Eco-friendly construction practices are becoming increasingly important as the demand for sustainable building solutions grows. Incorporating these practices not only benefits the environment but also enhances the efficiency and healthiness of buildings. Here are some modern eco-friendly construction practices to consider:

Sustainable Materials

Using sustainable materials is a fundamental aspect of eco-friendly construction. These materials are often sourced responsibly, have a lower environmental impact, and can be recycled or reused. Examples include bamboo, reclaimed wood, recycled metal, and low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and finishes. These materials reduce waste and energy consumption, contributing to a greener building process.

Energy Efficiency

Energy-efficient designs are crucial for reducing the overall carbon footprint of a building. This includes the use of high-performance insulation, energy-efficient windows, and advanced HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. Incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, further enhances a building’s energy efficiency. These measures not only lower energy consumption but also reduce utility costs for the occupants.

Water Conservation

Water conservation is another critical component of sustainable construction. Implementing systems that reduce water usage, such as low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, and greywater recycling, can significantly decrease a building’s water footprint. Landscaping with native plants that require less water also contributes to conservation efforts.

Green Building Certifications

Pursuing green building certifications, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), ensures that a building meets high environmental standards. These certifications evaluate various aspects of sustainability, including energy use, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality. Achieving these certifications demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and can enhance the building’s marketability.

Smart Building Technology

Integrating smart building technology can improve energy efficiency and occupant comfort. Automated systems for lighting, heating, and cooling can optimize energy use based on occupancy and time of day. Smart meters and sensors provide real-time data, allowing for better energy management and maintenance planning. These technologies help reduce energy consumption and improve the overall sustainability of the building.

Indoor Air Quality

Maintaining good indoor air quality is essential for the health and well-being of occupants. Eco-friendly construction practices include the use of low-VOC materials, proper ventilation systems, and air-purifying plants. These measures help reduce indoor pollutants and create a healthier living environment.

Waste Reduction

Minimizing construction waste is a significant aspect of sustainable building practices. This can be achieved by planning and designing efficiently, using prefabricated components, and recycling construction materials. Proper waste management strategies reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and lower the environmental impact of the construction process.

Sustainable Landscaping

Sustainable landscaping practices complement eco-friendly building designs. Using native plants, installing efficient irrigation systems, and incorporating green roofs or walls can enhance the sustainability of a property. These practices not only reduce water usage but also provide additional insulation and improve air quality.

By incorporating these modern eco-friendly construction practices, you can create a building that is not only environmentally responsible but also efficient, healthy, and cost-effective.

Texas, known for its sprawling landscapes and intense climate, is also a state that’s increasingly conscious about sustainable living. In the heart of such environmental and weather extremities, the roof over your head plays a pivotal role in your home’s energy efficiency and ecological impact. Here’s a roundup of the most eco-friendly and energy-efficient types of roofs tailored for Texas homeowners.

Cool Roofs: Beating the Texas Heat

The concept of cool roofs is simple: they reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat than a standard roof. In the Texan summer, a cool roof can make your home more comfortable by reducing heat transfer into the building, minimizing the strain on your air conditioning, and thereby cutting energy usage.

Materials: Cool roofs can be made of highly reflective types of paint, a sheet covering, or highly reflective tiles or shingles.

Ideal for Texas because: They significantly lower roof temperatures during hot summer months, leading to decreased energy costs and increased indoor comfort.

Green Roofs: A Living Canopy

Green roofs, also known as living roofs, are covered with vegetation over a waterproofing membrane. They are excellent insulators, reduce stormwater runoff, and help combat the urban heat island effect.

Materials: A standard green roof includes a layer of vegetation, a growing medium, a filter membrane, and a drainage layer.

Ideal for Texas because: They provide much-needed green space in urban settings and help insulate buildings from the intense Texas sun, leading to energy savings and improved air quality.

Solar Roofs: Harnessing the Power of the Texas Sun

Solar roofs are designed to generate electricity by integrating solar panels directly into the roofing material. Texas, being one of the sunniest states, offers the perfect opportunity to capitalize on solar energy.

Materials: Solar shingles or tiles, which function both as traditional roofing and as a solar PV system.

Ideal for Texas because: They reduce dependence on fossil fuel energy, harnessing the state’s abundant sunlight to power homes in an eco-friendly manner.

Metal Roofs: Durable and Reflective

Metal roofs reflect solar radiant heat, which can reduce cooling costs by 10-25%. They are durable, recyclable, and can be made from a high percentage of recycled material.

Materials: Typically made from steel, aluminum, or copper.

Ideal for Texas because: Metal roofs withstand severe weather conditions and are excellent for rainwater harvesting, an added benefit in drought-prone areas.

Slate and Clay Tiles: Timeless and Sustainable

Slate and clay tiles are natural materials that have a lower environmental impact over their lifecycle. They are extremely durable, have a natural ability to regulate indoor temperatures, and can be recycled at the end of their lifespan.

Materials: Natural slate or terracotta clay.

Ideal for Texas because: They offer a classic aesthetic that matches many Texan architectural styles and provide exceptional longevity and fire resistance.

