top ten

Top 10 Recycling Resources

Marcus — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

We all mean to recycle. The problem is that it’s sometimes quite difficult to actually get your recyclables to the proper facilities. If your apartment building or neighborhood doesn't have a recycling program in place, you're on your own. And even if it recycles ordinary stuff, there are always those difficult items -- like computers or big things -- that need special handling.

But fear not, friends. This handy list will help you ease those recycling woes and give your old stuff a new lease on life.

1. www.ForRecycling.info

Get motivated with this great site for general info on what happens in the process of recycling, what the benefits are, what materials can be recycled, and an extensive list of links for further information. A great overview.

2. www.Earth911.org

Earth 911’s most compelling feature is a recycling center search engine that allows you to search by location and material that you’re looking to recycle. Like ForRecycling, above, it also has general information and useful tips.

3. www.Resource-Recycling.com

Here's a huge database of links that covers pretty much everything recycling-related, from recycling and composting equipment sites to state and regional organizations and centers.

4. www.Recycle-Steel.org

Recycle Steel has everything you need to know about recycling- you guessed it- steel. There's info on how to responsibly dispose of anything from an old car to a toaster oven.

5. www.MyGreenElectronics.org

My Green Electronics provides information and resources for how to recycle those old, neglected electronics that you’re just not sure what to do with.

6. www.ShareTechnology.org

Share Technology focuses on recycling computers. Whether your computer’s still in usable shape, or only a few parts can be salvaged, this site will show you the most eco-friendly method to dispose of your Mac or PC.

7. www.rbrc.org

The Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation provides you with a wealth of information about the benefits of recycling rechargeable batteries and cell phones, and has information about where to drop these items off to ensure that they are re-used.

8. www.DressForSuccess.org

The mission statement of this non-profit that recycles women’s business clothing is to “promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.” That pretty much says it all.

9. www.OperationFairyDust.org

This site recycles formal and prom dresses for girls who would not otherwise have the economic resources to obtain them.

10. www.NewEyesForTheNeedy.org

Instead of throwing out those old eyeglasses when your prescription changes, donate them to New Eyes For The Needy -- you’ll be reducing the garbage problem and helping out someone who truly needs it.

Want to find out more about recycling?

Recycling Tips: Did You Know You Cannot Recycle Messy Pizza Boxes?

The Benefits of Recycling: Let’s Talk Trash

Recycling the Looking Glass: When Garbage and Art Collide

Recycled Record Snack Tray

The Benefits of Recycling Cardboard

The Art of Garbage

Reduce, Reuse… FREECYCLE

Recycle Those Electronics!

Back to Basics—RRR

Picking Up Garbage TVs and Recycling as Art

Students Recycle and Reduce Garbage: Take It Or Leave It

Knight Rider Recycled—Reborn With Green Twist!

Recycling Your Garbage: Where Does it All Go?

Top Ten Green Building Projects of 2008

Julia — Mon, 26 May 2008 14:59:39 -0400

2008 Top Ten Award Winners:

Yale University Sculpture Building and Gallery (KieranTimberlake Associates, LLP) New Haven, CT
Queens Botanical Garden Visitor & Administration Center (BKSK Architects) Flushing, NY (photo above)
Pocono Environmental Education Center (Bohlin Cywinski Jackson) Dingmans Ferry, PA
Nueva School Hillside Learning Complex (Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects) Hillsborough, CA
Macallen Building Condominiums (Burt Hill with Office dA) Boston, MA
Lavin-Bernick Center (VJAA) New Orleans, LA
Garthwaite Center for Science and Arts, Cambridge School of Weston (Architerra, Inc.) Weston, MA
Discovery Center at South Lake Union (The Miller|Hull Partnership) Seattle, WA
Cesar Chavez Library (Line and Space, LLC) Laveen, AZ
Aldo Leopold Legacy Center (The Kubala Washatko Architects, Inc.) Baraboo, WI

2008 Top Ten Honorable Mentions:

IRS - Kansas City Campus (BNIM Architects with 360 Architecture), Kansas City, MO

Check out the American Institute of Architects' website for awesome photos of the buildings, and the criteria on how each building was judged.

Top 10 US National Parks

Marcus — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

With the advent of Spring comes a strong desire to experience the great outdoors (for me, at least). That said, what better way to commune with nature (and have a low impact vacation to boot) than to visit a national park? The following list is a collection of some of the most impressive natural wonders in the United States. So, pack up your rucksack, hop in your fuel-efficient vehicle, and get ready to camp out in the best national parks this country has to offer.

1. Yosemite National Park – California

Breathtaking views, enormous waterfalls, massive granitic rocks, and over 2,000 varieties of plants and animals make Yosemite an absolute must on the National Park circuit.

2. Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming

Yellowstone was established in 1872, making it the country’s first national park. While it’s located primarily in Wyoming, the park stretches into both Montana and Idaho, and is home to a large variety of wildlife including (but not limited to) grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Also, be sure to check out Old Faithful and the stunning assortment of hot springs and geysers.

3. Glacier National Park – Montana

With over 700 miles of hiking trails, lush forest, rugged mountains, and spectacular lakes, Glacier National Park is considered one of the country’s most beautiful destinations.

