Sustainable Building Materials

Sustainable materials are “green” or environmentally friendly building materials that are not harmful to the environment. Sustainable materials are created from renewable or recyclable resources to stick with the reuse, repurpose and recycle mantra. The use of sustainable materials in building projects is becoming more widespread so it is possible to find these types of materials in local home improvement stores. More and more building vendors are going green so they too are placing more eco-friendly building products into their inventory. Green building materials are available for building exteriors and interiors, as well as fixtures, appliances and wall paint.

Types of sustainable building materials

• Bamboo
• Straw
• Lumber from forests certified to be managed to be sustainable
• Dimension stone
• Recycled stone
• Recycled metal
• Non-toxic products
• Reusable products
• Renewable or recyclable products
• Trass
• Linoleum
• Sheep wool
• Panels made from paper flakes
• Baked earth
• Rammed earth
• Clay
• Vermiculite
• Flax linen
• Sisal
• Seagrass
• Cork
• Expanded clay grains
• Coconut
• Wood fiber plates
• Calcium
• Sandstone

Mother's Green House

Every mom or mom-to-be worries about the health of their children. In most instances, the health of individuals, the health of your home and the health of the environment all go hand-in-hand. Various firms and consultants around the country help individuals turn their homes into healthy environments, but Mother's Green House specializes in helping moms and moms-to-be get their homes ready for baby by getting rid of:

* Allergens
* Toxins
* Pollutants
* Poisons

Mother's Green House services the Santa Monica area of California, offering in-home services as well as workshops and special events.

Color Quality of LED Lights

The color quality of LED lights is one of the main challenges standing between the companies producing these lights and the consumers using them. Because LED lights are almost monochromatic, it also makes them energy efficient. The problem is that these same characteristic is what makes LEDs poor light quality because "white" light does not exist in a great enough amount to make LED lighting of high quality.

LEDs: Energy Efficiency Factor

As we move into a more and more eco-conscious world, concern with the use of energy efficient lighting has become more important. It is believed that by 2010, which is just a few short weeks away from beginning, LEDs will be the most energy efficient lighting available.

Energy efficiency for lighting is measured by luminous efficacy, which is measured in lumens per watt. This is a measurement of how much light is produced from each watt of electricity used by the light. Today, LED lights produce 45 to 50 lumens per watt, but as further development occurs, it is expected that LEDs will reach 160 lumens per watt by 2025.

Something else to keep in mind about LEDs is while they use a low amount of energy, they also produce a low light output. True energy efficiency provides both a low energy user that produces a quality amount of light output. This is why work is still underway to continue to improve the energy efficiency of LEDs.

Happy Thanksgiving

Don't Forget to Take Advantage of Green Tax Credits

How to reduce energy bills, save the environment and get a tax credit:

1. Install Energy Star appliances
2. Install qualified insulation
3. Install energy efficient windows and doors
4. Turn your roof energy efficient
5. Use energy efficient heating and cooling systems and water heaters

You may be able to get a tax credit for up to 30 percent of the cost of installation, plus up to $1,500 in supplies and service costs.

Another 30 percent credit is available through 2016 for items such as:
1. Qualified geo-thermal heat pumps
2. Solar panels
3. Solar water heaters
4. Wind energy systems
5. Fuel cells

For more information on products that qualify for the tax credits, visit energystar.gov/taxcredits

How to Make Bachelor Party Cards From Scraps

A bachelor party might be the last hoorah for the groom before he says his "I dos." If you're throwing a bachelor party, you'll need invitations to invite guests and set the tone for the party. Using items that you probably have lying around the house, you can make some fun and creative bachelor party invitations--a collage of items that represent bachelorhood and the transition into marriage.

Read the full story

Advantages of LED Lights

The way that LEDs are made and the way this type of lighting works means it has some advantages over other types of lighting.

LEDs are mounted on a flat surface, which allows it to emit a fuller light than incandescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs.

LEDs do not have glass enclosures similar to other light bulbs, so there is less of a risk for breakage.

It won't burn you if you touch it like what happens to a more traditional light bulb when it has been on for awhile. In fact, as the temperature of the LED light increases, it works better--emitting a brighter light.

Instill Green Ways in Your Kids

As you would teach your children to share their toys or how to pitch in with household chores, you also need to teach your children how to be friendlier to the environment. Instilling these habits in children helps them to grow up to be more eco-chic adults and can only help to make the world a better place to live.

Lead by Example

You know your children imitate your actions and the actions of others, so use this to your advantage in a positive way. Make sure your children see you doing green things and that you point them out to the kids when you’re doing them. Take the time to explain why you’re doing it and how it helps the environment and the people living in it.

Eat Green

Rather than buy pre-made or pre-packaged foods, feed your children homemade meals instead. Even baby food can be made at home rather than buy jars of baby food that uses glass, aluminum and paper. Not only is eating homemade food generally healthier for your kids, but it’s also healthier for the environment.

Green Toys & Books

Buy chemical and additive free toys for your kids. It’s better for their health anyway. You can also find books that have stories and actions that are all about environmentally friendly things or show the characters participating in things that are good for the environment. This is another form of lead by example. Older kids can read articles you find online or in newspapers and magazines that you read.

Introduce them to Nature

No matter where you live in the country, you are surrounded by nature. Make sure that you introduce your kids to the environment and what all of your green efforts are saving. Hike nature trails, take them to the zoo or the local natural history museum. When you go to the beach, talk about sand erosion and the efforts the community is making to protect barrier islands. Volunteer with your kids to clean up a local beach, highway or other areas.

Make Recycling a Family Affair

Buy some plastic bins and chalkboard paint. Paint a small area on the front of each bin with your child. Use a piece of chalk to write glass, plastic, cardboard, newspaper, etc., on each bin. This makes it fun for you and the kids, as well as organizing your recycling efforts. Take your cloth bags to the grocery store with you when you shop. Go over with your child what is recyclable and what isn’t. Make as much of what you do as possible an avenue of awareness for your child on how they can make a difference.

Teaching your child to be green and a friend to the environment is a series of lessons similar to all of the other life lessons you instill in them as they grow. It starts with you. Instill these Earth-friendly habits in your children as soon as possible and throughout their life. It will make them greener adults and make their community a better place to live.

Could Beetles be the Answer to Recycling Styrofoam?

