Good news on the environment front! The Home Depot will now accept unbroken
consumer compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) at all locations. The service
is free and the first such offering made so widely available in this country,
according to the retail chain.

Customers can simply hand over any expired, unbroken CFLs to the clerk behind
the returns desk. The bulbs will go to an environmental management company
responsible for coordinating CFL packaging, transportation and recycling to
maximize safety and ensure environmental compliance. (more…)

Research and development in the area of OLED’s has been fast and furious
in the past few years. Numerous universities and corporations have leaped on
this exciting green innovation. OLEDs are organic light-emitting diodes,
organic because it relies on carbon-based polymers and molecules rather than
inorganic semiconductors such as silicon (like the standard LED.

Even the U.S. Department of Energy has jumped into the fray, which reports
approximately 22 percent of the electricity consumed in the United States goes
toward lighting. It’s a $58-billion-a-year bill and growing.  Through its
solid-state lighting research program, the energy department hopes to develop
commercially acceptable lights that will need 50 percent less electricity (more…)

Half of all heat enters your home through the windows.  Using a
thick shade or window film, especially over the west facing windows can
save up to 15 percent on your cooling bill.  OR shade those windows from
the outside by planting trees or installing window awnings.  Another way
is using solar screens on the outside of the windows. (more…)

Back 0n May 2nd I wrote a blog called Air Car #2, about a guy (Angelo Di Pietro)
in Australia that invented an engine that runs on compressed air, the rotary
piston engine so light you can literally hold it in your hands. Well, I finally
found their site. Below is an excerpt. But, while I’ve got your attention, be
sure to tune in for tomorrow’s blog because there is going to be some exciting
news on the first air car I wrote about. (more…)

AFter searching and searching for waste disposal sites in Texas, I have come up pretty
much empty as far as actual sites go. They will tell you what items are considered
hazardous household waste. These items are listed below.

* Fluorescent light bulbs (including compact fluorescent light bulbs)
* Oil-based paints
* Some anti-mildew and exterior latex paints
* Some wood stains
* Fuels (gasoline, propane, diesel)
* Corrosive cleaners (such as lye-based oven cleaners) (more…)

This is a definition of “Necessity is the mother of invention”

With gasoline prices continuing to soar and no apparent relief in the future, one
Texas man has come up with his own solution. He built his own electric car. (more…)

Remember that trash composter mentioned a couple of blogs ago? Well, here is
is the scoop.

I found it at Greenfeet, a great site! They sell all kinds of green products.

Anyway, back to the composter: Nature Mill Plus Composter – $299.00
Fully automatic and odor free. The perfect solution for those who want to compost
but don’t have outdoor space for a pile.

It produces a batch (about 10 lbs/4.5 kg) of rich organic fertilizer every 2 weeks.
A red light will tell you when to empty it. Just open the door and remove the
compost. You can add waste items at any time up to 120 lbs (55 kb) a month. Talk
about recycling!

Waste items are processed continuously. Every 4 hours, a small electric motor mixes
the compost, which breaks into clumps, compacts the waste and improves the air flow.
The computer controller determines the frequency and duration of mixing. The internal
reactor chamber maintains a true “hot composting” temperature of 140 F (60C) for
several days. The heat neutralizes pathogens such a e.coli and prevents seed
germination. It exceeds US EPA PART 503 guidelines for compost safety. It is
believed to be the only compost machine, tumbler, or other home use device which
complies with the EPA rules. The cure tray is no more than 100 degrees F (38C) about
body temperature when you empty it.

The unit runs on either 110 or220 volts, plugs into a standard wall outlet, and it UL
and CE compliant. It draws about 5 kwh per month, which costs approximately $0.50
a month. About as much energy as a night light. In comparison to what the diesel
truck uses hauling the same amount of waster to a landfill —- PLEASE!