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The Great Refrigerator Roundup is a program designed by the Ontario Power Authority to remove older, inefficient refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners from our electricity system. Most often, these older appliances are secondary units such as “the beer fridge” or “the over flow” found in garages or basements. They are usually plugged in but not used on a regular basses, and will typically use 2 to 3 times more energy than newer appliances do.

The Great Refrigerator Roundup program offers an opportunity for people to have older refrigerators and freezers picked at no cost to Ontario home owner (they also pick up window air conditioners and dehumidifiers). The Ontario Power Authority has also pledged to fully decommission the used appliances in an environmentally friendly manner. When they are finished recycling and reclaiming the materials, very little of the inefficient refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners will be sent to our landfills

Why would you want to participate in this great program?

Well there are several great reasons to participate, by allowing the Ontario Power Authority to remove your old refrigerator or freezers (free of charge!), first off you could save around $150 per year off of your electricity bill by eliminating a major electricity waste. You will also be helping the environment by reducing the amount of electricity that needs to be generated, your appliances will be decommissioned with environmentally responsible methods. It costs you nothing, you will be free of hassles as a professional comes to your house to remove your old fridge/freezer, window air conditioner. This will also help to ensure that old appliances like these are not resold and put back onto the market for others to use and continuing to wasting more of our valuable energy.

For more info on the Great Refrigerator Roundup program contact the Ontario Power Authority  [1-877-797-9473] or visit their web site

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Auto parts recyclers usually offer great deals on gently used automobile parts. These days quite a few auto parts recyclers exist and many can be found on the web. Many of them alsp network together so sometimes if they do not have the part you need, they can often get it from another associated recycler that they commonly deal with. Because they offer recycled parts, their prices are very reasonable and much lower then a dealer. Most of the auto parts come from cars that are bought from insurance companies that are in basic fender benders. Perhaps the front of the car is destroyed of a car in an accident but the rest of the car is fine, the car is written off by the insurance company and the Automotive Part Recycler companies take the rest of the car apart salvaging the remaining good parts.

And did you know that when you purchase used car parts, you are also helping to Save the Environment?

New car parts need to be manufactured so while they are being made they can emit more pollution than used auto parts (that are already made). When a company produces new car parts, they end up using oil and other sources of energy. When you buy used parts you are doing your part to reduce air pollutants. Finding good used parts for your car is really easy, due to the many recyclers that exist, so there are enough used car parts to pick from, ensuring you get the best part for the best price.

When people bring their old cars to an auto parts recycler, they are actually helping the Environment. Since it does not really make much sense to throw away something when it still has a use. In most cases when you get parts from a used car, you are going to still be getting an good brand name parts. And you can be assured that the auto recyclers know which parts are still usable, and which parts ones are actually junk. Some places will even offer you cash for your junk car and come pick it up, so if you have an old car in your yard then you can help the environment by having the parts recycled and reused again and make a little of spending cash at the same time.

So next time you need to get parts for your car, why not try going to a used auto parts recycler, chances are you will get parts that are slightly used yet reasonably priced. In fact sometimes some used auto parts recycler businesses have what they call “Free Parts Days” where customers have access to the entire self serve part of the yard with a small admission fee to take away as many parts as you can can during that time.

Next time you need car parts, why not go to a local auto parts recycler, or go on the internet to find one near your and chances are they may have what you need, or if you have a junk car in your back yard, do your part by having it sent to recycle and still make a few bucks at the same time.

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Not only do millions of paper receipts end up in landfills every year (thermal receipts cannot be recycled), the production of receipts does some real damage to the environment as well. An estimated 9 million trees are used just to produce paper receipts alone (not to mention the ink used).

So what’s the solution? Software Advice (SoftwareAdvice.com) proposes that we move towards using electronic receipts. Apple Computers employs this type of technology successfully already.  So why can’t others?

Judging by the responses from the sites poll, many consumers would support this transition.

In the poll 226 people participated with 202 of the voters – or 89% – said they support getting rid of paper receipts. To see the rest of the results and to read more of the original post and arguments then we recomend that you visit SoftwareAdvice.com  to read the article  “Please Kill the Paper Receipt“

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Most places to accept the donation of your old vehicles on behalf of Charity Organization, and you can get a tax deductible receipt in the process. So why wait, making the choice to dispose of your old car in an environmentally safe method that benefits a charity of your choice is one of the best decisions you may make and even end up saving some money of your own with your tax return.