In the U.S. alone, more than 25 billion Styrofoam cups wind up in landfills every year. These types of disposable cups have made traveling with drinks more convenient, but it is not having a positive effect on the environment. The 16-year-old winner of the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) may have found the answer to this problem.

Tseng I-Ching, a student from Taiwan, has research that shows beetle bacteria breaks down this form of plastic used in producing cups and other tableware as well as packing supplies. While the research isn't completely conclusive, it is a step in the right direction. Instead of this light weight substance ending up in landfills and being carried all over the place by the wind, we may soon be able to recycle Styrofoam. If it's with beetles, then so be it!

Listen Up Miami: Local Action Challenge

SustainLane is heading up the Local Action Challenge for Miami, Florida in partnership with Hopenhagen, an international movement to drive action on climate change at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen this December.

Cities across the country – like Miami,FL – have sent in their top-ten lists of actions they’d like residents to take in order to combat climate change and otherwise care for the planet right in their own communities.

Residents who take their cities’ challenge, complete tasks on the list and upload photos of themselves doing so. They are then entered into weekly drawings to win prizes donated by green business sponsors.

Here’s how to play:

1. Go to www.SustainLane.com/hopenhagen
2. Choose your city
3. Choose a challenge
4. Take a photo of yourself in action
5. Upload it
6. Win a prize
7. Repeat

Stay it Green--Hotel Stays that are Part of the Green Movement

Whether it's in the middle of the rain forest in Costa Rica or down south in South Carolina, when you're traveling you can take your greenness on the road with you. That's right, there are green hotels around the world to choose from. As there is an association for almost anything you can think of, there is also a Green Hotels Association to support hotels and the green movement.

What Makes a Hotel Green
There is a pretty lengthy list of ways that hotels can go green and there are certain criteria hotels have to meet to officially get the LEED or the Green Hotels Association stamp of approval. Here are some items to keep in mind when choosing your next place to stay.

1. Items on request. While most hotels offer up free sample size bottles of shampoo and bottles of water, green hotels only stock these items on request. This requires you to pack your own items, but if you forget or need something, they'll still be able to supply it for you.

2. Energy efficient equipment and no-chemical cleaners. Using energy efficient appliances and chemical free cleaning supplies is another ways hotels go green. You can contribute to the greenness by reusing your towels and sheets rather than having the cleaning person change them each day of your stay. You do not change your sheets and towels on a daily basis at home and there isn't really a need to do so when you're staying in a hotel either.

3. Solar lights or energy efficient lighting. Green hotels also use alternative energy sources and efficient lighting. Hotel industry energy bills can run as high as $3.7 billion each year. Cutting down use not only saves the hotel money (and you money on the room price) but it also saves the environment. You can help contribute to these savings by turning off the lights in your room when you leave.

How to Create Your Own Ecovillage

There are communities sprouting up around the country and around the world built on living a sustainable lifestyle. These are self-sufficient communities that produce everything they need to live right in their own backyards. It takes full cooperation from all of the residents but it is possible to create and live in an ecovillage.

Sharing. The staple of creating and living in an ecovillage is something you learned as a child--sharing. Instead of individuals using energy, food or other resources, the residents of ecovillages share these items instead. It may man limiting Internet access to a central location that everyone can access rather than in individual homes, carpooling or sharing cars. It's estimated that ecovillages can save between 50 and 60 percent on energy use.

Renew, reuse and recycle. Ecovillages also tend to use renewable energy sources, compost, recycle or reuse everything that they can. The rewards of this lifestyle can go beyond helping to save the environment. An ecovillage in Los Angeles, for example, offers reduced rental amounts to homes that don't own a car.

Build it green. Ecovillages tend to build green--using sustainable materials, solar energy and hot water designs, high-efficiency appliances, super-insulated roofs, high-performance windows, straw bale insulation, rainwater collection, composting and more.

Ecovillages grow the majority of their own food, so there is typically one or more organic gardens within the town limits. Ten acres of land devoted to organic farms can feed up to 1,000 residents. Family-style meals where everyone in the community pitches in to feed the community is also a common trait of an ecovillage. While some communities serve family-style meals three times a day, other communities do it a couple times a week.

Are You Throwing Away Recyclables?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) predicts that 75% of what is thrown away is recyclable. Think of how much you can change and help to protect the environment if you could recycle 75% more than you do right now. The key to accomplishing this is to make sure that you fully understand what you're throwing away that you may be able to recycle.

1. Recyclables vary by location. Request a list of items from your local recycling company to see what you are able to recycle. It can and does vary by your location. For example, in Northern Virginia, you can recycle junk mail and window envelopes. In Miami, these are not recyclable items. Finding out what you can and cannot put in your curbside bin may boost the amount of waste you can recycle.


2. Mail-back and drop-off programs. Items such as electronics and automotive waste cannot be put in your recycling bin but there are many programs where you can mail-in or drop-off these items to be recycled. For example, auto parts stores and some mechanics take and recycle motor oil and old tires. Cell phones and printer cartridges can be mailed to manufacturers or dropped off at stores such as Best Buy.

3. Trade it in. Computers and TVs are two examples of items that you can trade in when you buy a new one. For example, when you buy and have a new TV installed from Best Buy, they will remove and recycle your old TV for you. There are also e-waste companies that will come and pick up these items from you or you can donate working items to schools or other organizations.

With a small amount of effort on your part, you can easily boost the amount that you recycle. If you play your cards right, you may even be able to recycle 75% more than you do now.

Take Your Green to Go

While shopping, running errands or taking the kids to soccer practice, do you ever hesitate before throwing your can away in the regular trash because there aren't recycling bins available around town? While some towns and cities have public recycling containers, others do not. So does this mean that you can only recycle in the comfort of your own home?

No way!

3 Ways to Recycle on the Go
1. Create your own recycling bin. Get a small plastic bin that you can keep in the trunk of your car or in the backseat. Throw your daily office newspaper, coffee cup, soda cans and drink bottles in it while you're out and about town for the day. Empty it into your home recycling bin every night when you come home.

2. Use your travel mug. Whether you stop at the local gas station or fuel up on coffee from the corner coffee shop, bring your own mug. Some coffee sellers even give you a discount when you use your own coffee mug rather than a disposable one. Not only does it save your money green but it saves the environment too.

