Sales in Honor of Earth Day

If you missed getting the free CFL light bulb from Home Depot today there are other Earth Day (April 22) Sales you can take advantage of.

Amazon.com is celebrating a sale on selected green products for the entire month-from composters and solar chargers to a 400-watt wind generator.

Sears is offering an additional 10% off Kenmore Elite ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances – on top of existing promotional prices each Monday throughout the month of April.

Walgreens will be handing out reusable shopping totes with coupons.

Visit the Reynold Wrap site on Earth Day and get a rebate coupon for a roll of 100% recycled aluminum. You can also enter a sweepstakes for more green goodies.

UPDATE: Price Pfister is giving away its Ashfield Trough Faucet each day between April 20 and May 1. Ashfield is an EPA WaterSense certified bath faucet that will allow you to conserve water in style.

Electrolux is offering a 10% rebate on energy saving laundry appliances April 12 – April 26.

Other good offerings

KB Home is teaming up with Disney to celebrate Earth Day. Visitors to any participating KB Home community from April 18-26, 2009 will receive two flyers redeemable on-line for free movie tickets to EARTH, the first motion picture from The Walt Disney Company’s new film label Disneynature. EARTHopens in theaters on Earth Day and Disneynature is planting a tree in honor of every moviegoer who sees the movie in its opening week.

Bring in 3 empty plastic bottles on Earth Day to your local Disney store to recycle and you will receive a free commemorative Earth Day 2009 reusable water bottle.

Earth Day was founded on April 22, 1970, by Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-Wis.) to give the environmental cause national exposure. Since that first grass-roots effort, a growing population has supported Earth Day and what it stands for.

April 9, 2009

Detergent Smuggling

I read a recent article about residents in Washington State going to Idaho to purchase detergents after a ban was placed on detergents containing phosphates.

Phosphates are a concern in consumer products because when they end up in streams, lakes and rivers (they aren’t easily removed in waste water treatment plants), they promote the growth of algae, which sucks up oxygen, stealing it from other animals and organisms in the water.

Phosphates in detergents tie up water hardness minerals (primarily calcium and magnesium) so the minerals won’t interfere with cleaning or deposits on surfaces. Phosphates also help keep food soil particles in suspension after removal from the soiled surfaces and prevent their redeposition.

Residents say that the greener alternatives – Seventh Generation, Ecover, Palmolive Eco+ and Trader Joe’s, – just don’t clean as well.

The Washington Lake Protection Association thinks part of the problem may be the hard water and is encouraging consumers to install water softeners.

Here’s a few highly rated phosphate-free detergents that may do the job.

Bi-o-Kleen Automatic Dish Soap
“A phosphate-free alternative with natural corrosion fighters that requires no pre-washing of dishes.”

Method “SmartyDish” Dishwasher Cubes
No toxic chemicals, no bleach, no phosphates just naturally derived biodegradable ingredients in pre-measured tabs.

February 7, 2009

Amana Refrigerators

Amana first let us add color to the kitchen with their Jot refrigerator featuring doors with a dry erase finish.

Just recently at the International Builder’s Show Amana showed 10 new possible decorative finishes for their top-mount freezer model.

Unfortunately, ten different designs are too many to actually produce, so Amana is soliciting your input on which models you like best.

You can rate the designs from most to least favorite, and in return they’ll give you a personality profile based on your choices.

I’m a type 10 on their survey.
“Content in your own skin and intensely avid about your interests, you are proud of your self-sufficiency and intelligence…”

If you don’t agree with the survey results or have multiple personalities, as Amana puts it, you can retake the survey.

February 5, 2009

Blogging Updates

Here’s a little update on some of things I have been doing.

Ask Ann: Read about Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report 2008-09. Despite the down market, maintenance-related projects and moderately priced upgrades are providing stable paybacks to homeowners.

KB+B Online: With so many materials and styles to choose from, selecting the best backsplash can be confusing. Read about the many material choices and their pros and cons.

Gold Notes: Read about new appliance trends for 2009.

Sneak Peak: I have a new page up that will give my online readers a sneak peak at my new kitchen and bath studio. It’s been a long time coming so I am very excited.