However, before you start to jump up and down with joy about all the good your doing, there are some things that you should know before you donate a car to charity.

First be certain that the charity you have selected is a qualified registered charitable organization that can provide tax deductible receipts. Often you can check out your chosen organization with the IRS website [www.irs.gov/eo] You also must ensure that you qualify for a tax deduction by donating an old vehicle. The deduction needs to be itemized on your tax return forms and it can not exceed 50% of your gross income. And remember that the maximum amount allowed for the tax deduction for your old car donation is the fair market value of your donated old car. So if you donate an old Ford Taurus Station Wagon, do not expect the same value as if you donated a Lexus

Often if the value of the deduction is more than $250 then you will need a written acknowledgement from your charity and if it exceeds $5000 then you will need a written appraisal from a qualified automotive appraisal. Regardless of the value of the donation, there are still some basic record keeping and paper work requirements needed such as the name & address of the charity, the date of the donation, the place where the donated car was recycled, a valid description of the car plus some other additional various filings according to the value of the donated car:

Donating your junk automobiles may not be enough to get your name in the national green energy news and it may seem like a bit of extra work with the IRS forms and paper work but just remember that you will be doing a double cause as you will be helping a local charity of your choice and you will also be helping to Save the Environment at the same time!

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Inappropriate waste disposal is irresponsible waste disposal.  In this day and age, not putting the garbage in its proper place is inexcusable.  There are all sorts of options available to consumers, from recycling to composting.

During the course of your day, take note as to where you are tossing your waste.  At home, at work, or even in the public park there are generally choices to be made as to which container to use.  Be sure to put recycling where it should go and other waste in the most responsible place.

You can begin a green waste management policy as a small step.  Start at home by making sure the recycling goes into its proper bin.  After a while you can extend your green policy to include backyard composting.  Composting will take your rotten foodstuffs and turn them into rich fertile soil for planting.

If your place of employment has a less than eco-friendly waste management, you can suggest they look into something better.  Perhaps management would consider bringing in a consultant to discuss how they manage waste now and how it might become more efficient, and even cost effective, to consider a green approach.

Think about how much waste you generate from the beginning of the day to its end.  Waste management affects every aspect of our daily lives.  From breakfast to bedtime, we consume.  When we consume, we create waste in every form – from banana peels to empty plastic bottles.  Imagine how much good you can do the environment just by practicing responsible waste management.

One of the best things about eco-friendly waste management is that it becomes habitual.  Once most people begin recycling, they get caught up in it and often pass the habit to family members and friends. 

You need not fill your house from top to bottom with different color bins for disposal and recycling.  Most cities provide two or three different trash containers, generally separating plastic, paper, and metal.  These containers are easily placed with your garbage cans, (which you should learn to use less) on the back porch, in the back yard, or some other unobtrusive part of the property.

Simply tossing everything into the garbage can is outrageous at this point in our history.  Materials need to be separated at the time of disposal, for transport to the proper facilities.

It really takes very little time to do something so important as to help save the planet through responsible waste management.

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Here courtesy of theFunTheory.com(a site dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better) is a video with a set of stairs beside a very busy elevator that they have converted into a fun musical set of stairs that people can have fun with as they climb to the top. As people us the stairs more then the escalator will be used less thus saving energy.

The results are very interesting

Would you use these stairs if they were in your area?

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 Certainly, a school’s first concern should be with education.  Schools need to teach conservation academically, spelling out the effects of pollution and waste on our vital natural resources and what can be done to turn things around.

Schools are often expanding and building new facilities.  These facilities should be built green to create an environment of learning within an acceptance of the importance of conservation and green building practices.

Most can go green simply by changing the lights.  Schools are the largest part of the non-residential building segment.  Replacing the incandescent lighting in our schools with Energy Star rated fluorescent lighting would have a tremendous impact for green living.

Reducing paper usage in schools would be hugely beneficial.  Just using both sides of a sheet of paper would cut paper usage by fifty percent. Schools create plenty of waste.  Proper waste management through recycling and reuse should be everyone’s goal, including your local school.

Schools can demonstrate their commitment to going green by creating a no idling policy.  Turn the buses off while the drivers wait for the children to exit the buildings.  Have parents do the same thing, and encourage carpooling, walking, and riding a bike to school instead of driving.

