Glass Recycling

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Jay Mueller

Glass recycling is the process of taking old glass products and turning them into new glass products. Glass can be recycled forever without losing its purity or strength. Glass is a material recycled by many curbside collection programs, and it is also accepted at most municipal recycling centers. Most bottles and jars contain at least 25% recycled glass. Glass makes up approximately 10% of the garbage that is in landfills. A glass bottle can take up to one million years to breakdown. Americans recycle about 13 million glass jars and bottles everyday. Eleven states have passed a “bottle bill” which pays you a cash refund for recycling glass containers. The states that currently have a bottle bill are: Michigan, California, Delaware, Maine, Hawaii, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Vermont.

Eighty percent of recycled glass is used to make new glass bottles or jars, however there are some other uses for recycled glass including:

• Fiberglass production (second most popular use of post-consumer glass behind beverage containers)
• Fractionators for matches and ammunition
• Abrasives in sand-blasting
• Ingredient in concrete and highway reflective paint
• Ceramic tiles and picture frames around the house
• Sand to help beaches that have been depleted by erosion

Almost 28 pounds of air pollution is created for very ton of new glass that is produced. Recycling glass reduces that pollution by 14-20%.  A recycled glass container can go from a recycling bin to a store shelf in as little as 30 days.

Lynne

Related Posts:

Posted in Green Common Sense | Tagged | 2 Comments

Using Eco Friendly Products

Posted on June 29, 2009 by Jay Mueller

Eco-friendly simply means that the product is made in a way that is friendly to the environment. It could mean that the product is made of sustainable materials such as bamboo flooring or that it is made from recycled material such as plastic tables and chairs made from recycled plastic bottles. Even your grocery shopping can be made more eco-friendly by buying locally grown, organic produce and using recyclable bags to carry it in.

Whenever you look at buying something, you want to look at how it is made. Is it manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner?  There are actually a couple of levels of eco-friendly products. One is that the product itself is made from renewable or sustainable materials and the other is the method of manufacture and its effects on the environment. The best of both worlds is to be able to get a product that is made from renewable materials and manufactured in an earth friendly manner.

When it comes to home renovations, you have a lot of great options. Everyone has heard of bamboo flooring which is both beautiful and made from a renewable resource but there other types of flooring that you can use as well. Cork flooring is also renewable and can be very beautiful. Marmoleum is a natural linoleum floor that is made with 100% natural materials.

Even clothing can be eco-friendly. Choose items made from organic cotton, hemp and even bamboo.  Today’s eco-friendly clothing can also be trendy so when you’re in the store pay attention to the labels and try to help out the environment while you are picking out your new wardrobe.

Even things like cosmetics and cleaning products can be eco-friendly. You want to choose items that are made from organic materials that don’t have toxic chemicals in them. In fact, using these products will be better for the environment as well as for your health so it’s worth your while to seek them out.

Some of the best eco-friendly products also help you conserve resources like water and electricity. Showerheads and faucets that help conserve water are great choice as well as compact fluorescent bulbs that lower your electric bill.

Today there is a large demand for eco-friendly products so you will find more and more choices. Look at your product labels carefully and take the time to make sure what you’re buying really is eco-friendly and you’ll know that you’re doing your part to keep the planet healthy.

 Keep turning green!

Lynne

Related Posts:

Posted in Green Common Sense | Tagged | 2 Comments

The Art of Making Money From Your Art

Posted on June 20, 2009 by Jay Mueller

I am very honoured to have been asked by Jay Mueller to post a series of guest articles here on his and Lynne’s site.  I debated what I should write about that might offer Jay and Lynne not only unique content but also a unique angle for the blog posts. 

In my non-Internet life I own 3 shops.  2 of the shops are antiques centres, and one is an art gallery.  I have been working on an ebook for sometime about ‘How To Make Money From Your Art’ and I decided to use this opportunity to bring to you some of the ideas I have included in the ebook. 

To start this short series I would like to talk today about the presentation of your artwork.  Essentially you will find a lot of the time this is a big factor in whether you sell or do not sell, but more importantly, it will factor greatly in the decision by a gallery to hang your pictures.  If your artwork is badly framed a gallery will not take your work in for you.

Always get your artwork framed and mounted properly.  If you go to a low cost store and by a pre-made frame your artwork will look cheap.  Go to a good quality framers, listen their advice, and make sure you present your piece of work in the best possible way.