3. Pass on your newspaper and magazine. If you get a daily newspaper delivered to your home or office or have a magazine subscription, pass these issues on to others when you're finished reading. If you're traveling on a plane or train, you can even hand it over to the flight attendant to pass on to the next set of passengers.

Being a busy on the go individual or family doesn't mean you have to give up your green ways. Use these three ways to take your green behaviors to go.

Benefits of Windmill Electricity

When you think of windmills, the Dutch countryside may come to mind, but states like California have been using windmills for electricity since the '70s. Before you dismiss using a windmill to provide electricity to your home or business (or both), consider the advantages to your bank account and to the environment.

Benefits of Windmill Electricity
1. Windmill energy can reduce or eliminate your power bill.
2. It's great for the environment because it's a renewable energy source.
3. It's inexpensive to build a windmill.

How do Other Countries Handle Trash?

As you see a barge full of American trash float down the river in your city or you drive past the smelly mound that is the trash dump, do you ever wonder how other countries handle their trash? You may be intrigued to find out.

For example, Germany is one of the leading countries in recycling. While Americans only recycle or reuse approximately 30 percent of their trash, Germany recycles or reuses approximately 70 percent of their trash. That's more than double the U.S. One way that Germany achieves such a high rate of recycling its waste is that the manufacturers of German products are highly aware and involved in creating products that can be recycled or reused.

There are also some German recycling laws thrown in for good measure that require product companies to consider waste avoidance, waste recovery and environmentally compatible ways to dispose of waste before they begin the manufacturing process. This and as you wander around Germany, you'll find a variety of recycling receptacles where German citizens can easily deposit their items in the appropriate recycling container, which is something that isn't as prominent in the U.S.

Attention Green Crafters and Artists in South Florida

Green Saturday Ft. Lauderdale will be taking place at Cinema Paradiso!

Vendors will set-up in Cinema Paradiso's outdoor, covered courtyard from 12pm - 10pm on December 5th. Two live performances (one in the afternoon and one in the evening) will take place inside the theatre.

Booth spaces are 6 ft. or 7ft. for $150. If you do not need a table, then vendor space is $100. If you are interested in becoming a Green Saturday vendor at the Ft. Lauderdale event please email:

GreenSaturdayEvents@gmail.com with:
1. A link to your website or pictures of items you plan on selling
2. A brief description of your art/craft/design business
3. Whether you are requesting a $150/with table booth or a $100/without table booth
4. Your contact information

Vendor submissions deadline is October 1, 2009.

Yay for Aluminum Can Recycling

The Aluminum Association, Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) released 2008 figures revealing that 54.2 percent of aluminum cans were recycled in 2008. This makes aluminum cans the most commonly recycled beverage container.

Go aluminum cans! Maybe we can get the glass beverage containers to join in.

Green Your Next Dinner Party

Having friends, family members and co-workers over for a dinner party is a nice way to unwind and enjoy a great meal. While paper invitations can be cute, you can green your dinner party by using e-vites instead.

It not only saves paper, but it also saves money on postage and emissions on the mailman or woman delivering them all over town. It's a phenomenon that's really catching on--www.evite.com sends out 19.5 million invitations each month.

With a huge selection of evites to choose from, you can easily find an evite that's appropriate for formal and informal events. Go green when it comes to your next dinner party by saving the paper, the cash and the time it takes to stuff and address envelopes. Use evites instead!

5 Ways to Make Your Wedding Eco-friendly

Getting married does not require you to throw caution to the wind and throw the environment under the proverbial bus. Instead there are measures that you can take to turn your wedding into an eco-friendly celebration.

1. Tighten up the guest list. Travel for weddings can really wreak havoc on the environment. It can also deplete your wedding budget. Keep you guest list tight by only including close friends and family members rather than everyone you know. Not only does it cut down on the amount of emissions it takes for guests to get to your wedding, but with less guests you'll have less food, need less space and less energy to heat, cool and light the venue.

2. Do it in the great outdoors. Another way you cut down on energy use such as heating, cooling and lighting is to throw your wedding ceremony and reception in the great outdoors. There are plenty of beautiful outdoor venues such as parks and gardens that make perfect natural backdrops for your wedding event.

3. Use natural light. Even if you have an indoor ceremony or reception, plan the time of your even to use the natural might of the sun. You can save a great deal of energy by using light from outside rather than turning on lights in the church and the reception venue.

4. Double up on the use of venues. Instead of booking one venue for your ceremony and another for your reception, combine the two venues into one. Many churches have reception space you can use and most hotels and wedding halls have plenty of space to hold the ceremony and reception in the same place.

5. Plan an organic menu. Turn to local farmers to gather the ingredients for your wedding meal. This helps to support local farmers but it also cuts down on transportation costs and emissions when your food is brought in from out of the state or even out of the country.

Build Your Own Solar Panels for Your Home Energy

Mercedes-Benz Goes Green

Back to School is theTime to Go Green

Kids all over the country are heading back to school. This means it's time to buy new school clothes and school supplies. And whether or not your school (or your child's school) is green, there are ways you can green your school. Over the next few weeks, we'll cover some tips on how you can turn your school environmentally friendly.

Tip #1
Make Your Own Recycled Paper

1. Rip your scrap paper, newspaper or notebook paper into tiny pieces and soak it in a bucket of hot water for 30 minutes. Place some of the soaked paper into a blender and mix it until it's mushy. You can also use a whisk, whisking it until it's a creamy pulp. Add a little dye if you want to add color. You can also add leaves, vegetables or flowers to add texture to the paper.

2. Pour some of the pulp into a measuring cup and set it aside. Put some water in a flat pan and place a screen over the pan. Pour the cup of the pulp onto the screen.

3. Spread the pulp over the screen with your fingers so that it's even. Then lift the screen and let the water drain from it.

4. Place the pulp-covered screen face down on a towel. Lift the screen and leave the pulp on the cloth. Cover the pulp with another cloth and iron it with a hot iron. You can also use a rolling pin to flatten the pulp and remove the excess water from it. Leave the pulp to dry for at least 24 hours.

5. Once it’s dry, you have paper!

Interested in Making Your Own Electricity?