 Introduce gardening into the program of study.  Teach students the benefits of composting and organic gardening.  Provide fresh fruits and vegetables for cooking classes.  Let students learn, first hand, how it feels to grow something from the earth.  Teach them an appreciation for the soil and what it can provide, and they will be less prone to pollute it.

 Use locally grown, organic fruits and vegetables as an option in the lunchroom.  Teach students why these foods are better for them and how buying from local producers encourages green economics in the community.

 Conserve energy at every opportunity as a cost-effective program for the school and a lesson in energy conservation for the student body.

 Use biodegradable and recyclable materials whenever possible.  Teach the students green living by being an example of how it works best for everyone involved.

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Probably not very good, considering the national average price of a gallon of organic milk is almost double that of it’s regular counterpart. Organic produce, eggs and poultry are also significantly higher – more than 200% higher in poultry’s case. More than just food, green consumers are also worrying about issues like natural household cleaning products, recycled and sustainable furniture, and hybrid cars – all of which cost more than their regular counterparts.
To really make a difference and convert your life to the green alternative, you need to set a green budget aside for yourself. With the economy in recession, the price tag is all consumers look at when choosing which products to buy. In times like these, it’s more important that people aren’t penny wise and dollar stupid, but that’s what’s happening.
Because organic laundry detergents and other household cleaners cost more to manufacture than regular ones, their price is naturally set higher. That and retailers use their higher price to make the lower profit-margin look more appealing on better-known and less environmentally aware brands. Many green companies are still working with retailers to find the “optimum price point” for drawing green-minded customers.
For those using their green budget to buy a hybrid car, there are many points to consider. Yes, the car can get up to 50 miles per gallon, but hybrids tend to cost more. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the lowest-priced Honda Civic is 51% lower than the Honda Civic Hybrid, which is sitting at around $22,600.

To really put your green budget in effect, a more cost-efficient and energy-efficient solution would be to keep the old car and use it less. Over the course of a year, carpooling, biking, or walking when possible saves just as many fuel emissions as hybrid cars. The simplest thing you can do is not waste as much as we all do right and left in our daily lives.

Green budgeters should also consider which actions and purchases yield the highest return. Using colder water to wash your clothes, unplugging electronics like televisions, DVD players and Cell Phone chargers when not in use, caulking windows and doors to weather-strip them, and switching to fluorescent light bulbs are all efficient and easy suggestions. Although fluorescent lights are 450% more expensive than the less energy-efficient, they last for much, much longer. In the long run, they stretch the green budget further than almost any other purchase.
One of the criteria for energy efficiency is durability. If the product will last you longer and save you money or over time then it may hurt the budget but save you more down the road, thus leaving more cash in your pocket.

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One way to conserve computer energy usage is by server consolidation.  You can achieve a very tangible energy reduction by replacing a large quantity of computers with smaller, more energy efficient units.  The upside is that the new generation of compact computers are not only more energy efficient, but they are more powerful, as well.  Also, consider replacing desktop PCs with notebooks.  This move alone can save you as much as 75% or more on your computer energy costs.

Efficient document management is vital to an eco-friendly business, as it saves on paper consumption.  It also benefits the balance sheet because you buy less paper.

Larger businesses can save money on travel expenses and cut down on toxic emissions by utilizing video conference call systems rather than traveling to and from business meetings.

Webinars are another great way to put large groups of people together for conferencing without the expense and pollution of traveling to seminars.

 You can run many virtual servers on one physical server through a method called virtualization that dupes a computer into thinking that it is running on actual hardware, although it is really running multiple virtual machines from one physical machine through the use of an additional software layer.

 Other ways to achieve green savings for your company are much simpler.  You can arrange equipment into particular hot and cold areas to reduce cooling costs.  You can turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees and make sure that all non-essential electrical equipment is turned off before closing each night.  Your business can save on lighting costs by using fluorescent Energy Star rated light bulbs as opposed to standard incandescent lighting.

 Carpooling and public transportation are great options for reducing emissions.  Encourage your employees to carpool or provide them with some free passes to use public transit rather than driving at all.

If you put your mind to it, you can find lots of ways to make your business operation more green.  It is a progressive process that will lead you into more and more areas of conservation.  The good news is that almost anything you can do to conserve consumption at your place of business will have a positive environmental impact and save you money, too.

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