If you feel you cannot afford the framing costs straight away try to sell a few unframed, mounted pieces of work and put the money aside to use for framing other works.  Remember, you are investing in your future business.

If you do not know a reliable framer visit a few galleries or artist’s studios and ask for recommendations.  Then visit a few of the framers with a piece of your artwork and see what they suggest and how much a good framing service will cost.

In terms of pricing your artwork, if you do not have any idea where to pitch it, as a rule of thumb items should be at least two and a half times the cost of framing.  This, of course, is only if you use a professional framer – and you may value your work at a much higher price, but this is the minimum you should set it at.

You will find in the long run using a quality framers will be a great investment as it totally improves the presentation of your artwork. 

If you would like to visit my other sites please check out my two antiques centres at http://fakenhamantiques.co.uk, http://shirehallplainantiques.co.uk, you can see my art gallery at http://artnextthesea.co.uk and I also run a spiritual site at http://isanybodyoutthere.co.uk if you are interested to know a bit more about spiritualism.

Enjoy the journey.

Mandy

—————————————

Mandy,

Thanks for another one of your terrific posts.  Everyone else, please be sure to take the time to check out Mandy’s sites.  They are all wonderful and worth the time.

Jay

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Building Green – Government Incentives to Help You Get Started

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Jay Mueller

There are a lot of benefits to living in a green home, including reduced health risks, the knowledge that you’re making a difference for the environment, and reduced energy bills.  However, you may not know that there are federal, state, and local incentives available to assist you with making your home green.

Some of the private and government incentives for building green include tax breaks, rebates, and more – just for adding ecologically friendly elements into your life.  The federal government offers 30% tax credit if you install a geothermal heat pump, solar panels, solar water heater, and wind turbines to your home. These incentives are available to all tax payers until 12/31/2010. The federal government also offers a 30% or $1500 tax credit if you install insulation, windows, doors, etc. These incentives can help you get more ambitious green building projects off the ground. 

The EPA has a number of link for sources of funding available to green builders, at state and local levels as well as nationally.  These incentives are available to homeowners, but also to people in industry or government organizations and non profit organizations.  It’s possible to get tax credits, grants, loans and more for specific projects.

Local incentives can be found by contacting local authorities or checking out dsireusa.org. The DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency) can be used to find incentives at the federal, state, and local levels. DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the NC Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

You can find information about federal tax credits that can be earned just for using energy efficient appliances and other products, too.  The Energy Star site, operated by the US government, tells home builders and consumers what they can get for switching to a better product.  That means you’ll not only save on your energy bill – you’ll get a tax break, too.

There are lots of options out there for people interested in building green.  Government incentives, as well as benefits on the state and local level, make it easier to change your life to one that’s better for the environment.  Take a look at all your options and find out what you’ve been missing.

Lean Towards Green,
Lynne

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts
Posted in Green Technology | Tagged | 6 Comments

Lynne – Expert Author on Ezine Aritcles

Posted on June 10, 2009 by Jay Mueller

Hi!  Just a quick little note that Lynne (my wife) is now an Expert Author on Ezine Articles. You can check out the article at: Use Renewable Energy to Heat Your Home – Guide to Grain Stoves if you’d like.  We think this is a pretty big deal around here.

Can you tell I am proud of her?

Jay

Related Posts:

Posted in Green Technology | Tagged | 1 Comment

I Believe…

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Jay Mueller

A friend of mine shared this with me.  I though I’d share it with you.

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born

A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe…
That just because two people argue,
It doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue,
It doesn’t mean they do love each other.

I Believe…
That we don’t have to change friends if
We understand that friends change.

I Believe…..
That no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe…
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I Believe…
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life..

I Believe…
That it’s taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.

I Believe…
That you should always leave loved ones with
Loving words. It may be the last time you see them..

I Believe…
That you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

I Believe…
That we are responsible for what
We do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe…
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe…
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe…
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe…
That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe…
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you When you’re down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe…
That sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, 
But that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe…
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had
And what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I Believe…
That it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe…
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I Believe…
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
But, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe…
That you shouldn’t be so eager to find
Out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe…
Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different.

I Believe…
That your life can be changed in a matter of
Hours by people who don’t even know you.

I Believe…
That even when you think you have no more to give, when
A friend cries out to you – you will find the strength to help.

I Believe…
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe…
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe…
That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in, I just did.

‘The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; They just make the most of everything.