4. Acadia National Park – Maine

The first national park founded east of the Mississippi River, Acadia is home to the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast. Whether you enjoy hiking, biking, or just sitting back and taking in gorgeous scenery, Acadia provides an experience you’re not likely to forget.

5. Grand Teton National Park – Wyoming

The most impressive aspect of this northwestern Wyoming park is the striking contrast between the jagged, rocky Teton range and the placid, pristine valleys and glacial lakes that lie below it.

6. Denali National Park – Alaska

Formerly known as McKinley National Park, Denali boasts North America’s tallest peak, the 20,320 foot Mount McKinley. A landscape peppered with striking mountains and glaciers, combined with a rich sub-arctic ecosystem that includes grizzly bears, wolves, sheep, and moose, make Denali National Park a destination not be missed.

7. Grand Canyon National Park – Arizona

You have to visit the Grand Canyon. Period. I was at first skeptical about just how impressive a giant hole in the ground could be. But, let me tell you, it is darned impressive.

8. Carlsbad Caverns – New Mexico

Located in the Chihuahuan Desert and Guadalupe Mountain range in southeastern New Mexico, the Caverns are comprised of 113 of the largest underground caves in North America.

9. Mount Rushmore National Memorial – South Dakota

Although this is technically a monument rather than a park, I’ve included it in the list for a couple of reasons. First off, the monument itself, carved into a massive granite face, receives almost three million visitors a year, and has become incredibly recognizable as a symbol of America. Second, it’s located in an incredibly lush, forested area of South Dakota (there’s plenty of camping nearby). Finally, if you didn’t get enough of a park experience at Mt. Rushmore, check out the nearby Badlands National Park to complete your experience.

10. Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Tennessee and North Carolina

A diverse terrain that includes jagged mountains, rolling hills, sweeping valleys, and thick forests, combined with a rich cultural history that extends back thousands of years – from prehistoric Paleo Indians to early European settlers – make the Smoky Mountains the last, but certainly not least, must see park on the list.

Well, what are you waiting for? Hit the road already. Happy trails.

Top 10 Confessions of a Greenaholic

kbutler — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:19:33 -0500

Sure, everyone can give green issues lip service as they toss their plastic bottles into recycling bins and laugh at the gas-guzzlers paying $60 to fill up at the pump. But what happens when your green issues take over? Can seeing the world through emerald-colored glasses prove to be too much for one person? But fear not! If you identify with any of the following, it’s never too late to seek balance in your eco-commitment.

You know you're a Greenaholic if...

10. You had a teenaged crush on the Jolly Green Giant.

9. You change your outfit three times before an appearance of Al Gore on Dateline.

8. You try to run any car off the road that gets more than 35 miles per gallon.

7. You spend most of the party going through the trash, cutting the plastic six-pack holders.

6. When someone asks you “paper or plastic” you reply “What is this, 1990? Hello, it’s called a re-usable hemp carrier!”

5. You leave copies of “An Inconvenient Truth” under the windshield wipers of Hummers. And then you slash their tires.

4. The trunk of your car is filled with your vintage collection of road-side glass and plastic bottles.

3. When your dog drinks from the toilet, you shrug and say “Well, at least I don’t have to flush.”

2. In trying situations, you ask yourself “What would Leonardo DiCaprio do?”

1. The phrase “It’s not easy being green” brings on tears of painful recognition.

Top 10 Fuel-Efficient Cars, Both Little and Luxury

khallgeisler — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:26:32 -0500

Using the EPA’s new fuel efficiency estimates, The Daily Green blog has rounded up the top ten most-efficient vehicles for 2008. Not surprisingly, the Toyota Prius sits atop the heap, with 48 mpg around town and 45 mpg when it’s cruising along the highway.

The rest of the field is made up of the usual suspects, including the Honda Civic hybrid, and the Nissan Altima hybrid. A couple of non-hybrids made the cut, such as the compact, jelly-bean-like Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. The surprise may be that there was a three-way tie for the number four most fuel-efficient vehicle—between three SUVs. The Ford Escape hybrid, its sister the Mercury Mariner hybrid, and the Mazda Tribute hybrid all rated 34 city, 30 highway.

On the EPA’s new web site, www.fueleconomy.gov, they lay out all of the ratings and offer a PDF for easy printing or download. They also break down ratings by class, which is where we find the 2008 Smart fortwo at 33/41 mpg.

As long as we’re in a top-ten mood, ForbesAutos.com compiled a list of the ten most fuel-efficient luxury cars. The winner was the Mercedes-Benz E320 Blutec, a large, two-ton, diesel sedan that returns 23 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway. Second place went to the Audi TT 2.0T, which gets 22 city/30 highway in either hardtop or convertible form.

While the EPA list is mostly Japanese makers with the occasional SUV from the Big Three, not one American car maker made Forbes’s luxury list. Volvo filled a couple of slots with the S40 and new hatchback C30; Audi had two more make the list, the A3 2.0T and A4 2.0T; and Lexus (with its 450h hybrid), Acura, and even a Porsche polished off the rankings.