Whitehouse.gov

A new website for the President of the United States and his adminstration was launched last week. The new look of the website includes a few areas worth mentioning. First, the Energy and Environment section highlights President Obama's plan to invest in clean technologies to improve the environment and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.

The second area of the website is the "The Whitehouse Blog," which is updated daily and keeps everyone up-to-date on events and news from the Whitehouse. Check out the site regularly as the new administration settles into office and begins setting new policies. Currently, most of the news reported on the site provides insight to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

Fisker Automotive

I am a self-declared automobile enthusiast. I love the smell of an old car and the sound of well tuned engine (especially the Italians). However, like many Americans, I became concerned as I watched the price of oil grow through 2007-2008. So, I decided to start researching some of the alternatives to fossil fuels. I instantly became interested in biofuels (mostly biodiesel) and hydrogen fuel cells. However, even more recently, I have become a huge fan of the electric sports car. When I first heard of the electric cars in 2006, I wasn’t sure I could get over the lack of sounds from the engine compartment and the rush of adrenaline associated with those cars. Well, all of that changed when I saw the Fisker Karma and Fisker Karma Sunset. These cars are being designed and developed by Fisker Automotive, Inc. based out of Irvine, CA. The cars are equipped with a plug-in hybrid drive system that gives the vehicles an all-electric range of approximately 50 miles on a single charge. A small gasoline engine extends the driving range for longer trips and added peace of mind. For more information visit them on the web at http://www.fiskerautomotive.com/. Here are a few pics of the Karma Sunset and Karma:

Karma Sunset

Karma

Image Sources: www.fiskerautomotive.com/press_materials

Can I Recycle This?

Have you ever looked at a plastic container and wondered, what does the number on the bottom of the packaging mean?

Our neighborhood waste disposal company provides a curbside recycling program. Until recently, the company restricted the numbers of the plastics that could be recycled.

This got us wondering, does everyone actually know what those numbers mean?

The short answer is that the number indicates the type of plastic used in producing the container.

The long answer is that this number is the “resin identification code.” It was developed by The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988 to assist recyclers around the country. This code provides a mechanism for recycling companies to sort the materials that they receive. The numbers in the code are defined as follows:

1 – Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE). This is a clear plastic that is commonly used in drink bottles. Recycled PET can be found in tote bags, clothing, carpet, etc.

2 – High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). This is a more durable plastic that is typically found in milk jugs, juice bottles, and chemical containers. Recycled HDPE can be found in similar containers as its original use as well as other products. For example: furniture, recycle bins, and trash cans).

3 – Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC). This material offers excellent chemical resistant properties. PVC is used for piping among other household and industrial products.

4 – Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE). This material is very strong and flexible. Squeezable bottles for consumer products are usually made of LDPE. Recycled material can be used to create compost bins, floor tiles, furniture, and many others.

5 – Polypropylene (PP). Found in consumer product containers (i.e. yogurt and butter containers) and automotive parts, polypropylene can be rigid or flexible. This material is usually recycled into medium to large molded parts.

6 – Polystyrene (PS). This material is typically found in egg cartons, cups, plates, and packaging equipment. Polystyrene comes in a few forms, including rigid, foamed, and brittle textures.

7 – Other. Plastics bearing the “Other” code may be produced from a material not listed under the other codes or may have a mixture of materials. Depending on the types of plastics involved in the production process, the final product may be categorized as 7, or “Other.” Recycled number 7 type plastics are typically found in recycled plastic or composite lumber products.

In future postings we will look at companies and products that use these recycled materials to make great new products!

Being Green and Finding a Cure for Cancer

If you are like me then you have accumulated a few cell phones over the years. I've looked at our office closet and between Jon and I there's probably 3 or 4 in there. What do you do with them? Where can you recycle them? Well I've got a great answer. I found this through my friend Katie's webpage. She's running in Relay for Life this May to honor her father who passed away from cancer on Christmas Day. It is so simple to recycle your phone and help out Relay for Life at the same time. You go to this website: www.cellularrecycler.com/acs. Fill out the form on the website. Print the UPS packaging label and ship off your old cell phone. They take the cash value of the recycled phone and give it to a Relay for Life team. How awesome is that? I don't know of anyone who cancer has not affected. If you don't know anyone participating in a Relay for Life team this year, then please donate it to my friend's team "Kisses for a Cure." You can save the planet and cure cancer all from the comfort of your desk in less than 5 minutes. So cool!