Power on the Go

Keeping Charged in College

By Nathan Kaufman

As a college student, I am always on the go and always within arm’s reach of some piece of technology.  Whether I am checking emails on my smartphone or taking notes on my new tablet, the batteries in them are constantly running and draining.  I needed a way to keep them running without bringing cords to class and having to find a seat where I could plug in when needed.

I came across a functional set of bags called Powerbags that can help me with my problem while wandering campus.  Powerbags may look like your average backpack, messenger bags, or briefcases, but these appropriately named totes have a powerful rechargeable battery inside that allows me to charge my electronics while I walk from class to class and even in while listening to lectures in class.  It gives me the flexibility to sit anywhere and not potentially trip classmates when my cord runs across the aisle.

Now, Powerbag has a variety of bags to choose from, so the hardest work was finding the one that fits me.  With my long class days, I needed one of the more powerful bags, which rock a 6000 mAh rechargeable battery that can charge my Blackberry four times over (not that I’ve killed my Blackberry that much in a day).  I needed something large enough to carry all my class materials (3 classes per day) including binders, books, and other essentials.  It needs to be light enough to spend a day with and not cause any back pain.  I limited my choice to Powerbag backpacks.  I was never a messenger bag kind of guy, and briefcases and wheeled bags don’t suit college campuses well.  I also have a laptop (which unfortunately can’t be charged in a Powerbag) so I needed something that would fit that as well.  I went with the Deluxe Backpack because it was comparable to the only other large bag in size (the Business Class Pack) but was a little bit cheaper.  My laptop is also kind of big, so the extra-large laptop compartment was a definite plus.

The Powerbag has definitely served its purpose, keeping my phone and tablet alive while saving me from having to bring a bunch of cords.  When its battery is running low, I just plug it into the wall to recharge overnight.  The Powerbags are also pretty stylish for those that are concerned about their image, and are exclusively designed by fūl.

One Stop Green is looking towards a Greener Future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and Green Technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going Green is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

12 Green Days of Christmas

12 Tips to Have a Green Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas: Get that closet ready! Almost 100,000 tons of old clothes will be thrown away this Christmas, so if you know your getting a new wardrobe, be sure to get your closet ready by donating your old clothes to a local charity.

On the eleventh day of Christmas: Avoid buying gifts that require batteries! New gifts at Christmas often mean that households go through a lot of batteries. But remember, batteries contain toxic chemicals, are not biodegradable and are difficult to recycle. As an alternative, One Stop Green recommends using rechargeable batteries or better yet, try buying new USB rechargeable batteries! By opening the batteries cap and plugging it into a USB connector, you can recharge them pretty much anywhere and save them from otherwise being disposed!

On the tenth day of Christmas: Buy in bulk! Instead of purchasing cans of soda and individual small bags of chips, go ahead and stock up on bulk goods you know you’ll end up using to reduce packaging waste and save on trips to the grocery store.

On the ninth day of Christmas: Getting a new cell phone or electronic product for Christmas? Be sure to dispose of that old phone or electronic through an e-recycling program. Each year, approximately 130 million cell phones are thrown out that weigh over 65,000 tons. Recycle your old phone or electronic responsibly to prevent hazardous elements like mercury, cadmium and lead from leaking into our landfills.

On the eight day of Christmas: Buy a Real Christmas Tree and be sure to Recycle! Ninety-eight percent of Christmas trees were grown on farms, not in forests, so it's not as if you're cutting down an ancient tree. Each year, 10 million Christmas trees end up in the landfills and while your tree won't fit in the recycling bin, you can recycle it through various other methods, one of which is through programs offered by the city to turn your tree into mulch.

On the seventh day of Christmas: Add Organic and Local Foods to Your Holiday Feast! Support local farms that grow sustainable meat and produce. Not only does it taste better, but its more humane towards animals and you'll be doing your part for the planet too. Speaking of buying local foods...

On the sixth day of Christmas: Buy Local Gifts - The impact of transportation contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions and global warming so this Christmas, buy locally made and manufactured gifts from places such as fairs and artisan shops that reduce the added costs of transportation.

On the fifth day of Christmas: Christmas is expensive and that means lots of bills! This Christmas, be sure to sign up for paper free billing and pay all your bills online. Not only will this help you cut down on the amount of junk mail you receive but you'll save some trees as well!

On the fourth day of Christmas: Not all gifts have to be store-bought. Give more while spending less by making personal and unique gifts from scratch. Need some ideas? Check out how to make your own Green Terrarium! fwd4.me/0he8

On the third day of Christmas: Use LED Christmas lights to decorate your home! Save money, use less energy, and invest in long term LED energy saving Christmas lights that will give you all the festive cheer without the holiday electricity bill.

On the second day of Christmas: Re-use gift bags! Save your gift bag or wrapping paper and re-use them for other gifts to use less paper. Try also using the comic section of your daily newspaper to wrap gifts – it’s free, saves money, and helps the environment!

And on the first day of Christmas: Buy Green! This Christmas, consider giving the gift of green and give recycled and up-cycled gifts and ornaments! For more eco-friendly gift ideas and tips, visit OneStopGreen.com – your destination for green living! 

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP