Fluorescent Efficiency

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DEAR ABBY: On May 13, ” Diana in Lakewood, Calif.,” asked you how to reuse or donate little jewelry boxes. You offered some great tips, but you should have let folks know about two terrific resources for giving away or recycling odd things.

Freecycle.org is an online network where people can give away or find free stuff in their local neighborhood. It is a great way to recycle items — like the jewelry boxes — to a local thrift store, a crafter or a teacher.

Earth911.com is also an amazing directory of local reuse and recycling options. I work at a thrift store for home improvements. (Instead of donating clothing or furniture, some people give us lumber, kitchen cabinets, hardware, etc.) Most people don’t know that stores like ours exist. Reusing items from your neighbors wastes no energy and builds a sense of community. Abby, thanks for touching on this important topic. — RUTHIE M. IN EDMONSTON, MD.

DEAR RUTHIE: Many readers wrote to remind me that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and we all must do whatever it takes to keep items out of landfills. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: I am an activity director at a small long-term-care facility and would love to receive those jewelry boxes. People don’t realize how grateful we are to provide a home for their extra greeting cards, craft supplies, fabric scraps, wrapping paper, games, cards — the list goes on and on. Diana should consider contacting her local nursing home activity director and put those boxes to good use.

Budgets are tight. With every cut our state and federal governments make to nursing homes, activity directors are always happy to give new life to no-longer-needed items. — THE ACTIVITY GODDESS, BUHL, IDAHO

DEAR ABBY: I have another suggestion for Diana in Lakewood. Quit buying so much stuff!

Recycling is only a partial solution to a wasteful lifestyle. Millions of tons of plastic, no matter how many times it is recycled, end up in our oceans, where Texas-sized flotillas of plastic goo will outlast us all. The key is to generate less in the first place.

When considering a purchase, consider all four ” R’s” : Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Repair. In this case, the option to ” Reduce” should be observed by either buying less jewelry, or asking the vendors to quit over-packaging the stuff. — DR. JAMES HAYES-BOHANAN, PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY

DEAR ABBY: Diana should donate the boxes to Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, preschools, Girl Scouts and Sunday schools — not the landfill! — ELSIE K., OAK RIDGE, TENN.

DEAR ABBY: Perfectly good items should never be tossed into a landfill. There is always someone who can use whatever it is as long as it’s in good condition (and sometimes even when it’s not). It should be the responsibility of the consumer to find that someone. While it may not be a legal responsibility, it is the right thing to do. — ROSIE W. IN DENVER

DEAR ABBY: Most malls and department stores open gift-wrapping booths at holiday time. They are usually set up to raise funds for a specific charity. Diana can contact mall management and find out if it plans to have one and if so, what agency will be operating it. Then she can contact the agency and arrange to donate all of the boxes. Believe me, small boxes are always needed. — LYNN IN CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Good advice for everyone — teens to seniors — is in ” The Anger in All of Us and How to Deal With It.” To order, send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds only) to: Dear Abby — Anger Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included in the price.)

SellMyMobile.com’s Recycling Value Countdown reveals that the Apple iPhone owners rush to get their hands on the new model.

(PRWeb UK) July 7, 2010 — In line with the launch of the Apple iPhone 4 it would seem existing customers are not waiting for their contracts to expire in order to get their hands on the latest model. Which is why the iPhone 3G the most popular phone to be recycled in the UK this month with a potential value of £170.43.

According to the latest figures from mobile phone recycling price comparison site SellMyMobile.com’s Recycling Value Countdown for June 2010, the Apple iPhone 3G (8GB), 3G (16GB) and 3G S (16GB) are the top three most recycled phones in the UK this month. The very popular Nokia 5800 Xpress Music moved down into fourth while the BlackBerry Curve 8900 is the fifth most recycled phone. The average value of mobile phones sold online in the UK in June reached £ £77.75.

