Everyone knows one of the first steps to going green is to recycle. Recycling allows us to reuse materials and items, instead of need to pull more vital resources from the earth. The reverse is also beneficial, keeping dangerous materials out of the landfills where they can seep into the ground and water.
The basics of recycling are well known, glass, paper, plastics, metal, but there are many other items that can and should be recycled that many people are unaware of:
Compact Florescent Lights contain a small amount of mercury, which can be hazardous if it makes its way into our water and soil. Many companies offer recycling programs to take back your used CFLs.
Plastic bags, if put into a landfill, will take thousands of years to to break down. Luckily, they are easy to reuse. Many stores will take back used shopping bags, and some will even take sandwich bags and plastic wraps.
Batteries contain heavy metals than can contaminate soil and water. Many retailers and full service recycling centers will take batteries.
Tattered rags and clothing may not be something you would think to recycle. Who would want them? Goodwill takes donations of these items and has them recycled for uses such as sofa stuffing.
Printer cartridges often end up in landfills but are super easy to reuse. Many electronic retailers will refill your cartridge for much less than a new one. Some companies will also pay you for your old cartridges to reuse themselves.
There are many more things that can be recycled but often aren't: cell phones, televisions, and many other electronics for example. Next time you're throwing something unusual away, stop and think that maybe this doesn't need to be in a landfill.
Electric cars are slowly chipping away at our fossil fuel dependency and stemming the tide that is global warming. This is great, but so far most have been fairly conventional. Why should only the able bodied have easy access to the wave of the future? Well, an auto company in Hungary thought the same thing. Developed in Hungary and now built in Pflugerville, Texas (yup, Pflugerville), the Kenguru is an electric car that can reach speeds of 25 mph and travel 60 miles on a charge. It has a door in the back that allows for easy roll-in access for wheelchairs. The vehicle is handled similar to a moped, with acceleration, steering, and braking controlled via hand controls.
Normally, wheelchair conversion of cars or vans can cost $14,000 or more on top of the cost of the vehicle. The Kenguru makes for a much more affordable option at $25,000. This cost can often be brought down more by federal and state aid programs. And, with recent developments in lithium ion technology, the cost of electric cars is expected to go down in the future. While not the perfect solution, the Kenguru is a greener, more affordable option for those confined to wheelchairs but looking for some independence.
Green Lawn by Green Team,posted Jun 4 2012 10:10AM
Everyone loves a well kept lawn in the summer. It's nice to look at and fun to play on. But to what extents should we go to keep our lawns green? Can we keep our lawns green while still being "green"? Yup! And here's how.
Set your lawn mower higher. Longer grass retains water better.
Water in early morning when it is cooler to minimize evaporation.
Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn is watered, not the lawn, house, sidewalks, cars, etc.
Collect rainwater and use it to water your lawns and gardens later.
Direct gutters and downspouts towards shrubs and bushes.
Install drip irrigation systems to water more efficiently.
Keep your lawn healthy while conserving water you'll have a guilt free summer knowing you're doing your part to save the world.
Madison's summer music festival season kicks off this weekend with Brat Fest at Willow Island, where there are more bands than you can shake a bratwurst at! Check out the Brat Fest website to plan your itinerary.
Next up is the Marquette...
John Fogerty is making the talk show rounds this week, stopping in to see David Letterman Tuesday and Wednesday, and the ladies of "The View" on Thursday.
He's promoting his new album, "Wrote a Song For Everyone" which comes out next Tuesday...
It's a miracle that both Jonathan and KItty wanted to hear Barry Manilow this morning. They were not alone. Plenty of Fanilow's called in to vote yes. One caller claimed to have seen Manilow in concert 25 times!
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, it is another gorgeous Monday, fit for another great show at the Crystal Corner tonight.
Through locking ourselves in the barn on Irish Lane, tossing some ideas around, as well as a few choice beverages to...
Hey everybody, we were thrown for a loop by the twist this week, but were able to make one of our "oldie but a goldie" songs fit the mold.
We have a few songs that we have played consistently over the years, and we are very happy that we will be...
We just received word of what this weeks twist is, and...oh boy. We need to take our "signature song" and cut it to only 2:30 without going over. Amberstein does not simply play 2:30 versions of our songs...so this could be interesting.
Last...
In 1984, Rockwell rose to number 2 for 3 weeks in 1984 with "Somebody's Watching Me." The backup singer for the song was Michael Jackson. How did Rockwell get Jackson to help him? Well, Rockwell's real name is Kennedy William Gordy and he...
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
Everyone knows one of the first steps to going green is to recycle. Recycling allows us to reuse materials and items, instead of need to pull more vital resources from the earth. The reverse is also beneficial, keeping dangerous materials out of the landfills where they can seep into the ground and water.
Electric cars are slowly chipping away at our fossil fuel dependency and stemming the tide that is global warming. This is great, but so far most have been fairly conventional. Why should only the able bodied have easy access to the wave of the future? Well, an auto company in Hungary thought the same thing. Developed in Hungary and now built in Pflugerville, Texas (yup, Pflugerville), the Kenguru is an electric car that can reach speeds of 25 mph and travel 60 miles on a charge. It has a door in the back that allows for easy roll-in access for wheelchairs. The vehicle is handled similar to a moped, with acceleration, steering, and braking controlled via hand controls.
Everyone loves a well kept lawn in the summer. It's nice to look at and fun to play on. But to what extents should we go to keep our lawns green? Can we keep our lawns green while still being "green"? Yup! And here's how.
