If Cyber Monday was an indication, electronic gifts are huge for this year’s holiday gift lists. Before you buy more computer hardware, computer peripherals, and computer toys, go through what you have and donate it. It’s the green living thing to do. Most comm,unities do not allow you to put computer hardware out with the trash. iolo.com gave me terrific solutions!

Why donate computer stuff?

Donate a computer to a school, church, or non-profit and your accountant may be able to deduct the value from your taxes. The government (U.S.) has incentives for computer donations. Folks at iolo technologies remind you to consider the value of installed software when you estimate the value of your computer.

There’s still a divide in the U.S. between computer-haves and -have nots. Some kids, indeed, some school districts are hard pressed to provide even basic equipment. That isn’t to say they will put antiquated hardware into use. Recipients of your gift may turn oldest equipment over for cash to enhance their programs.

The environment benefits every time we choose to recycle or reuse instead of pitching something into a landfill. We all know computer stuff is dangerous to throw away and will never degrade. I saw an old monitor laying in a roadside ditch out in the country the other day. I’d like to get my hands on the “donor” of that one.

Who to donate the computers to

• If the equipment is less than 3 years old, you can give it directly to an organization since extensive upgrading may not be necessary.
• Three to 5 year-old computers should go to a refurbishing center that can repair and upgrade computers, making them useable.  TechSoup’s searchable list of refurbishing centers is a good resource.
• Computer older than 5 years? Recycle it through TechSoup’s searchable list of recycling centers. (Goodwill and the Salvation Army no longer accept donated computers.)

Call the organization before you take your stuff over to them.

iolo technologies smart tips for computer donations

• Keep the operating system intact - the organization won’t have to spend valuable funds to purchase and license a new operating system.*
• Keep any software installed. This may increase the amount your tax deduction, and help the recipient of your PC - older computers often work best with older software.
• Where possible, include the peripherals and accessories, such as the mouse and keyboard, and include any manuals and CDs that came with the computer.

Last details when donating

It’s critically important that you remove your personal and sensitive data from the computer before you turn it over to anyone else. Reformatting the drive or erasing the data does NOT remove your info. Any novice can recover it unless you dowhat’s called a “wipe” with software like DriveScrubber.

Think outside the computer box and consider donating printers, speakers, storage units, or any other computer accessories you aren’t using. Then go get your new stuff for the holidays and enjoy!

Keep a record of your donations, including original receipts if you have them. Ask the organization you choose for a donation receipt.

iolo is a PC tuneup company, makers of System Mechanic software. They care about our environment. Visit their site for great tips, reviews, and information.

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In Chicago, there’s a unique school building global citizens and teaching children to be stewards of Earth. Megan Ellis, not yet 30,

She just returned from the Arctic Circle where she worked on a scientific expedition while her school kids watched, first-hand, via technology. They used Skype for teleconferencing - the kids could talk to Ms. Ellis anytime she wasn’t in the field. They used satellite links and blogs. It was very real. It was terribly exciting and spurred kids to ask a million questions while they contemplated how they could get where she had gone.

It isn’t a mystery, though teachers have access to some programs that defray costs. But anyone, says Ellis, can sign up for expeditions via or apply through the Churchill Northern Studies Center in Canada - they organize learning vacations.

About the trip itself, Ellis says they had a bit of a heatwave, only about 20 below zero, actual temperature F. In the very dry and still air, she said, being outside was enjoyable, not painfully cold. The Boreal forest, the Tundra were gorgeous.

She fell in love with it and began thinking, “How am I going to go back there? It will be sad if climate changes make terrible changes there. ”

The basis of the research Ellis participated in was to create a benchmark set of data to measure future climate change. Professor and principal investigator Peter Kerschaw and PhD student Steven Mamet (both University of Alberta) were research leaders in the program. Mamet was measuring tree changes.

You can read more about Megan Ellis and her adventures in the Arctic as well as her plans to take her class virtually to Tanzania soon. It’s easy to stay cozy at home and live life safely. But women who will make needed changes on our planet, are, like Megan Ellis, willing to step outside comfort and examine places never dreamed of as she grew up in small town Oklahoma.

Save some money, put away a few bucks for next year’s economic crisis. Tighten your holiday entertainment belt without losing any of the fun. A lot of the ideas are green party ideas, too.

1. Forget the paper invites…go email, text or instant message.
2. Use real dishes and glassware - what a concept! A dishwasher cycle is way easier on the budget and the eco-system than are paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic tableware and so forth. Enlist a few guests to help wash up.
3. Keep decorations simple and organic. Pine cones, pine boughs, simple lighting and fresh flowers purchased at a retail club or discount store.
4. Have a pot luck. Save work, time and money. Everybody brings a dish like in the goodle days. Ask for help - you’d be surprised how warm everyone feels when you all pitch in.
5. Purchase fewer flavors of snacks or beverages to take advantage of quantity discounts. Make a big bowl of punch. Limit the amount of alcohol you’re all willing to consume.
6. Combine parties. Figure out who in your circle would usually throw a shindig, and if the guest lists are similar, make it one big bash.
7. Grab bag the gifts instead of buying something for everyone. Scrambling to get $10 gifts for each of 20 people costs a lot more than buying a $50 gift for one person. You can be more selective, buy something worth having, and get to know someone a bit better. Lots of families are going this route.
8. Go out and play. Instead of sitting at home burning up electricity and annoying the neighbors, go sledding, skating, caroling, or somehting else fun - on foot. Return home after your event for a quick snack and a cup of cocoa.
9. Invite four friends to spend one quiet evening at home, without using a vehicle, a television, a stereo. Play a board game. Roast chestnuts. Read aloud. Do a craft or stitchery. No, I am not kidding.
10. Think outside the box. Get a group together to put in a shift at the food pantry, the retirement center or a soup kitchen.

Let me know how this all works out for you!

It’s Earthday! In your own special way, hug a tree today. Add one green idea to your routine - even something small. I know, Ellen Degeneris, Barbara Walters, CNN, GMA and everyone else is admonishing you to celebrate Earth Day, but why not? It’s the only planet we have.

Three easy Earth Day ideas:

1. Recycle newspaper. Nothing else, if you don’t want to, just those daily papers.
2. Plant one tiny bed of localized plants in your yard. Choose those that tolerate your weather, soil conditions and pests so you avoid chemicals and wasting water.
3. Manage your document printing efficiently. Use the lowest weight paper you can for each job. Recycle paper. Print only what you need. Never print a Web site for future reference - it’ll be there, just go back and look at it when you need it.

More about Earth Day