Recycling Your Christmas Tree

About.com has a great article with information on how you can recycle your Christmas tree. It provides information by city within the Phoenix metro area. Many cities will collect the trees and chop them up to use as mulch.

About.com - Christmas Tree Disposal in Phoenix

Rebates Available for Appliance Purchases

If you are an SRP customer and considering buying a new clothes washer or dishwasher before the end of the year, then you should check the rebate offers available by clicking on the following link. To qualify, purchases must meet the defined energy ratings.

SRP Appliance Rebate

I couldn't find a similar program for APS customers; but, if someone knows about one, please leave a comment.

How to Use Less Water and Save a Little Money

SRP's website has some water saving ideas. It indicates that toilets are the biggest water users in the house. So, if you need to replace a toilet consider getting one that is high efficiency. We switched to a water saving shower head at the beginning of the year and have been happy with it. The difference was not real noticeable and after a shower or two it seemed perfectly normal. If you have a water saving idea - share it here by leaving a comment. I'd particularly like to hear from someone who is using a smart irrigation controller to see if they are happy with it.

Saving Money on Gas

The US Department of Energy and the EPA have a pretty informative site on fuel economy, http://www.fueleconomy.gov/. You can compare cars side by side for mpg (miles per gallon), safety, greenhouse gas emissions, and more. There is information on hybrid vehicles and tax rebates offered, finding the lowest gas prices, how to drive more efficiently, and more. You can even calculate the mpg you get on your current car and compare to other people with the same or similar car. One example of the suggestions to improve your gas mileage is to make sure you aren't carry any excess weight. It may be time to clean out the trunk or back of your car and remove anything that doesn't need to be there.

What to do with those plastic grocery bags?

Most cities in the area won't take plastic bags in their recycling programs. However, there are stores that will accept the bags. Check out the Partners at Bag Central Station for stores where you can bring your plastic bags to be recycled. Better yet, bringing your own bags to stores. I have been doing this for almost a year at least at the grocery store. I bought the smaller bags that IKEA sells for less than a dollar and find them great for groceries. Most of the grocery stores now sell reusable bags. Sure it is an adjustment, but if everyone did it the impact would be considerable. I've found the best thing to do is put the empty bags right back into the car once I've unloaded the groceries.

Another option is to use those bags in other ways. They make good liners for small trash cans. Some parks also have plastic bag dispensers for dog walkers to use to pick up their pet's waste. Most of the bags in these dispensers are donated used plastic grocery and store bags.

For more information on the impact of plastic bags go to Bag Central Station.

Information on Bag Central's free cloth bag events.

Bike Route Map - Maricopa County

I read an article in today's AZ Republic, Bike map for region unveils access to light-rail service, which indicated that the Maricopa Association of Governments had just updated their bike route map. You can link to it below. It also indicated that printed maps will be available starting in mid to late July by calling 602-254-6300.

Hint: - Use the zoom feature to enlarge the area of the map you are interested in.

Bike Route Map - Maricopa County

Low VOC Paints

Have any of you used low VOC paint when you painted your home? I will consider using this next time I paint. I usually only paint in the winter when it is cool enough to open up the windows and doors to let air circulate. It would be great if someone could share their experience with this type of paint and let us know which brand they chose to use.

EcoBroker information on Low VOC Paints

Advanced Technologies for Remodeling Projects

I recently learned about PATH, Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing , which is coordinated by HUD. Their purpose is "dedicated to accelerating the development and use of technologies that radically improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and affordability of America's housing". There is lots of information available on their site including:

• Top 10 Remodeling Projects


• Homeowner information on Tax Credits & Rebates for Remodeling & Appliance Replacement


• Home Maintenance Tips


• Information for Home Buyers

plus more...

ASU School of Sustainability

Did you know that Arizona State Univeristy had a School of Sustainability? This school is the first of its kind in the nation and was featured on NBC Nightly News. According to ASU "Sustainability is more than environmental studies; it's the interconnectedness of the Earth with science, politics, economics, people and cultures." Watch video clips highlighting this program and how ASU is preparing students to preserve the future.

Hot Water Heater

I bet your hot water heater has this dial too. It not only regulates the temperature of the water as you use it daily, but it can go on vacation too.

Why heat water all week long while you are in Maui. Or Des Moines, wherever vacation takes you. Set your water heater to a lower temperature or "vacation" while you are on vacation and save some cash. It's the green thing to do.

Live in Chandler, Thinking of Buying a new Washer? Wait!

According to the AZ Republic, the Chandler City Council voted to approve a plan to give Chandler residents a $100 rebate if they purchased a high-efficiency clothes washer after April 1. A mailing in March is to inform residents of the details of the program. Apparently, high-efficiency washers can save an estimated 7,000 gallons of water per year.

Articles from The Chandler Republic:

2/28/08 - Get a load of this: Rebates
2/29/08 - City Council Meeting Followup

No Mow Grass

Is there really such a thing? I read about this in a past USA Weekend newspaper magazine and went to NoMowGrass.com to get more information. We have not yet tried this but it looks promising. They indicate that they have different types of seed for different zones and uses. Less mowing means less work but also less emissions from gas powered lawn mowers. If you have this type of grass, please leave a comment and let us know how it is working out for you. NoMowGrass also has some enivormentally friendly lawn care tips on their site as well.

Energy Star Home Advisor

We are always looking for ways to reduce our energy bill. This time of year in Arizona it is not too bad; but, in the summer the air-conditioning bills can get pretty high. Energy Star offers a Home Advisor on its website, just click the link below. You answer just a few questions and it provides some recommendations for your home. A lot of the recommendations are pretty basic; however, it can still be a useful tool. For us, we should probably take a look at how much insulation we have in the attic.
By entering your ZIP code and some basic information about the types of fuel used to heat and cool your home, the ENERGY STAR Home Advisor can provide you with recommended home improvement projects to increase energy efficiency and comfort in the area where you live.