Archive for May, 2009

Reuse vs. Recycle

For most people, the terms “reuse” and “recycle” are one and the same. After all, when you reused the old plastic bottles lying around the garage as small decorative garden pots, you recycled them, too. Strictly speaking, however, the terms have different meanings in the eco-friendly movement. Definition of Terms When you use the term reuse, you utilize the product/item in its original form, often with just a little parts repair and/or replacement to make it fit to be used again by other individuals.  On the other hand, to recycle means to destroy the item/product so as to scavenge the parts that can be used to produce new items. As an example, take your old desktop computer that you are trying to decide whether to reuse or recycle.  If you reuse it, you can make other individuals, who have need of a computer but cannot afford it, happy. Think of your local charity office, the local school and even a young relative. If you opt to recycle it, you can drop it off at a recycling center.  It will then be stripped of its internal components for resale, when and where possible, and ...

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10 Tips + Saving Strategies for a Green Memorial Day

For Americans, red, white, and blue are the colors of Memorial Day that traditionally falls on the last Monday of May.  However, you can make Memorial Day red, white and blue, green things all over you especially during your family gatherings and sporting events, picnics and barbecues. Walk to the Sporting Events Instead of driving the car to the sporting venue, you can just walk to it.  You will be saving the environment from car emissions and you save your wallet from high gas prices.  Besides, the exercise will be good for your lethargic body and your soul will appreciate the scenery passing by. Carpool and Ride a Bike If the sporting event is a long way off, say, you live in Ohio, and you want to witness the Indy 500 in Indiana, you can always carpool with family and friends.  (Or ride your bike) This way, you lessen your carbon footprint while sparing your money from gas costs had you decided to go at it alone. Use Green Fuel When barbecuing, opt for biofuel like corn and coconut husks as well as lump charcoal.  These fuels are perfectly ...

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Cell Phone Recycling

Almost everyone has a cell phone these days.  They're ubiquitous, and they've come a long way since the early days.  You may remember when cell phones were large, clunky, and rare.  However, the average US phone lasts only eighteen months.  These phones aren't necessarily broken.  They're thrown out by people who want to upgrade and get the best new features available.  That results in a lot of toxic trash. In some states, it's illegal to throw out a cell phone.  In others, these phones can be tossed without legal repercussions.  However, that doesn't mean throwing away a cell phone is a good idea.  The batteries and electronic components in these phones are likely to leach toxins into landfills and even into ground water. Phones can contain heavy metals and other elements like arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium.  They can also contain PVC, which is among the least stable of the plastics, and brominated compounds that can cause other problems.  Many of these compounds are bioaccumulative, building up in the bodies of animals and people, and persistent in the environment too. So, what can you do instead ...

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Greener Swimming Pools

Depending on your perspective, a swimming pool in your home is either a luxury or a necessity in your lifestyle.  For example, if you live in an arid area, it can be a luxury due to the obvious scarcity of water but it can also be a necessity to drive away the oppressive heat. When you do decide to install a backyard swimming pool, you can make it more eco-friendly by adopting measures to conserve your water, protect the health of your family and keep your energy bills to a minimum. Check for Leaks Swimming pools can develop leaks over the years through natural wear and tear.  These leaks cause water to slowly but surely ooze into the ground, which then results to loss of the precious resource.  Your small pool can leak as much as 700 gallons of water in a day, which is sufficient amount to irrigate a small field! To check if your swimming pool has leaks, measure the water level on a regular basis.  When it shows a decrease of ¼ of an inch in wet areas or ½ of an inch in dry regions, ...

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Using Recycled Paper, Recycled Rubber… Recycled Pets?

When we think about saving the planet, we normally have visions of vast rainforests or exotic animals.  What we may not think about is the fact that there are animals that need help in our own back yards!  With the recession being on, cities and rural areas alike are noticing an increase of abandoned animals, ranging from dogs and cats, to pets that are more exotic, like snakes, lizards, ferrets and rats!  There are many reasons that people choose to abandon their animals, but the truth is that if you are looking for an animal companion, you don't need to look very far.  Take a look at the difference that you can make when you decide to re-home and “recycle” a pet! The truth is that animals are being discovered everywhere from foreclosed homes, to dumpsters to simply being released into a world that they are ill-prepared to deal with.  Their owners may not be able to take care of them anymore, or they may be moving to a place that does not allow pets.  When you are thinking about adopting a recycled pet from a shelter, consider the fact that even under the best of times, the shelter is going ...

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