your blog entry here.
4. Stumble or give a thumbs up to any page at GreenYourDecor.com via StumbleUpon and post a link to your SU profile to verify your thumbs up.

So that means every participant can receive up to 5 entries. You have until 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, to enter. A winner will be chosen via Random.org and contacted via email. Good luck everyone!

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