Maybe you can learn something from the ancient Egyptians who used wind to sail the River Nile or ancestors that used windmills to grind wheat and other grains.If they could harness the power of the wind to achieve their goal then what's stopping you from harnessing the power of the wind to make your own electricity?

California produces more than twice the amount of wind energy than any other state, but with an even greater push to save the environment by using renewable energy sources, using the windmill to produce wind energy may just make a comeback like never before.


U.S. Department of Energy Chimes in

In 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 26.6 billion kWh per year of electricity was generated by wind energy. This is enough energy to generate electricity for a city larger than Los Angeles, which is equivalent to 2.4 million households. There are government programs in place to support wind energy and as of 2006, 28 states use windmills to generate energy.

For more information on the Wind & Hydropower Technologies Program, visit the U.S. Department of Energy website.

Get Your Piece of the Green Job Pie

Going Organic: A Look at Natural Skin Care

How to Protect Your Organic Garden

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How to Grow an Organic Vegetable Garden

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3 Ways Keeping Proper Pressure in Your Tires Saves the Environment

Especially in a faltering economy, people are choosing to maintain their current vehicles rather than buying new ones. Car maintenance is not only about making your car last longer for monetary purposes, but it can also help the environment. Keeping the proper amount of air in your tires saves you money and helps the environment too.

3 reasons to keep the right amount of air in tires

1. Increases fuel economy. The proper amount of air in your tires helps to increase the fuel economy in your car. The less gas you have to put in your car, the less money you have to spend and the less fossil fuel resources have to be tapped.

2. Extends the life expectancy of the tires. Replacing tires on your car can be expensive. By maintaining the proper amount of air pressure, your tires will last longer. It saves you money and keeps your old tires out of the landfill (even though your tire place probably recycles the tires for other uses).

3. Reduces emission. With the proper amount of air, your car has to work less to make it go, which also reduces the amount of emissions your car is producing in the air. Proper air pressure and less of a carbon footprint go hand-in-hand so keep the right amount of air in all four of your tires.
Proper air pressure is the eco-chic way to go for your car and the environment. Put the right amount of air in your tires today (and always).

Flagler Monument Island Clean-up for the Environment

Sitting in the middle of the crystal blue waters of Biscayne Bay in Miami Beach is the man-made island of Flagler Monument Island. Named for the column-like structure that sits on one side of the island, Carl Fisher, the Miami Beach creator built this island in honor of Henry Flagler.

I arrived at the marina on Purdy Avenue around 8:30 am on Saturday morning and headed toward the Ecomb.org table to sign-in and prepare for the short boat ride to the island. The non-profit organization is devoted to "educating Miami-Dade County’s residents and visitors to adopt responsible environmental behaviors and to raising their awareness to our surrounding ecosystems."

Today, our mission was to clean up the trash on Flagler Monument Island, an initiative the non-profit organization tackles once a month. More than 20 volunteers from all walks of life joined together to clean-up the island and leave the environment a little bit safer than it was when we arrived.

The hot South Florida sun beat down on my face and shoulders as the boat took one group at a time of the volunteers from the marina to the island. As we approached the island, (built as a perfect circle by Fisher but has since lost its shape from water, wind and hurricane erosion over the years) groups of families were already inhabiting the island for the day with their boats bobbing just offshore, barbecue grills and tents erected on the sandy beach.

As volunteers hopped from the boats, we approached the Ecomb table that was setup to retrieve our latex gloves and trash bags. I volunteered with my friend and her sister so with our gloves in place and trash bags in hand, we set out to pick up trash. Before we could take a step, one of the boaters approached us and asked for an extra trash bag so they could throw away their own trash. The City of Miami Beach has strategically placed trash barrels around the island for visitors to deposit their trash, but we of course handed over a trash bag to him. According to one volunteer, "We found the most amount of trash closest to the trash cans."

Not prepared for some of the things I saw, we picked up items such as:

*Beer bottles
*Heroine baggies
*Condom wrappers
*Used tampons and maxi pads
*Diapers
*Broken glass
*The grill plate of a barbecue grill
*Cigarette butts
*Plastic bags
*Plastic utensils
*Bottle caps
*Plastic bottles

In the hour we spent cleaning up the island, we amassed more than 20 bags of trash. Keep in mind that Ecomb performs this effort on a monthly basis so that is a lot of trash in a 30-day period. Sweat soaked volunteers were eventually transported back to the marina a boat load at a time feeling a sense of accomplishment as we made the island and its surrounding waters a little safer for animal inhabitants, wildlife and water life. By removing trash that taints the natural habitat, we had adopt responsible environmental behaviors ourselves and raised awareness of our surrounding ecosystems to the people who were enjoying the island for the day.

If you're interested in leaving an environmentally friendly mark on the environment and live in or visit the Miami Beach area, visit www.ecomb.org for more information on its efforts and volunteer opportunities.

Where to Recycle Plastic that Can't Go in the Bin

I recently learned that certain types of plastic cannot go in the recycling bin. Even if you try to sneak in such plastics as soda bottle caps, yogurt containers, butter tubs and cottage cheese tubs, the recycling plant won't recycle them anyway.

So what are you supposed to do with these plastics?

Yesterday, I mentioned that you can take your bottle caps to your local Aveda store and they'll make sure the caps get recycled for you. If you're really hardcore about recycling, you can mail a box or envelope of caps to Aveda, if you don't have a store near you.

Whole Foods is the drop off spot for those plastic tubs and containers (usually #5 plastics) that are segregated from the recycling bin. If you don't have a Whole Foods in your area, you can also mail your plastics to Preserve, the manufacturer of many plastic household goods.

Make sure that the #5 plastics that don't make the recycling bin don't wind up in the trash. Separate these plastics from the others and make a monthly drop-off at Aveda and Whole Foods. It's a small step to making a big difference.

3 Reasons to Go Green and How to Do It

Where I live in Miami, the recycling plant recycles the typical plastics, glass and newspapers. Where my parents live in Virginia, however, the recycling plant even recycles office paper, junk mail and window envelopes. My father, however, still tries to say his recycling bin for junk mail is the trash can no matter how much my mother and I chastise him.

I'm sure dear old Dad isn't the only one struggling with why he should go green or even some of the ways he can do it (besides recycling the junk mail instead of throwing it away).

