We all have oodles of used electronic equipment laying around in drawers and boxes and we all are going to sell them, or donate them, or recycle them, when we get a round tuit.

C’mon you know who you are.  We have actually sold a few items of  used electronic equipment on eBay and Craigslist but it is a hassle and then they go in the box, on on the shelf, in the drawer.  Out of site – out of mind.

Now Gazelle to the go green rescue!  Gazelle.com is a company that will purchase your; used computers, tv’s, mp3 players, iPods, cell phones, audio equipment and just about all types of reusable electronic equipment.  This is one of the best places for cell phone recycling and who doesn’t have a bunch of those lying around.

This company operates a very green business and we have heard nothing but good things about them.  You can select a category; fill out the checklist of items that you have to sell and give a description of condition and items that go with them, such as original packaging, manuals, original software, cables, etc.

Then you submit your entry online and they will make a cash offer for your used electronics.  Once you decide to accept the offer you can print out a label from their website and shipping will be paid by the buyer. OK you might get a little higher price if you sell directly to an end user, but this is the no hassle way.

They will notify you when the item is received, then it takes about a week for them to inspect it and approve that it meets your agreed to description and then they will issue you a check or pay you instantly through your PayPal account.

Gazelle goes one step further in the reuse – recycle – donation way of going green in that you may elect to have the payment made directly to your favorite charity.  Everybody wins!  So whether you want to get cash for your used electronic equipment and gadgets or if you want to recycle and donate at the same time we heartily recommend Gazelle.

There are many ways to save the environment. Every body should care but even if one person reduces their waste or conserves energy, it is a positive step forward. Of course the more people that contribute to saving our environment, the better it will be.

To conserve energy at home is the easiest. Turn off lights in rooms that are unoccupied. Keep the filters on your HVAC units clean. Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120F and wrap the unit with a blanket. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. The planting of trees on the west side of your home will shade it during the hottest part of the day. There is more just use common sense.

Removing and reducing the dangerous toxins from your home is one of the easiest ways to save the environment. Each cleaning product must be inspected for toxic substances. The toxic chemicals must then be properly disposed of. The use of mousetraps instead of poisons will also help. Know the age of your house and determine if it might have been painted at one time with lead paint.

At work reuse common items. Just because you don’t pay for items like paperclips, envelopes, copy paper, is not a reason to be wasteful. Remember saving the environment is all of our responsibility.

Conserving water is relatively easy. Stop all leaks as soon as they appear. Wash the dishes then rinse. Do not let the water run continuously. Install a low flow showerhead.

Purchase items in bulk and avoid those products that have multiple layers of packaging. Reuse plastic bags and storage containers.

If possible use energy supplied from renewable sources like hydro, solar and wind power.

There are many ways to save the environment.  We all must do our part.

I remember growing up and seeing the cooling ponds from the local power plant give off steam in the winter.  As a young child I thought it looked cool. Today I think what a waste. There are numerous accounts of waste heat just literally being wasted. Some of the processes that produce waste heat are fuel combustion or chemical reactions. Large amounts of heat are generated for different purposes in boilers, kilns, ovens and furnaces. Not all of the energy is recoverable but a good portion is and should be.

There are many well know heat exchangers in use today. One of the best-known but not knows is in most automobiles.  The heat produced by the vehicles engine is cooled by water. Running it through the radiator disperses the heat into the air thus cooling the water, which cools the engine.  Most people are not aware until it leaks, is that this same coolant water is inside the passenger compartment. Yes that heating core inside your car that keeps you warm in the winter months is successful recovery and use of waste heat.

There are also present today waste heat boilers that convert the hot gases from boilers, channel it to a turbine, and produce electricity.  Unfortunately this supply of energy is not always sufficient and auxiliary heaters are needed to drive the turbine.  But with research and investment a more efficient way will be found.

There are many other ways to conserve, reuse and recycle what we use around us. Just because it has been named waste does not mean it is worthless or useless.

One company that I have visited on other business is the Graham Manufacturing Company in Batavia, NY.  This company makes large scale industrial type heat exchangers for waste heat recovery.  http://www.graham-mfg.com/

There are many ways to help the environment. First thing everyone should do is to stop being wasteful with the products we use and the energy we consume. Also reuse and recycle what you can. Everything from aluminum and glass to plastic and paper can be recycled; all it takes is a little effort. Planting trees, shrubs and flowers around your home can help. Not only is this good for the environment but also pleasing to the eyes.

This is something that is not only good for the environment but for you too. Walk to the store or your friend’s house. Leave the car at home. This in itself will not only improve your health but will also help reduce this nations dependency on foreign oil imports.

The world and the environment also need more than just one animal (humans) on this planet so be kind to other animals. Many animals provide a needed service that helps the environment.

Look at the job bees and butterflies do. They go to work everyday to pollinate the plants. Some of these plants we depend on for food. Unfortunately some of the genetically modified plants we use as a food source now have pesticides built in. I wonder if there is a connection with that and the rapid decline in the bee and butterfly populations.

For those of you out there that wish something for nothing try what I did. Yes this is environmentally friendly. My daughter loves tomatoes so I dug up a portion of the back yard and planted 6 tomato plants. We had tomatoes all summer. Some of which fell and were eaten by the bugs and rabbits. That autumn, before the first frost I raked the leaves from the yard and place them on the garden area. I then spaded the garden over. Yes this took a little time and work but did not cost me a red cent. The following spring I spaded the garden area again. After several rains there appeared new tomatoes plant. I did this each year for six straight years. The last year before we moved I counted 128 new sprouts. I think the fuel used to purchase the first six plants was energy well spent. Just as a side note, the garden had only midday sun and was a six-foot by eight-foot area.

Be creative and help save the environment. Every little bit counts just do your part.

Some people feel that by donating hundreds of dollars to environmental organizations, they’re doing their part to save the world. This may be true, but there are other ways that you can pitch in, without spending a small fortune. There are even some Ways To Go Green For Free that you may never have thought of before.

Reuse:
How often do you bring home all your groceries in those little plastic bags? Rather than just throw these bags out, keep them for future use. Reuse them as liners in your smaller garbage cans, or donate them to local organizations. They also work great when sending small, fragile items through the mail.

Improvise:
Rather than spending your money on paper towels, reuse your worn out and stained clothes. Old t-shirts and thread-bare towels work great for cleaning a kitchen or bathroom, and old socks make the best dust rags. Best of all, they can be washed and reused. You save money and the environment at the same time.

Start at Home:
If you really want to do your part, start in your own backyard. If out walking or hanging at the park, throw away any trash you see lying around. Even though it’s not your mess, you’re creating a safer environment. Shut off lights in unused rooms and unplug any items that aren’t used regularly. Though they may not be running, they’re still drawing electricity.

Save Money:
You don’t have to spend a ton of money in order to do your part. There are many Ways To Go Green For Free, starting right at home. You save energy, the environment, and money. What better reason to join the go green movement?

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Cato