—————————–

Thank you God for all the wonderful people who help us throughout the journey of life…

Jay

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Is Your Home Renovation Green Enough?

Posted on June 5, 2009 by Jay Mueller

If you’re thinking about building or renovating your home, you might want to consider some eco friendly choices. Low VOC carpets and floors and cabinetry made from sustainable materials like cork and bamboo should be high on your choice list.  In the kitchen and bathrooms, you could opt for recycled glass countertops that add a unique touch to the kitchen and are a great way to put old glass to use.  These countertops come in many color combinations and resemble artful mosaics which lend a classy air to your room.

These days, wood floors are very popular and if you are considering them for your home you might look around at older homes that are being torn down to see if you can salvage the flooring. Every item that you reuse from your old design or from someone else’s home is one less item that will end up in the landfill.

If you are redoing your heating and cooling system, then look into using solar or wind power. Wind power might not be practical for all homes since you need to have quite a bit of land and a high area for the turbine.  Solar power, on the other hand, can be adapted to almost anywhere.  If putting in a solar system is not within your reach, you should at least make sure that you insulate properly and use triple pane windows and tight fitting seals on your doors to minimize loss of energy from your home.

Avoiding use of paints and glues that produce air pollution is another consideration.  This is not only important for the environment, but for your health as well.  Toxic fumes can build up in your home and are bad for your health.  In fact, the EPA estimates that the pollution inside your home can be up to 100 times worse than that outside the home!  In order to have cleaner air inside, use water based paints instead of oil based and avoid products that have a lot of adhesives.  When you do need to use adhesive, try to make sure they are as “green” as possible.

Luckily, there are plenty of exciting options in eco-friendly materials and you don’t have to sacrifice beauty or function to go green.  When choosing the new materials and items for your home, be sure you do your homework and look for eco-friendly options – I think you will find plenty of items that fit in your new design!

Jay

Related Posts:

Posted in Green Common Sense, Green Technology | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Greener Cleaning

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Jay Mueller

Everyone wants a clean and fresh smelling home, but if you’ve been using commercial cleaners and air fresheners, you might have a home full of toxins!  In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that the level of pollutants in your home can be up to 100 times higher than the outside air. This pollution can come from gasses given off by anything from your carpeting to your kitchen cabinets to your cleaning products.

If you walk into any grocery store, you will see many different cleaners – there are so many it might be hard to choose. Most of these cleaners are loaded with harmful chemicals. 

If you want to practice greener cleaning, there are plenty of natural things you can use.  Tea tree oil is a great natural cleaner for mold and mildew, baking soda makes a wonderful abrasive cleaner and white vinegar is a great all around cleaner. In addition to the health benefits of not using toxic cleaners, using these natural cleaners is much less costly than most store bought cleaners. For scrubbing surfaces like bathtubs, sinks and even counters use a mixture of baking soda and liquid detergent.

For cleaning glass surfaces, there is nothing like vinegar. Mix 3 tablespoons with 2 cups of water and just a dab of liquid detergent.  Put it in a spray bottle and shake it up, then just spray on and wipe off as you would any cleaner.

When it comes to moldy areas, bathroom tile and even cutting boards, you can use straight vinegar sprayed on the area.  The vinegar will work to clean and sanitize as well as deodorize.  If you have a mold problem, combine 2 teaspoons tea tree oil with 1 cup of water and spray directly on the area without wiping off – it works wonders!

You can even use natural ingredients as an effective furniture polish and olive oil works wonders for this task. Mix ½ teaspoon with ¼ cup lemon juice – dab onto a rag and wipe over the wood. This mixture can be stored in a glass jar.

When it comes to deodorizers for the home, those store bought sprays are both environmentally harmful and harmful to your health. You’re much better off to open the windows and let the fresh air in. If that’s not enough then you can always put out bowls of dried flowers or herbs, use an open box of baking soda to absorb odors or place some cedar blocks strategically around the house.

There’s no reason why you can’t clean everything in your home using natural ingredients, so throw out all those chemical cleaners and arm yourself with some baking soda, vinegar and tea tree oil. Your house will be less toxic and you’ll save money on your grocery bill too.

Jay and Lynne

Related Posts:

Posted in Green Common Sense, Green Technology | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Going Green in the Kitchen

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Jay Mueller

Going green in the kitchen encompasses everything from what you eat to how you cook it.  There’s a ton of things you can do in your kitchen that will help lessen your impact on the environment.  From using a water saving faucet, to energy efficient appliances to cleaning with non-toxic cleaners, going green in the kitchen can be great for the environment as well as for your budget.