3 Ways to Go Green and Why You Should Do It

1. Just do it. You may not think that you, one little person, cannot make a difference, but you can. And if everyone thought they couldn't make a difference with what they're doing then where would we be? Every single person makes this planet a little greener by recycling, walking to work, using reusable bags at the grocery--whatever it is you can do, just do it.

2. Grow a garden. Planting your own garden of fruits and veggies contributes to the health of the environment and to your body. It can also help you cut down on your grocery bill. Not to mention emissions from not having to truck the fruits and veggies in from around the country. Growing green also means you're feeding the environment the oxygen plants give off and the plants are sucking up the carbon dioxide from the air. It truly is a win-win.

3. Recycle more plastic. There is so much more plastic that can be recycled--beyond soda bottle and yogurt containers that you may already be throwing in the recycling bin. There are plastics that you can't put in the recycling bin but you can still recycle these products.

Aveda--a local beauty store--accepts the plastic bottle caps that the recycling bin doesn't allow

Whole Foods--the organic and healthy grocery store--recycles your water filter cartridges

Earthworks collects and recycles used gift cards and some other plastics

I'm going to keep trying to get my dad to recycle junk mail in the recycling bin. What can you do to go a little greener? It's well worth the small effort.

Starbucks Gets a Little Greener

After getting my hair trimmed in preparation for heading off on vacation tomorrow, I stopped at Starbucks today for a late afternoon pick-me-up. I was happy to see that this particular Starbucks now offers a 10% discount if you bring in your own coffee cup. For me, it's not really about the discount but more about helping out the environment by not using a disposable cup every time I order a coffee to go.

Next time you're in your neighborhood Starbucks, see if they're offering the same option. If not, ask them to implement it. You'll save a few cents and the environment at the same time!

What Does the $787-billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Mean for Green Jobs?

Obama's stimulus package's true intent was to save 3.5 million jobs over the next couple of years. But is that where the power of this money ends? The answer is no. Not when it comes to going green anyway. Part of the package is to increase the amount of renewable energy that the U.S. produces, so it's a move toward a more environmentally friendly way of life.

Increase in green jobs
The really great news is that the need for more renewable energy also calls for more professionals that can help with all of the renewable energy initiatives. The bottom line is this stimulus package may create an opening for more green jobs. So, a company that has 15 biologists on its payroll may have a need now for 30. And these aren't job roles that just anyone can fill. These are highly specialized and trained professionals. With more money available from the Federal Government, companies in the renewable energy industry will have the means to go after, recruit and attract the right professionals for these positions.

Tax relief
Not only will funding be available but there will also be some tax relief associated with the deal. The new Clean Energy Finance Authority has been established to make the process of getting financing and approval for renewable energy loans easier on the borrowers. When the chips fall where they may, it is expected that $100 billion in renewable energy projects will spurt from the cash and tax credit incentives.

So what does the $787-billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act mean for green jobs? It means there may be a whole lot more green job positions available in the near future.

Fight the Power

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average household spends more than $250 per year on standby power. So now it's time to do your part--your part to save energy and a little green (money) this year!

Ways to save standby power

1. When you're not using your computer, turn it off!
2. When you step away from your computer for more than a few minutes, put your computer into sleep mode.
3. When your cell phones and other devices are not charging, unplug the chargers.
4. Unplug anything and everything when you're not using it. Plugged in items do draw electricity even when not in use.
5. To turn items off and unplug in one fell swoop, plug items into a power bar. For example, every time you leave your office, turn the power strip off that has your computer, printer and fax machine plugged into it and then unplug the power bar.

Take these five steps and you can save around $250 on your electric bill each year. You'll be saving energy too!

Save Electricty at College (or at Home)

When you're off at college and living off campus, you have to start worrying about paying electricity as part of your expenses. Or if you're a parent a parent with a child that has a cell phone, a gameboy and several other gadgets, plugging all of these items in to charge can really add up.


Solution: A Solar Powered Backpack
That's right. Most office supply stores and some retailers online sell solar-powered backpacks that you can plug in cell phones, laptops and other gadgets into to charge. It's a win-win. Gadgets get the juice they need and it saves money on electricity.

Opportunities to target green consumers increasing, but one size may not fit all

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3 Ways to Reuse Cardboard Boxes

I have a love for cardboard because there are so many uses for it. The most obvious one is as a box. Boxes are great ways to store stuff, move stuff, and ship stuff but there are so many other things you can do with the cardboard too.

3 Unique Ways to Use Cardboard (Boxes)

1. Compost it. Cardboard can go right into your compost, which you can use to plant a garden and more. Just be sure to remove any staples, tape or other items from the cardboard before you compost it.

2. Make your own puzzles. A great craft to do with the kids is to draw a picture or design on the cardboard and then cut it up into puzzle pieces. Mix the pieces up and put the puzzle back together again. It'll provide hours of family fun.

3. Flatten and store. When you have good and sturdy boxes, flatten them, store them under your bed or in a closet. When you move, have friends that move, or need to ship a gift to a family member, these cardboard boxes come in handy to use over and over again.

Cardboard is a great material. These are but three ways to reuse your cardboard boxes--three ways to keep it from becoming trash.

See How One Winery is Reducing its Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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5 Ways to Beat the Heat this Summer without Beating Down the Environment

There is no doubt that summer is in full swing--even if the calendar says it's not technically summer yet. We tend to deal with the sweltering temperatures by cranking the AC. While this can cool us in a most refreshing manner, it's not so kind to the environment.

Use these five ways to beat the heat without killing the environment in the process.

1. Refresh your air filter. If you have a washable filter, then clean it at least once a month. If you have a disposable filter, then change it at least one a month. If you have pets or your house is overly dusty then you may want to clean your air filter more than once per month. A clean air filter helps your AC unit to work properly without overexerting itself and causing it to work harder and cost you more money.

2. Clean the coils.

The coils in your AC unit absorb the heat--making the inside of your home cooler. If these coils get dirty, the AC unit has to work harder to cool the house. Make sure the coils are clean and dirt free.

3. Service the unit.
Keep your AC unit in working order by having it professionally serviced once a year. Having a professional check it for leaks, flush it out and make sure there is an efficient amount of refrigerant in the unit allow the AC to work properly, more efficiently and more cost-effectively.


