Many communities recycle glass, aluminum and paper … maybe even some plastics.

What about old appliances ?  In addition to containing easy to recycle metals some appliance also contain harmful refrigerants.  9 million (+ / –) refrigerators are thrown out each year in the U.S. and most are shredded to reclaim the metal … the foam and other materials go to a landfill and may release GHG to the atmosphere.

GE and Home Depot have a different approach that keeps an additional 47 lbs of a typical refrigerator out of landfills (resulting in 102 lbs not sent to landfill per refrigerator).

With Responsible Appliance Disposal a refrigerator’s refrigerant is safely removed and recycled / processed.  Then any GHG from foam insulation is safely processed and the remaining material is separated for recycling.

“ … Refrigerants and recoverable components are removed … will reduce the weight of typical refrigerator landfill waste by approximately 85%.”

“ … Approximately 95% of the insulating foam is recovered, compressed and can be used as fuel”.

Many Home Depot locations  will take the appliances for recycling.  For locations see links below …

Connecticut     Delaware     District of Columbia     Maryland      Massachusetts    
New Jersey     New York     North Carolina     Pennsylvania     Rhode Island    
Vermont     Virginia     West Virginia

Via:  GE  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are 10 quick things you can do to get your house in better shape for winter.  Total time to complete is estimate to b e a weekend and costs are in the order of $100 making for a great return on time and investment.

Here are some highlights - "Change your furnace filters ... Insulate your pipes ... Caulk your windows ... Weather stripe your doors ... [get / install a]  Programmable thermostat ..."

Do the ones you can yourself and save some money - consider a contractor if some arel.  beyond your skill level.  Each will make a difference to the environment and your energy bills.

While not on the list - do not forget to use CFLs or LED bulbs ... in my area (SouthEastern PA) they are reasonably inexpensive as they are subsidized (at least at the Home Depot) by PECO (local utility). 

Via:  SustainLane  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Compact Florescent Bulbs (CFB) have many positive qualities including:

 Home Depot now has a CFB recycling program ... just bring your CFB to the front service desk and they will collect them for safe disposal of them.

>>> I tried this at a local Home Depot and it was just that easy!

"... a national in-store, ...  (CFL) bulb recycling program at all 1,973 The Home Depot locations. This free service is the first such offering made so widely available by a retailer in the United States ...Home Depot Canada launched a CFL recycling program in November, 2007."

Via:  Home Depot  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ... customers can simply bring in any expired, unbroken CFL bulbs, and give them to the store associate behind the returns desk. The bulbs will then be managed responsibly by an environmental management company who will coordinate CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance"

" ... CFL recycling program is an extension of The Home Depot's Eco Options program. ... a classification that allows customers to easily identify products that have less of an impact on the environment.

" ... more than 75 percent of households located within 10 miles of a Home Depot store, this program is the first national solution to providing Americans with a convenient way to recycle CFLs."

Via:  The Home Depot  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Once they move in, the 10 residents will automatically become ambassadors of sustainable lifestyles, conducting tours and answering questions about energy-efficient, environmentally responsible living in a stylish, high-technology setting. The residence hall and research laboratory is the centerpiece of a much larger program in which more than 100 students are conducting research on smart living. Primarily focused on undergraduates, the program encourages students from different academic disciplines to form teams and explore smart ways to use technology in the home. " ...

Continue reading "Home Depot Smart Home Creates Living Lab for Energy Efficiency" »

Posted by Green Tech at 09:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Home Depot has always carried products that were "earth friendly" such as Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFB). 

They have now introduced "Eco Options" branding to highlight those products that offer one or more benefits related to the environment.  

According to Home Depot, the Eco Options Brand " makes it easy for you to identify products that make a difference, one choice at a time."

Sustainable Forestry:  products "produced from responsibly managed forests"

Energy Efficient:  products "that use less energy, reducing the amount of electricity needed"

Healthy Home:  products "that improve the quality of the environment in & around your home"

Clean Air:  products "that improve air quality through reduced emissions"

Water Conservation:  products "that clean or use water more efficiently"

The bottom of the Eco Options Home Page has lots of useful information and facts ...
>>>Check it out and learn more!

Via:  The Home Depot   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 05:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)