ReCycle Me

Electric Cars and the Energy Grid - Five Facts to Combat Hybrid Car Charging Myths

By Deb Powers

Just a few years ago, the idea of electric cars was met with complete skepticism. Oh, sure, people said, the technology is there to make the cars, but drivers aren’t going to buy a car that can only drive 40 miles before you have to plug it in. The argument hasn’t changed much even as ranges increased in mileage. Now that hybrid electric cars are in the mainstream — and their acceptance is growing with each passing day — the conversation is turning to the next hurdle in the acceptance of electric cars. Where the heck do you plug them in to recharge? Here are five facts that help answer that question.

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How cute is this letter holder made from recycled CDs? Too cute for words, really! It’s a quick and easy kid craft project that you’ll find over at AllCraftsFree.com. Designed by Kathleen George, it uses up 2-4 of those CDs you’ve been meaning to recycle, plus some of that styrofoam they insist on using to package new computers, radios, microwaves and just about anything else.

Craft level on this - any second grader can do it with supervision - it uses a low-temp hot glue gun to attach stuff to the letter holders. Way cute for mothers, grammas and teachers!

Creative Up-Cycle Ideas For Home Design
By Danna Powers

Upcycling is trendy, green and economical, but all too often, upcycled projects look - well, upcycled. We’ve all seen those oh-so-crafty projects that use old CDs to make artwork on the walls, or repurpose old sweaters into sofa cushions. While some of them look great in any apartment living room, the typical “saved from the trash” decorating project really does look like it was saved from the trash. It doesn’t have to be that way!

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Artwork From Old CDs - 5 Ways to Upcycle Those Old CDs Into Something Beautiful

By Deb Powers

What do you do with those old CDs that you can’t use anymore? There’s a long tradition of making art from old CDs dating back to the days when AOL shipped out millions of CDs to mailboxes all over the country. CD arts and crafts have become even more popular as the importance of recycling has grown. Check out these ideas for making art from old CDs. More »

Living a greener life is not only good for the planet’s health, it’s good for your health and the health of your family. Maintaining a bright green kitchen - in terms of energy efficiency and energy use, not color - can reduce your carbon footprint, but it can also help you feed your family a healthier, more delicious diet. The way that you shop, cook, serve and clean up after serving meals all contribute to creating not just a healthy kitchen but a bright green kitchen. More »

Choosing a Stove For a Green Kitchen - Energy Star is Just a Start

By Deb Powers

Have you made a commitment to live greener? Many people are working toward becoming greener in their everyday lives in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut back on their carbon footprints and save money. As part of that effort, green enthusiasts have turned their attention to their kitchen habits. While there are many small steps that people can take to go green in the kitchen, one big step is replacing that old kitchen stove with a more energy efficient model - one that suits the way you cook and reduces the amount of energy that you use to put food on the table. More »

A Hydrogen Cell Experiment Pays Off - First Fuel Cell Powered Flight Takes Off

By Deb Powers

On a bright, blue morning at Hamburg Airport, the aeronautics industry came a giant step closer to changing the future path of alternative energy aircraft. That’s the morning that the Antares DLR H-2 motor glider became the first aircraft in history to take off solely under hydrogen cell power. More »

Credit: bubbels @ stock.xchang

What would you do with a cast iron claw-foot tub?

When I was growing up in the city in the sixties, it wasn’t unusual to see an old claw-foot tub out in someone’s garden full of flowers - or mint, which has a tendency to take over your whole garden if you don’t confine the roots.

Shelley over at This Eclectic Life posted some great pictures of creative recycling of old bathroom fixtures. Definitly check them out - and while you’re there, join in on Only the Good Friday.

Credit: Parent Connection

Don’t throw away those egg cartons! There are dozens of things you can do with them. Check out the easy (and fun to read) instructions on planting an egg carton garden with your kids at ParentConnection.com.

Hint: You don’t have to have kids to do this! Egg cartons - especially recycled cardboard egg cartons - make great seed starters. Just plant one or two seeds in each egg cradle, mist the whole thing lightly, cover with plastic wrap, and set in a sunny window. Water when there’s no moisture on the plastic wrap. Remove the plastic when seedlings have two leaves. When the seedling are ready to transplant outside, you can plant it cardboard and all.

Credit: Thorne@ThornesWorld

Got a stack of old terra cotta pots- or just one - hanging around? Want something completely and totally unique? Check out Thorne’s tutorial on how to turn a terra cotta flowerpot into a masterpiece and find out how to make a tiled terra cotta flowerpot for your own yard.