SellMyMobile’s June top 10 discrepancies countdown, revealed the Apple iPhone 4 (16GB) scored the highest price difference with customers potentially losing out on £132.00 by not shopping around.

June’s Countdown from SellMyMobile.com has found that owners of the top 10 mobiles with the biggest recycling discrepancies could be losing out on an extra £760.95 for their old devices by not shopping around. Sky Phones, one of the new recycling services added to SellMyMobile.com’s comparison search in June 2010, proved to be the most generous of all mobile phone recyclers, offering four of the best prices in the top 10 discrepancies.

About SellMyMobile.com
An independent and impartial mobile phone recycling price comparison site, SellMyMobile.com works by comparing all of the UK’s leading mobile phone buyers when a user types the handset they want to recycle into its search engine. Most recently, SellMyMobile.com has added Royal Mails Simply Drop and O2 Recycle to its comparison searches, meaning the site now checks 19 UK buyers every day to provide the most accurate and up-to-date results and prices for recycling UK mobile phones.

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Emma White
020 7 025 1500
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Find Green gifts that include furniture, decor, garden, pet products and jewelry all 100% made in the USA. These Green Products are created from bicycle parts, silverware, circuit boards and nuts and bolts. Unique Eco Friendly Gifts created using glass bottles, wine barrels, snow and water skis, milk jugs, corks and grapevines.

(PRWEB) July 6, 2010 — Going Green is defined three ways…Reduce – Reuse – Recycle. What better way to help the environment than by closing the loop and purchasing products made from recycled products? Save the planet by reducing the amount of items that end up in landfills.

The motto for GreenProductsandGifts.com is Green Giving – Green Living. When the website was launched, the goal was to find people in the USA that made creative things out of everyday and specialty materials. This in part would help the environment by reducing the amount of substance put in landfills. “We have found a number of American artists and we are dedicated to working directly with them to bring you the best handcrafted recycled goods. These items are made from recycled products right here in the USA!” states Lance Sterling, co-owner of GreenProductsandGifts.com.

Choose from a full selection of green furniture and decor, Eco jewelry and even pet products. These stunning green products make it easy to recycle!

Show the world Eco Fashion Passion by wearing recycled jewelry created from scrabble tiles, recycled silverware and recycled glass.

Beautiful recycled furniture and decor hand-crafted from wine barrels, stunning Tokay grapevines, water and snow skis, golf clubs, silverware and recycled plastic are a great way to accent any home or patio.

Eco apparel includes a nice selection of Organic t-shirts, Recycled Purses and Reusable Shopping Bags.

Elegant cheese platters, festive drinking glasses, lanterns and wind chimes produced from recycled wine bottles are just a few of the Eco friendly gifts at GreenProductsandGifts.com.

Pet products made from recycled wine barrels, wine boxes, garden tools, bicycle and car parts allow pets to share an earth friendly philosophy. What better way to spoil a best friend than with a little elegance and style?

“Not only do we want to offer an eclectic selection of Eco-friendly items, but we believe in getting items to customers in a timely manner and without any inflated handling charges. Thats why we offer free shipping in the continental United States.” Sterling says. “Some of our items qualify for express, priority or international shipping.”

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Sterling Success, LLC
Jennifer and Lance Sterling
866-264-6549
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A sophisticated system that turns sludgy, paint-wash residue into clear water and harmless solids is just one of the high tech investments that Turman Commercial Painters has made to go green. This national, California based, company has invested in high technology to help their customers and stake their claim as the greenest painting contractor in the US.

(PRWEB) July 7, 2010 — Painting is a relatively low tech business, so that makes Turman Commercial Painters, a Northern California based, national commercial painter all the more unique. Turman Commercial Painters, (www.turmaninc.com) is the first in its industry to invest in high technology and other progressive practices to go green. “Our investment in leading edge technology helps reduce the environmental impact of our company, increases our efficiency, and contributes to our clients environmental initiatives” says Dave Theobald, President and CEO.