4. Block out the sun.
Keep the temperature in your house cooler by blocking out the sun. Close the shades or curtains in rooms where sunlight may heat up the room. This keeps the temperature inside your home from rising, causing the AC to kick on more often.

5. Install your thermostat out of the heat zone.
Install your thermostat in a neutral area that is not in direct sunlight or near a heat zone (i.e., the kitchen). If the thermostat is picking up false temperatures, it may cause the AC to kick on more often than necessary, which also runs up your energy bill.

While the summer temperatures outside are heating up, you need to stay cool inside, but there is no reason to take down the environment in the process. Take these five steps to make sure that your AC works properly, you stay cool and the environment remains unharmed in the process.

15 Ways to Save Energy (and Money) at Home

Whether it's the troubled economy or you're trying to get your finances in order there are steps you can take at home to cut back on your expenses. As an added bonus these are also ways you can save energy, so you're saving your money and the environment simultaneously. Implement some of these suggestions and you can add a couple thousand dollars to your bank account.

1. Put outdoor lights on a timer or use sensors. This keeps lights from staying or coming on during the daylight hours.

2. Have a conversation with your utility company. Utility companies across the country are offering rebates and incentives to customers that take conservation measures. It may be a rebate for using compact fluorescent light bulbs or for installing energy efficient appliances. It doesn't hurt to ask, so check out the website or give the power company a call.

3. Green your holiday lights. Use LED light strings during the holidays. It's shown to save you in the neighborhood of $11 per season.

4. Let the dishwasher wash the dishes. Consumer Reports found it's unnecessary to rinse your dishes before you load them in the dishwasher. You can save up to 6,500 gallons of water each year by letting the dishwasher do its job.

5. Let the washing machine work. Speaking of washing--let your washing machine and detergent do its job with the cold cycle. Most detergents have germ killing agents so hot water isn't necessary to clean the germs. Cold water does the trick!

6. Line dry clothes. When possible, dry your clothes on a clothes line or hang your clothes on hangars and hang them inside the house. If you have to use the clothes dryer, don't put too many clothes in each cycle.

7. Lower the temperature two degrees. When nobody is home or right before you welcome guests, lower the temperature on the thermostat a couple of degrees in winter. This helps to keep the heater from kicking on as often--saving you money and saving energy.

8. Insulate and seal. Reduce the cost of energy by about 30 percent by insulating and sealing cracks in ducts.

9. Insulate properly. Make sure your home is properly insulated. This is especially true for older homes. Proper insulation can cut your heating and cooling bills down by 10 percent.

10. Call in a professional. Professional energy auditors can inspect your home, using professional equipment, to find energy leaks. You can find a professional energy auditor in your area at www.resnet.us.

11. Clean the fridge coils. By keeping the coils under or behind the fridge it helps the fridge to run more efficiently, which saves energy and money.

12. Use power strips. Plug items into a power strip that can be turned off all at once. Turn the strip off when these items are not in use.

13. Portable heating and cooling units. Instead of running the central heat or air system, use portable heating and cooling systems to heat and cool the areas of your home where needed.

14. Block out the sun. Use shades, drapes and curtains to block out the sun on hot days. This helps to keep the air conditioner from kicking on more because the sun streaming in the windows is raising the temperature of the room.

15. Use trees for shade. Plant shade trees on the west side of your home to help shelter it from direct sun and keep the inside temperature cooler.

GreenHome.com Does the Research for You

We all want to do what is right for the environment. Whether it's cleaning the house or washing our hair, we want to use products that are safe for us to use and don't harm the environment in the process. The problem is with the number of things we use on a daily basis it's not possible to research and find a product for every need we have that is also good for the environment.

GreenHome.com saves the day. This website acts as the primary source of information for a variety of products. It researches and finds the greenest products on the planet and lists them all in one place. No need to search all over the net or all over town for the greenest products around. Simply stop by GreenHome.com. The research has been done and the products are listed for you to make the right choice without having to spend too much time figuring out what the right choice is.

Homeowner's Associations Are Heading Down the Green Path

I live in a townhouse community in Miami, Florida, which means my maintenance fee pays for the management company to take care of a lot of the things that I don't want to have to worry about such as putting a new roof on my townhouse or landscaping. I see my personal management company doing things that are and are not friendly to the environment. This got me to thinking, how are other HOAs around the country handling their role in environmentally friendly ways.

See how your HOA handles each of these issues. If it's not in an eco-friendly manner consider talking with them to see how some changes can be made.

4 ways HOAs are friends of the environment

1. Going native. One way communities managed by HOAs can be friends to the environment are to plant native and indigenous plants to the region where you live. This helps to ensure that these green plants and flowers can survive and thrive in the environment provided by nature. This means less watering with sprinklers and not having to use harsh chemical fertilizers and bug repellents, etc.

2. Save water. By planting native plants in your community you are already one step ahead of saving water. Since these plants are native to the environment, they do not need to be watered with sprinklers as much as a plant that isn't native may need to be. Encourage your community to use rain-sensor sprinkler systems so they are setup to turn on when needed rather than on a set time schedule. Nothing is more of a waste of water than when sprinklers are running during a rain storm.

3. See the light with solar power. Common areas of the community need to be well-lit for safety reasons, but nobody says that solar lighting and low energy light fixtures can't be used. With the easy availability and the effectiveness of solar-powered and low energy lighting, it's a viable option for accomplishing the safety factor in an environmentally friendly way.

4. Go paperless. Websites, blogs and emails are the perfect venues for HOAs to communicate with their residents and vice versa. Have your HOA institute online billing and announcements rather than wasting paper, a stamp and the gas emissions for the post office to deliver the information.

My HOA is an offender on some of these issues, which I'm working on changing. In other instances, they do a great job in meeting the needs of its residents and the environment. How does your HOA stand up?

Green Cars: Find an Eco-friendly Car the Easy Way

Tired of driving the gas guzzling SUV, which is draining your wallet and killing the environment? Are you looking for the Consumer Reports of the eco-friendly car world?

You've come to the right place!

The website Green Car offers you a one-stop resource for everything you need to know about green cars (hybrids, electric cars and more). These green cars have been put to the test by the experts and you can find out how they did. Before you head out to buy a new car, check out Green Car first to see which cars are friendly to you and the environment.

