recyclemania's blog

The state of California adopted a green building code. The rest of the states should follow suit.

The new standards will call for a 20% improvement in water use efficiency for both residential and commercial plumbing fixtures as well as target a 50% increase in conservation for water used in landscaping. » read more

Here is an activity that my children and I did over the weekend. I hadn't done it since I was a child myself, but it turned out pretty well. My children made a birthday card for their father with the paper they made.

How to Make Your Own Paper

What you need:

Bits of scrap paper (printing paper, newspaper, construction paper)

A frame (old picture frames work well)

Nylon screen or Wire Mesh

Staples or Tacks  » read more

With it almost being August, my children are already are getting excited, even though its a month away. Their favorite time of year is when we get to go school shopping for what ever supplies they will need that year.

Here is a list of things you can buy your children when heading back to school, and remain green at the same time!

Notebooks: When looking for notebooks, or filler paper for binders buy the brand that has the highest amount of post consumer waste percentage. » read more

 Why aren't we solar yet?  It's a question that I want awnsered.

The government, locally or federally, could pass laws requiring newer homes, and newly built homes to have solar panels (in areas where this would be efficient). So why haven't they done so?

Here is a look at some reasons why:

Cost

Solar panels are expensive . . . for now. Isn't everything expensive when its new and only so many people are manufacturing it? » read more

As I was flipping through the channels the other day, I saw an infomercial for a product that allowed you to vertically (and upside down) grow tomatoes. I had heard about vertical as well as hydroponic gardening before, but the infomercial really peaked my interest.

Vertical Gardening

Vertical gardening is a great solution for people who have small areas, back problems or unsightly structures they would rather have covered. » read more

Things that You Should Buy Green

 Since I got a big response on products you shouldn't buy, I thought I would compile a list of things that you should buy . . . on the green side that is.

Paper  - As in printing paper or notebooks, not paper towels and paper plates. What ever paper products you do buy, make sure they have a high post-consumer recycled content. » read more

Mineral Make up has been around since the mid 70s, and is thought to be a natural environmentally and skin friendly alternative to traditional make up. Today it is on the rise in popular make up. In fact, many main stream companies are coming out with mineral lines of their own.

How good is mineral make up? What ingredients are in them?

Is it really better better for your skin and the environment?

Read on to learn all about the hype. 

The Mystery of Mineral Makeup Revealed » read more

Want to buy "greener" products, and make sure you are getting what you paid for? Follow these tips:

Beware of Wording - It might say that its "green," "nontoxic," and "all natural,"etc etc but these terms are vague and there are no government regulations monitoring these products and words to make sure that they are really offering what they are promising. The company could easily add in an environmentally friendly factor and still have harmful toxins in it. » read more

LEDs, or Light Emitting Diode bulbs are small, but extremely energy efficient. In the past LEDs were expensive therefore limited to single use items such as outdoor and indoor string lights. You may not know it, but many of the items in your home already contain them. Things such as alarm clocks (the numbers), remote controls (used to transmit information), light up watches, on/off light indicators on appliances, and sometimes mega sized television screens.
» read more

Compact Fluorescent Lamps, better known as CFLs use 1/3 less energy, making them four times more energy efficient and they last ten times longer than regular incandescent bulbs. However, there are many issues that surround these light bulbs other than just their energy efficiency.



The Good

Its a simple change that anyone can do. » read more