Turman was one of the first companies on the West Coast to purchase a specialized AkzoNobel water purification system. This specialized system reduces Turman’s environmental impact by filtering the wash water that comes back from the field from cleaning brushes, rollers and paint sprayers. Each field crew returns buckets of this wash water back to the plant and the wash water is put into the AkzoNobel filter for purification. The result is clean water (according to a rep, he has seen two people drink it, but he wouldnt recommend that!). The cleaned and filtered water can be sent down normal drainage systems and the remaining inert solid remnants are dried and then can be disposed of normally. Turman has purchased this specialized purification system in each of their offices across the nation. “When we first saw the AkzoNobel filtration system, we knew it would solve the problem of disposing of our paint wash water from the field, in an environmentally friendly manner . We have now purchased this system for each of our offices across the country, taking California’s more stringent environmental standards and applying them as a rule to each of our other national offices,” says Theobald.

Another high technology investment the company has made is the purchase a LifeSize videoconferencing system – the first high definition (HD) videoconferencing system to hit the US market. The high definition video conferencing system eliminates the need for most of their employee travel as the company now holds company-wide staff meetings, leadership meetings, project coordination meetings between offices and functions such as interviews and training via video conferencing. According to Theobald, “face time with and between employees is key to creating relationships and the high definition video conferencing has the benefit of keeping us all connected, while at the same time eliminating all but essential client travel.” Theobald gave the example of last year’s leadership summit, where they flew in 8 – 10 employees from across the country, which included food and accommodations. This year both the costs and the ecological impacts of that travel will be eliminated due to their LifeSize videoconferencing system.

In addition to the investments in the AkzoNobel filter equipment and the LifeSize videoconferencing system the company also recently completed a carbon footprint analysis of 2009 operations – an industry first. On top of its investment in technology, Turman utilizes several other green practices that are landmark in its industry. Turman gives away excess paint to the local communities to reuse and recycle; invests in Prius and Ford Transit vehicles to decrease emissions and reduce fuel consumption; uses zero or low VOC paints where possible and applies sustainable practices on all jobs and has added SharePoint (content management software) to reduce paper use in its offices. “It is in our company DNA to do the right thing – that translates to how we treat our clients, our employees and the environment,” says Theobald. “Our investment in high technology to reduce our impact on the environment, which in turn helps reduce the supply chain footprint of our clients, are other examples of that ideology.”

About Turman Inc. – Turman Commercial Painters and its affiliates provide quality commercial painting services across the United States. Founded in 1972, Turman Commercial Painters is based on the premise of doing the right thing. Company President and CEO Dave Theobald leads the organization with a commitment to customer service and integrity. Turman Commercial Painters provides professional painting services with extensive experience in rebrand, tenant improvement, retail, medical, hospitality and restoration projects, through its multiple offices across the country.
For more information see: www.turmaninc.com.

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Turman Commercial Painters
Janay Minton
(925) 724-2523
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Paper Explores Disposition Options for Radioactive Materials to Reduce Environmental Impact

(PRWEB) July 6, 2010 — Michael W. Snyder, Project Manager-Field Operations, for MHF Services (MHF), a leading provider of packaging, transportation, logistics and technical services, presented a paper on June 23 at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)/Electronic Power Research Institute (EPRI) Radwaste Workshop in Westminster, CO.

Mr. Snyders paper, titled ” Environmental Sustainability,” explored options for the disposition of radioactive materials to reduce their impact upon the environment. He presented the paper at a workshop session on Innovative Waste Processing. The ASME/EPRI Radwaste Workshop, now in its 33rd year, focused on the functional aspects of Low Level Radioactive Waste management. Attendance was restricted to U.S. and international utility personnel and U.S. Department of Energy site personnel.