The Number One Reason You Can't Recycle Your Pizza Box

It may seem like a contradiction because when your favorite pizza delivery arrives it comes in a nice corrugated cardboard box that has a big recycle emblem right on it. So why in the world can't you put your used pizza box in the recycling bin? While the box your pizza comes in is made from recycled materials, you cannot put the used box in your recycling bin because it is contaminated by the tasty treat.

That's right. The oil, cheese and toppings that make up the pizza are contaminants to the paper cardboard, which means it cannot be recycled. The reason is rather simple. When paper is recycled it is mixed with water to break it down. If you try to recycle a cardboard box covered with oil, what do you think happens? That's right. Since oil and water don't mix, it prevents the pizza box from being recycled. Not only that but if there are other types of paper in the same batch, it also prohibits these items from being recycled as well.

So even though you're trying to do the right thing, it isn't possible to recycle your entire pizza boxes because oil and water don't mix! What you can do is recycle the portions of the box that are not contaminated by the oil and food. For example, the top of the box is usually untouched, so rip off the top and throw it in the recycling bin. While you may not be able to recycle the whole box, you can recycle some of it.

Recycling Baby Car Seats?

Check out this interesting article at

N.J. Parent Starts Car Seat Recycling Program

How to Get 10 Free Trees

The Arbor Day Foundation is giving away ten free trees to each member at the level of $10 or higher.

10 free trees include:

2 white dogwoods
2 crabapples
2 Washington Hawthorns
2 American Redbuds
2 Goldenraintrees

Membership also includes a subscription to the Foundation's bimonthly publication Arbor Day and a copy of The Tree Book, which provides tree planting and care information.

To become a member of the Arbor Day Foundation (for as little as $10) and receive your ten free trees, visit www.arborday.org/freetrees.

7 Ways to Repurpose Household Items Instead of Throwing Them Away

If you throw everything away when you're done with it then you are creating tons (literally) of trash that doesn't have to be. While many items are created to fit a specific need, you can use items in new ways. It benefits you because it fills your need and it benefits the environment because it keeps the item from becoming part of the hundreds of tons of trash we dump there every year.

7 ways to turn your trash into treasures
Grocery bags. If you have to opt for paper or plastic bags instead of cloth bags, make those bags work for beyond the trip home from the grocery store. There are so many ways to reuse grocery bags including as trash can liners, as book covers, as your lunch bag for work or school, to pick up dog waste, to carry your clothes to and from the gym, and on and on. Some of these choices do land the bag in the landfill eventually, but its life lasted longer than the trip home from the store.

Cups & coffee mugs. When your old cups and coffee mugs have seen better days, turn them into a pen holder for your desk at home or work or use them to organize makeup brushes, cotton balls and Q-tips under your sink.

Plastic tubs. Butter, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and whip cream all come in sturdy plastic tubs. Instead of trashing these plastic containers, clean them out and reuse them to store leftovers. These containers can be reused several times before being thrown away. It not only saves the environment, but it cuts down on your spending on plastic storage containers.

Stretched out hair ties or scrunchies. When your old pony tail holders and scrunchies get too big for your hair, it doesn't mean you have to throw them away. Use these to hold rolled up items such as wrapping paper together or to bind piles of paperwork or documents. They may be stretched too much to use in your hair but there are other items they can still hold in place.

Plastic locking sandwich or storage bags. When you fill a plastic storage or freezer bag with dry items or items that don't cause germs (such as chicken or raw meat) then wash it out with soap and water, dry it and reuse it. Again, it keeps tons of plastic baggies out of the landfill and can help keep money in your wallet.

Aluminum foil. The same concept applies to aluminum foil. The only difference sometimes between used and new aluminum foil is the used stuff has some wrinkles in it. Clean your used foil, dry it and reuse it as much as possible.


Coffee grounds. Whether you love the taste of coffee or not, most people enjoy its fragrant aroma. Rather than throw away your used coffee grounds right away, take advantage of the heady aroma to absorb gross smells in your fridge, the bathroom or in other rooms in the house.


There is no need to throw everything away when you're done using it for its intended purpose. There are plenty of ways to give the item a new purpose and extend its life. It benefits you because it fills your need (and saves you money) and it benefits the environment because it keeps the item from becoming part of the hundreds of tons of trash we dump there every year.

Grow it Green: Creating the Garden of Your Dreams

Nothing is more green than growing your own organic garden. You can add oxygen to the air, pull carbon dioxide out of the air and feed you and your family all in one shot. What many struggle with is how to turn their organic gardening dreams into a reality. So, here it is--the five ways to make your organic garden a reality.

5 ways to make your garden grow

Plant it in the right spot
Gardens, especially vegetables, require the right mix of sun and water. Make sure you plant your garden in a spot that gets both, but not too much of either. Before you plant your garden, watch how much sun and rain the spots you have in mind get. If they get too much or not enough of either, then pick another spot.

Plant your crops
If you're not an experienced gardener, you may want to start off with hardier plants that aren't as easy to kill. You also probably want to plant seedlings, or baby plants, rather than trying to grow your garden from seeds. Tomatoes, leaf lettuce, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers and herbs are all hardy plants that are great for novice gardeners.

You can also find out what grows best in your area of the country. Local farmer's markets and garden center employees can all advise you on which herbs and vegetables may grow better than others in your garden.

Use flowers as your scarecrow
Plant some flowers along with your veggies and herbs. Flowers act as a natural pesticide for your garden because flowers attract beneficial insects and keep the pests away.


Organically nourish your garden
If you can, use compost to nourish the soil and allow your plants and veggies to flourish. Avoid using harmful pesticides or fertilizers and opt for organic solutions instead.

Keep growing and growing
Even if you don't succeed at growing a particular veggie or herb, make adjustments until you find what you are successful at growing. Growing herbs and veggies in your garden not only helps you be organic but it can help you save money at the grocery store too!

The Art of Re-gifting (But Not the Way You Think)

After a major gift giving holiday such as Mother's Day, it's important to address the shopping bags, packaging, paper, bows and ribbons that make their way to the landfills after the gifts are unwrapped and put away. It' not just Mother's Day either. The Clean Air Council estimates that 1 million tons of waste per week makes its way to landfills between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

What can you do to eliminate your contribution to the gift waste after major holidays?