One little thing you can do is reduce your use of paper towels.  The average family uses several rolls of paper towels a week but you can reduce your usage by keeping some cloth towels handy in the kitchen and use those for wiping your hands, spills and other uses that would normally call for a paper towel.  You’ll save money on paper towels and there will be less of them in the landfill which, in turn, helps the environment.  The less paper towels that are manufactured, the less pollution in the air from those manufacturing plants.

Did you realize that some types of cooking are more energy efficient than others?  While many cooks love a gas stove, the fact is that the newer model electric stoves are more energy efficient.  Not only that, but if you opt for a toaster oven or microwave instead of using your big oven, you can drastically reduce the energy needed for cooking.

Another thing you can do in the kitchen to help the environment is buy local whenever you can.  While this might seem like a small thing, transporting food is actually a big drag on the environment.  Not to mention that foods from the grocery store can be loaded with pesticides and your local growers probably don’t put so much junk on their crops.  Plus, it’s nice to support the farmers in your own community.

Using reusable cloth grocery bags, reusing jars and composting organic materials are great ways to reduce waste.  You can compost your kitchen scraps, paper and even cardboard.  This will make great fodder for your garden and does double duty as it acts as an organic fertilizer saving you from buying commercial fertilizers which saves you money and ensures that harmful chemicals don’t damage the environment .

Possibly the most important thing you can do to be “greener” in the kitchen is to recycle.  Make sure you get a good handle on all the plastic and glass materials you use that can be recycled.  Check the rules at your landfill as to what has to be separated out and buy yourself some bins to help you keep things separate.

Lastly, you want to keep the environment in mind when you clean.  Cleaners full of chemicals can be bad for the environment and the fumes from these can be harmful to your health.  There are plenty of natural things you can use for cleaning like vinegar, baking soda and tea tree oil that will help keep your kitchen sparkling without harming you or the environment.

Jay and Lynne Mueller, JayLynne Enterprises (http://www.jaylynne.com)(http://www.ourgreenbiz.com)

Related Posts:

Posted in Green Common Sense | Tagged | 1 Comment

Eco Friendly Lighting Tips

Posted on May 22, 2009 by Jay Mueller

If you’re looking for new ways to go eco-friendly at home and save some money on your energy bill, lighting is one of the easiest places to start.  Lighting can account for about 30% of your energy bill, so changing your lights to more energy efficient options can save you quite a bit.  Not to mention the positive impact on the environment.  Here are some tips for more energy efficient lighting:

The first thing you should do is switch to compact fluorescent lighting (CFL).  That’s those swirly lights that have a whiter glow to them than the incandescent lights.  While these might cost a bit more than the regular incandescent lights, they use only about 25% of the electricity so they can have a big impact on your lighting bill. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs too so you won’t have to replace them as often.

LED light bulbs are a newcomer to the energy efficient lighting market and have a few advantages over CFL’s.  They have a brighter light and don’t take time to “warm up” and reach their full lighting.  LED lighting uses 75% less electricity than incandescent lighting. Just think of the savings on your electric bill. LED’s last an average of 20 years 50 times longer than incandescent light bulbs. You’d have to buy more than 50 regular bulbs to equal the life of one LED.

When it comes to lighting outside the home, the energy conscientious consumer might want to consider solar lighting.  Lights for walkways, driveways and outside the front door can collect energy from the sun during the day and use it to power their lights during the night.  This is a great way to light up your home without using any energy at all.

In addition to using more efficient light bulbs, there are some things you can do to help reduce the amount of energy you use for lighting. First of all, you want to be sure that you don’t use lights unnecessarily.  When no one is home or when a room is empty, be sure to turn the lights off.  During the daytime, open the blinds and let the sunshine in instead of using indoor lighting.  Using motion sensors can help to insure lights turn on only when needed.

When it comes to lighting, you need to have the right amount for the tasks you intend to do.  While you don’t want to skimp or have poor lighting in important areas like the kitchen, you also want to be cognizant of when to use the lights and when to flip the switch.  Remember reducing your use of electricity helps to reduce CO2 emissions into the air since the plants that produce electricity are largely coal burning plants which can add to global warming.  A little bit of prudence on your part can make a big difference in the stability of our environment.

Lynne

Related Posts:

Posted in Environment, Green Technology | Tagged , , | 6 Comments