The abstract for Mr. Snyders paper is as follows:

To help support our industrys nuclear renaissance; options must be available for generators of radioactive materials and waste to minimize the impact of an increased operational footprint on the landscape. All operating facilities utilize pollution prevention plans to reduce use of consumables, limit effluents released to the environment, and recycle paper, plastics and other materials. The same pollution prevention plan mentality should also be extended to the management of radioactive materials. Utilization of recycling and Bulk Survey for Release (BSFR) programs save our limited Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLRW) disposal volume capacity for those materials that have no other option than to be disposed of as radioactive waste.

Mr. Snyder noted that components replaced during power UpRate outages–including Moisture Separator Reheaters, Low Pressure Feedwater Heaters, Secondary Heat Exchangers and Turbine Components such as Casings and Diaphragms as well as Low and High Pressure Turbines–are rarely sized on-site for optimal packaging and disposal efficiency, nor are they decontaminated or surveyed for free release. The intact components are placed on a transporter, secured for transport and shipped from the site for disposition as radioactive waste.

He said, ” Surveys and volume reduction efforts are difficult to perform at the utility because of outage schedules, the available radiological area footprint, and the resources required to disassemble components for the decontamination and surveys required by regulations.

” Instead of dispositioning the metal as waste at a LLRW disposal facility, the component should be considered as candidate material for free release and recycle into the public domain.”

Free release surveys are conducted per Regulatory Guide 1.86, Termination of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Reactors, to determine that no detectable radioactive contamination exists. Components are disassembled to assure that 100% of the surface is surveyed and decontaminated as necessary.

Mr. Snyder said that debris material generated during an UpRate project can be processed through a facility with a radioactive material license, using BSFR to perform bulk assaying of suspect radioactive material for the conditional release of the material to the specified licensees approved Class I landfills.

Mr. Snyder concluded, ” The ideal environmental management program avoids waste generation. However, the operation of a nuclear power plant requires corrective and preventive maintenance that result in the unavoidable generation of waste material. The nuclear renaissance will increase waste material and further tax an already limited LLRW disposal capacity. Options other than direct disposal exist for much of the material.”

Mr. Snyder joined the staff of MHF Services in July 2009. He has more than 25 years of experience in the nuclear industry, having served as a superintendent of Radwaste Operations, project manager, and consultant.

He is the MHF Services technical and field operations manager on projects for clients including Progress Energy, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, DTE Energy, and AREVA Transnuclear, among others.

Mr. Snyder is a member of the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists and the Northern California Chapter of the Academy of Certified Hazardous Material Managers. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Nuclear Power Technology/ Architectural Design.

About MHF Services
MHF (www.mhfservices.com) is an integrated packaging, transportation and logistics provider that offers seamless solutions for generators and shippers of radioactive, hazardous, and non-hazardous waste, materials, and byproducts. The companys customers include government agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, and others. MHF also provides transportation and logistics solutions to companies in the nuclear utilities, environmental services, mining, metals, chemical, and petrochemical industries.

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MHF Services
Danielle Scherer
724.772.9800
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Cloth Diaper Manufacturer, FuzziBunz®, is spearheading nationwide drive for supplies to clean and transport wildlife affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Tereson Dupuy, the founder and inventor of FuzziBunz® and a Louisiana native, is on a mission to help save her region. The ultra-absorbent materials in cloth diapers, baby blankets and burp cloths can be used to absorb oil and transport wildlife. The company warehouse is serving as a central drop-off and distribution center for these items.

Lafayette, LA (PRWEB) July 6, 2010 — Tereson Dupuy knows about solving problems. When the inventor of the modern cloth diaper and founder of FuzziBunz® cloth diapers heard about a program pleading for supplies to help clean up the oil spill along the Gulf shore, the Louisiana native realized she could help. Today, Dupuy and the company are officially announcing a nationwide drive to put the ultra-absorbent materials used in her cloth diapers and other baby materials to a different use for animal rescue and clean up.