Re-gift, but not in the way you may think

In many instances gift wrap, gift bags, bows and ribbons are gently used and can easily be re-used rather than thrown in the garbage. You can approach this in one of two ways, depending on your comfort level.

1. Ask for reusable gift wrap back from your gift recipient. Tell the person you're giving the gift to that you are being eco-conscious and that you'd like the gift wrap and decorations back after they open the gift. Your friends and family are going to understand your desire to protect the environment and cut down on waste. If they don't understand then oh well!

2. Reuse the gift wrapping given to you. Whether it's a gift bag, bow or ribbon, neatly fold it up and put it away to be used on the next gift you give. Not only does this cut down on gift waste, but it saves you money on having to buy gift bags, tissue paper, bows, ribbons and more.

Do your part in reducing gift waste. It's a small step to save millions of tons of waste from winding up in the landfills every year.

Go Green for Mom

Mother's Day is Sunday. I went out today to pick up a small gift for my mom. She always says she doesn't want anything, but I feel bad not getting her something. This year, I chose to go green--literally. I bought her an ivy plant she's been coveting and an African violet plant.

I'll also include one of my handmade cards, which she always gushes over. Since I'm in town visiting her, we'll probably catch a bite to eat too. There was talk of heading to The Melting Pot, which is one of our favorites.

So, it's not too late for you to pick up something for your mom. It doesn't have to be anything outlandish or expensive. Sometimes it's the small things that Mom loves the most!

Sustainable Flowers Make the Perfect Decor for Special Events or Gifts for Special Events

The key to being eco-chic is your use of sustainable goods. This is true whether you're building a house, planning a wedding or sending a bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day. It may seem like a difficult task to find sustainable products or stores that provide easy access to sustainable goods, but it doesn't have to be.

Flowers are organic, so they make the perfect gift to add beauty and oxygen to a room. The problem is that flower growers and harvesters add harmful fertilizers, exploit farm workers or are so far away from where you're buying the flowers, it takes away from the environmentally friendly characteristics of flowers.

Companies such as Organic Bouquet have been offering sustainably grown flowers since 2001. Recently, they even expanded their product line to include eco-elegant gifts, organic chocolates and more. They adhere to the rigorous U.S. and international sustainability standards and obtain their products from companies who provide safe working conditions and a livable wage for their employees and farm workers.

Organic Bouquet is committed to environmental and humanitarian values, carefully selecting product sources, sustainably producing their products, and donating a portion of their proceeds to dedicated charitable organizations.

Seeking companies such as Organic Bouquet to buy your organic and sustainable goods from helps you leave less of a mark on the environment. You can still decorate your special event with beautiful flower centerpieces or send a breathtaking gift bouquet to a friend or loved one. Patronize stores and vendors that allow you to do what is right for the environment because they do what is right for the environment.

Do You Ever Wonder Why It's Important to Save the Wetlands?

Maybe it's because I live in Miami and there is a lot of talk about saving the Everglades, but do you ever wonder why it's so important to save these wetlands? If you are a casual observer driving up (or down) I-75 (affectionately known as Alligator Alley), you may see some of the big guys lounging by the side of the road. These huge alligators are fenced in, but there must be a reason why we want to save and protect alligators and other animals that inhabit these wet and marshy locales.

The 3 values of wetlands

It's not only about the birds, fish and other wildlife that live in the wetlands. Wetlands and the natural processes that take place in and because of the wetlands, and the purpose that wetlands fill affect humans too.

1. Storage facility for excess water.Think of a wetland like you would a normal kitchen sponge. If you fill your sink with water and place the sponge in it, the sponge soaks up as much of the water as it can. Wetlands are nature's sponge. It soaks up excess water during floods, and stores the water, slowly releasing it into the environment as it is needed. This release of water waters parched ground during dry periods.


2. Water filter.When water reaches a wetland and is absorbed by native plants, pollutants, fertilizer and other contaminants in the water drop to the bottom. When the water leaves the wetland, it is cleaner than when it arrived. Environmental managers build water filtration systems modeled after the natural filtration system of the wetlands.

3.Wetlands are one of the most diverse ecosystems. The variance and amount of species that live in and are supported by the wetlands is as great as the rain forest and coral reefs. The lush vegetation and shallow water creates an environment where fish and wildlife flourish. Energy given off by the plant life is passed to fish, wildlife, waterfowl and humans. This also helps nurture the shellfish and commercial fishing industry.

So saving the wetlands is not just about the plants, fish and wildlife that inhabit them. Saving the wetlands ultimately saves us too. Acting as a natural water agent, filtration system and energy producer, the wetlands provide a naturally better environment for its inhabitants and humans.

Recycle Your e-waste Series Part 9

The National Cristina Foundation was green before green was, well, green. For over 20 years this non-profit organization has been encouraging businesses and individuals to donate their old technology products. The Cristina Foundation matches the donated technology with schools, charities and organizations across the U.S., in Canada and other countries around the world.

The Foundation's focus is people with disabilities, at-risk children and the economically disadvantaged. By training these individuals and providing them with the right skills, they can overcome their challenges and lead a successful and fulfilling life.

If you're interested in donating your old computer, visit the Donate Now Page of the website for more information. Go to www.cristina.org for more information on the Foundation and its services.

Happy Earth Day

Recycle Your e-waste Series Part 8

School budgets continue to see cutbacks, so it's hard for schools to keep the latest in technology inside its classrooms. If you're interested in donating your old computer to schools, visit PCs for Schools to find a list of schools in need of computer equipment.

Recycle Your e-waste Series Part 7

This post is more about reusing than it is recycling. Remember, just because you don't have a use for your old computer anymore doesn't mean that somebody else wouldn't be grateful to have a computer at all.

The organization Share the Technology is the matchmaker. It maintains lists of organizations that accept computer donations. Most of these organizations are non-profits that may not otherwise be able to afford purchasing computers. You can get rid of your old computer and feel good about helping a non-profit organization out with their technology needs.

Visit ShareTechnology.org for more information.

Recycle Your e-waste Series Part 6

It's Part 6 of the recycle your e-waste series. Today's posting features Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. Simply enter your zip code to find a rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling location near you. The site points out that you probably use more rechargeable battery products than you think. Items such as cell phones, drills, and battery operated tools that you charge before use are all candidates.

So far they've collected and recycled over 42 million rechargeable batteries.

Find out more about Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation.