Cash for Clunker Appliances

The Cash-For-Clunkers program has been so popular, despite it’s lack of real green benefits, there has been talk of proposals for “Cash for Homes” or “Cash for Computer Servers” and whatnot.

In Michigan, the states largest power company wants your energy-gulping, landfill-clogging refrigerators and it’s willing to pay $50 for them and haul them away for free. The programs is a small part of the utility company’s plan to meet its state-mandated goal of reducing energy consumption 5.5 percent by 2012. DTE Energy, so far, has collected more than 1,000 old refrigerators and freezers, and is partnering with Washington-based JACO Environmentalto recycle them for parts used in making computers, cell phones and steel rebar.

Similar programs can be found in New Jersey and Vermont where statewide programs offers residents a $30 rebate and free appliance pick-up. If your state does not have similar plans in place check with your local utility provider to see if they offer an appliance recycling rebate.

Utilities companies estimate that homeowners can save up to $150 a year on their electricity bill by replacing their old refrigerator or freezer with a new Energy-star rated model. Old refrigerators, made prior to 1990, use three times as much electricity as new ones and emit ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

According to Sam Sirkin, the program development manager of Jaco Environmental, “Avoiding the release of the C.F.C.’s in fridges captures five tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per fridge, and just removing the old refrigerator or freezer from the grid saves another two to five tons of carbon dioxide due to energy savings.”

An Appliance recycling plan is far superior to the hijacked CARS program because the car rebates, which run as high as $4,500 per purchase, ultimately cost taxpayers around $160 per ton of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere. An appliance recycling rebate between $25 and $50 removes about five tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. According to Elana Schor , that works out to a cost of $10 per ton for the richest refrigerator rebate program — more than 10 times cheaper than “cash for clunkers.”

www.NJCleanEnergy.com www.EfficiencyVermont.com www.dteEnergy.com

February 18, 2009

Flea Market Ideas

If you love finding new ways to use old things, you’ll enjoys these two creative ideas from the Better Homes and Gardens Do It Yourself Website for repurposing items you may have lying around or can easily find at a salvage sale.

Inserting heavy-gauge wire mesh in a painted door and suspending it from the ceiling with metal chains creates additional storage for pots and pans.

Turning an old light fixture on its head and filling it with fresh flowers creates an electrifying display. If the collar on your light does not have this attractive patina paint it with metallic paint to achieve a bronze or copper patina.

January 6, 2009

More Recycled Chandeliers

I have had many readers tell me they really like the chandelier from a previous post made from coffee stirrers . So in response, I have hunted down a few more recycled chandeliers that I think are also beautiful and inspiring.

This light of pop art flowers is made from recycled soda bottle bottoms. Artist Michelle Brand says her Cascade Chandelier can be seen two ways, as a grim comment on a throw away culture or an homage to the beauty found in mass produced items. I can see this as being a fun family project when the weather outside is too cold or wet.

Don’t let the color fool you on this next light by Stuart Haygarth. This light is crafted from 416 disposable plastic wine glasses. A pink fluorescent light inside creates the striking color. If this light is too big he also makes one from 280 glasses. I want to know who is drinking all that wine. Stuart Haygarth has made many chandeliers from found objects.

My new favorite of his is made from water bottles confiscated at the airport. It replaces my previous favorite, the Tide chandelier, made from trash that washed up on the shores of the Kent coast line.