After watching the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico devastate her family’s favorite beaches, precious wildlife and threaten the way of life for her hometown of New Orleans, Dupuy wanted to help. “The rescue workers are in need of absorbent materials and we are in the business of manufacturing one of the most absorbent materials around, so it’s a no-brainer,” she says. “I’m so glad we can do our part to help in this attack on nature right in our backyard.”

Dupuy and FuzziBunz® are putting out a nationwide call for old cloth diaper inserts (the absorbent material stuffed inside pocket-diapers like FuzziBunz®), pre-fold diapers, baby blankets, burp cloths, microfiber towels or other absorbent fabrics and the company’s warehouse is serving as a central drop-off point for these items. These specific items will be used to care for, clean and transport wildlife. The effort is called “Cloth for the Coast” and has a dedicated website: http://www.CommunityfortheCoast.org.

Donations of gently used cloth diapers are also being accepted. While diapers with Velcro, snaps, or elastic cannot be used for cleaning, there is a dire need in the low income communities where the families have been most affected by the spill. Dupuy is currently seeking assistance from Catholic Charities and United Way to identify families in need of donated diapers and is willing to work with these families on transitioning to cloth. By switching to donated reusable diapers, such as FuzziBunz®, these families will save thousands of dollars that would normally be spent on disposables.

“Since the oil spill, people who don’t normally ‘think green’ are giving the environment more thought. I’m glad that I am so close and do something to help make this happen,” says Dupuy. “And I have been overwhelmed by the response from the cloth diapering community so far. I knew they would pull together and do what they could during this environmental tragedy. Now they can recycle diapers for people in need as well.”

Diapers and blankets gathered at the FuzziBunz® warehouse will be organized by local volunteers and distributed to wildlife organizations in bulk. Families around the country wishing to help can donate items by sending directly to FuzziBunz® at:

FuzziBunz Diapers
Attn: CFC
315 Weeks St
New Iberia, LA 70560

Those looking to donate money to rescue animals or volunteer time can also visit www.CommunityfortheCoast.org, a website also funded by the company that serves as an easy-to-use information resource.

To learn more about FuzziBunz® and the company’s history of charitable donations, please visit http://www.FuzziBunz.com and the parent company, http://www.MotherofEden.com.

About FuzziBunz®
The patented FuzziBunz® pocket diapers are a convenient and sustainable diapering solution for today’s busy parents. The reusable diapers ensure no leaks, no rash and no waste. FuzziBunz® diapers include three layers: 1) a waterproof outer barrier to keep wetness contained, 2) a soft microfleece inner layer that touches a baby’s skin and pulls away moisture, and 3) a unique, pocket-style opening that enables a parent to customize the absorbency using super absorbent micro-terrycloth pads.

Stay-at-home-mom, Tereson Dupuy, invented FuzziBunz® in January 1999 in response to her infant son’s chronic diaper rash and her overall dissatisfaction with all available diapers. Tereson stitched the first FuzziBunz® in her home and a short time later, the FuzziBunz® diapering movement was born. For more information about FuzziBunz® cloth diapers and accessories and to find a list of retailers, please visit www.fuzzibunz.com.

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Sarah Finnane
888.808.4465
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Woods Hole was hoppin Sunday during the annual 4th of July parade sponsored by Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory. Onlookers were invited for free refreshments at Woods Hole Inn and an amazing view of the parade participants, including locals and researchers, who dressed up as their favorite crustaceans.

Woods Hole, Mass. (PRWEB) July 6, 2010 — The not-so-sleepy town of Woods Hole kicks off the Fourth of July every year with a town parade sponsored by the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory. The event showcases the summer lab students who convert their knowledge of the local marine life into festive water-themed floats.
   

Quicks Hole, an eco-friendly newbie to the Hole, joined in on the fun and passed out 300 Melville’s Olde Tyme handmade lobster pops to the crowd along Water Street on Sunday that included a coupon for a free bruschetta bite.
   

