E-Waste

What are you doing with all of your electronics that are outdated? Did you know that many of them have hazardous metals and gases in them that can contaminate the water shed?

Most towns have a place to drop of e-waste and with the price of gold, silver, and platinum so high, some companies in larger cities will even buy your old stuff to melt it down for the precious metals! (YAY! recycling)

Some big box retailers will even recycle old computers and phones for you, if it is a newer phone or music device, ebay and gazelle.com will buy them from you and pay for shipping to get it!

Also, that ink printer cartridge that you just replaced will be taken by the larger office supply stores, where they will refill them and they usually give you a discount on a new one with trade-in!

Old computer monitors make great fish tanks too!

Aluminum Cans VS Plastic Bottles

The next time that you head to the grocery store to pick up your favorite soft drink...think about their packaging.

It takes up to 400 years for both a plastic bottle and an aluminum can to fully decompose.

A plastic bottle requires more oil to produce than an aluminum can.

About 10% of all plastic bottles are recycled while about 50% off all aluminum cans are recycled.

Plastic bottles are resealable and have other uses.

Cans do not contain BPA which may link to increases chances of Cancer.

There are a few interesting tidbits for you....In my opinion, Cans are the way to go...They are easier to recycle and you get paid for them if you take them to a recycling center!

Working on a post and video

I am working on how to recycle or rather upcycle magazines.... I have so many and need to find something to do with them.... COMING SOON!

Working on a post and video

I am working on how to recycle or rather upcycle magazines.... I have so many and need to find something to do with them.... COMING SOON!

Upcycling?

I just recently learned about the term Upcycling.

(You can learn more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upcycle)

Basically you take near worthless materials or found objects and make them or re-work them into something of more value.

One example is making paper beads, you take paper, newspaper, wrapping paper, etc... and roll it into really cool beads.

I have been experimenting with this and plan on making a video on how to do it, but I need a little more practice first.

Write a post and let me know how you Upcycle!

Make your own Energy Sources

Watch my video on how I turned old newspapers and magazines into fire logs to cook out on the grill!


http://youtu.be/NXi9OE4lqhQ

Free Fuel

Well kind of...you are already paying for it, but you are just throwing it away. What am I talking about? Newspapers and Magazines....

Video coming soon!

Why Plant Trees?

Why plant trees? According to American Forests:

•Planting trees makes cents. Planting trees strategically around your home can cut your air conditioning bills in half by providing windbreaks and shade.

•Breathe in, breathe out. As trees grow, they naturally filter airborne pollutants like carbon monoxide, lower the air temperature and produce oxygen.

•Pay your carbon debt. Planting just 30 Global ReLeaf trees will absorb the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by the average American lifestyle each year.

•Trees are beautiful! Plus, trees indigenous to the area are food sources and homes for birds and animals that depend on them for survival.

Earth Day is coming

Earth Day is coming up, What do you plan on doing? My goal for that day is to plant a few native plants in my yard and pick up litter along the road with my two little brothers. Tell me what you plan on doing.... Tweet me your ideas on twitter @ThomasJowers

Spring is Nearly here

Since Spring is Nearly here, what do you plan on doing with it?



I Don't Know Either!!!!!!



Seeing/Meeting/Listening to Dame Dr. Jane Goodall got me inspired to do something, but I still don't know what exactly.



I bought some seeds to plant, but that is still a few weeks away for me.



Today I joined:

The Nature Conservancy

The National Wildlife Federation

The Sierra Club

National Audubon Society

and I am already a member of:

National Arbor Day Society

Maybe one of these organizations will give me some ideas on what I can do to help wildlife and the environment this Spring/Summer



Wednesday, if I can get out of work early, I plan on going to the lake to teach my brothers about lake ecosystems, we bought a few nets and minnow traps so that we can experience a few little extra creatures.



If you have an idea, please drop me a line!

Paperless Billing

A great way to help the environment and save yourself some clutter, sign up for paperless billing from your creditors.

It will also save you money!

I currently received 6 bills per month, which means I can save $$ every year. Here is how!

6 bills per month X 12 months X .44 Cents for a stamp = $31.68 saved in a year

Just think if you have more than 6 bills per month!