“We’re a restaurant that’s all about our community,” said Beth Colt, owner of the restaurant and Woods Hole Inn. “We are a Cape Cod loving establishment that only sources local seafood and produce. We love the locals and we jump at any chance to interact with them.”
   

Quicks Hole is a casual dining experience that offers Baja themed cuisine located at 6 Luscombe Ave., just a block away from the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.
   

Everything is genuinely wicked fresh and prepared daily by a chef who knows the water. Raised by a commercial fishing family, Stephanie Mikolazyk from Rhode Island can attest to the positive influence that Quicks is having on the community.
   

“The demand is fresh and we are ready and able to provide that,” she said. “That being said, we’ve got to give back to our oceans. People notice what we’re doing: most of our dishware is compostable, we recycle everything we can and support efforts to keep everything local. It’s a great feeling to be giving back everyday.”
   

The restaurant has only been in business since the summer of 2007 but is quickly becoming a staple stop in Woods Hole. It now includes a fresh market that is restocked daily with local eggs, free-range organic honey, produce, grab-and-go lunch items, milk and specialty cheeses. Quick and convenient are at the top of their list at Quicks, but above all, they strive for providing a unique dining experience with friendly service and of course, wicked fresh seafood.

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Quicks Hole
Beth Colt
508.495.0248
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GENEVA – An experimental solar-powered plane whose makers hope to one day circle the globe using only energy collected from the sun took off for its first 24-hour test flight Wednesday.

The plane with its 262.5-foot (80-meter) wingspan left Payerne airfield in Switzerland shortly before 7 a.m. (0500 GMT; 1 a.m. EDT) after overcoming an equipment problem that delayed a previous attempt, the Solar Impulse team said.

Clear blue skies mean the prototype aircraft will be able to soak up plenty of solar energy as it flies over the Jura mountains to the west of the Swiss Alps.

By midmorning pilot Andre Borschberg was cruising at 9,850 feet (3,000 meters), trying to avoid low-level turbulence and thermal winds that are frequent in the mountains.

He will take the plane to an altitude of 27,900 feet (8,500 meters) by Wednesday evening, when a decision will be made whether to continue through the night using solar power stored in its batteries.

” The goal of the project is to have a solar-powered plane flying day and night without fuel,” said team co-founder Bertrand Piccard, adding that this test flight – the third major step after its first ‘flea hop’ and an extended flight earlier this year – will demonstrate whether the ultimate plan is feasible: to fly the plane around the world.

” This flight is crucial for the credibility of the project,” said Piccard, a record-breaking balloonist whose father and grandfather also accomplished pioneering airborne and submarine feats.

The team had hoped to make their 24-hour test flight last week when days in the northern hemisphere were even longer, allowing the plane’s 12,000 solar cells to collect even more energy before attempting to coast through the night.

But there was a problem with a key piece of communications equipment, forcing the team to keep the plane on the ground while modifications were made. Every aspect of the aircraft is monitored by engineers on the ground, with much of it fed onto the team’s website and Twitter page.

Borscherg, the plane’s sole pilot, will decide by 8 p.m. (1800 GMT; 2 p.m. EDT) whether to continue through the night. If he goes ahead, the plane will slowly descend to 4,920 feet (1,500 meters) before midnight, where Borschberg will stay until attempting a dawn landing.

Piccard, who achieved the first nonstop circumnavigation of the globe in a balloon, the Breitling Orbiter III, in 1999, said that, if successful, the next step will be an Atlantic crossing. That will be done in a second, lighter prototype, involving new challenges and dangers, he said.

Although the goal is to show that emissions-free air travel is possible, the team has said it doesn’t see solar technology replacing conventional jet propulsion any time soon. Instead, the project is designed to test and promote new energy-efficient technologies.

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On the Web:

Solar Impulse night flight page: http://www.solarimpulse.com/nightFlights/

Solar Impulse Twitter page: http://twitter.com/solarimpulse