Reflective Roof Coatings: The Upgrade Option

For those not ready to replace an entire roof, reflective coatings can be applied to existing roof materials to increase their reflective properties.

Materials: Specialized coatings made with reflective pigments.

Ideal for Texas because: They can extend the life of your current roof and improve its solar reflectance and thermal emittance.

For Texas homeowners, the choice of roofing is critical not just for aesthetics but for comfort, cost savings, and environmental stewardship. Whether you opt for cool metal, lush greenery, innovative solar tiles, timeless slate, or an upgrade with reflective coatings, the best roof is one that aligns with your ecological values while standing up to the Lone Star State’s challenging climate.

Donate to a garage sale

Donating your unwanted items to a garage sale is a great way to make money. Many people use garage sales as fundraisers for charities. These sales usually take place at private residences and allow people to purchase items such as clothing, household items, and furniture. However, you must know that your items must be sellable. Items that are too worn or broken will not be accepted. Large pieces of furniture and books will not be accepted.

Some popular garage sale items are garden tools, toys, and games. People often buy used garden tools and fix them up. Toys can also make a great donation. You can sell unused toys and games that your children have outgrown. Just make sure to check them for functionality and clean them thoroughly. Antique and vintage toys are especially in demand. Compile all the reusable items you have in a garage or room in your house and donate them to a local sale or Goodwill.

Create large and colorful signs to direct people to your garage sale

Garage sale signs are a great way to attract attention to your yard sale. They help people find your items without having to walk around your yard. You can even create directional signs in pink, which are great for attracting younger buyers. Make sure your sign is large enough so people can read it without walking into your yard.

You can use a variety of different signs to direct people to your garage sale. For example, you could create a large sign that includes arrows directing people to your sale. Moreover, you can make a colorful one that clearly marks the date of your garage sale. It would be best if you have another person nearby to check on the signs and make sure that they are placed in a visible location.

Advertise your garage sale on Craigslist

The Craigslist website is an excellent place to advertise your garage sale. It offers free online classified ads that are broken down by country and city. You can create an account or post an ad without one. Craigslist allows you to search for similar garage sale ads in your area and make any changes based on what you find. To post your ad on Craigslist, simply click the “Post to Classifieds” link in the upper left corner of the page and fill out the form.

Then, enter the information about your garage sale in the appropriate category. Remember to include a picture if possible. This will draw potential buyers to your garage sale. A photo can also catch the attention of shoppers who browse the site based on what they see.

Price your garage sale items

If you’re having a garage sale, it’s important to know how to price your items for a successful sale. People love to score a bargain, and they aren’t shy about haggling over prices. Make sure that you label each item with a descriptive tag, and don’t price too high.

Prices should never exceed ten percent of the retail price. That means, for instance, you shouldn’t charge more than $2 for a $20 product. However, you can charge more if your product is of higher quality. If you’re selling a high-end item, consider charging up to 20 percent of its retail price. This blanket rule will help you keep your prices reasonable, while still attracting potential buyers.

Plan for after-sale pickup

To prevent people from leaving empty-handed after your garage sale, make sure that you plan ahead. Make sure that you have a staging area that is low-traffic and ground level, and that you categorize items according to their price. You can also group items into general categories, such as clothes, home goods, toys, and so on. Before your garage sale, make an inventory of all of the items you plan to sell.

Make sure you have plenty of bags and boxes to take items home in. Also, remember to keep things neat and organized. You can rearrange them later as items sell. You can also group similar items together, so that people can find them more easily.

One of the biggest benefits of an artificial lawn is that it is low maintenance. You can avoid worrying about watering and mowing your lawn, which can take up a lot of your time. You can also forget about puddles that can form after a heavy rain, which is an attractive habitat for mosquitoes. An artificial lawn also has a built-in drainage system, so you can avoid these problems as well.

An artificial lawn doesn’t require mowing or weed-whacking. All you need to do is sweep it regularly and weed it out occasionally. You also don’t have to spend a lot of water to keep it looking great. Furthermore, a well-maintained artificial lawn doesn’t produce mud.

Unlike natural lawns, artificial lawns require very little care and don’t need any fertilizers or pesticides to stay healthy. This is a significant benefit, especially if you have kids or pets. You can also be assured that weeds won’t destroy your beautiful lawn.

You’ll save around 22,000 gallons of water a year. In addition to saving on your water bill, some local authorities offer incentives to homeowners who use their water savings for home improvements. Plus, you’ll get the beautiful look of a freshly-cut lawn year-round.

When you have an artificial lawn, you won’t have to deal with lawn-care costs. You won’t need to spend any money on watering or fertilizing your grass. And you’ll save a lot of money, as the materials used to make your natural lawn look beautiful will be much more expensive.

An artificial lawn is cleaner than a natural lawn. You don’t have to worry about grass stains, mud, and puddles, and you don’t have to worry about pesticides. If you’re concerned about your children’s health, artificial grasses are a good option.

The long-term benefits of an artificial lawn are numerous. First and foremost, you can save money. An artificial lawn also offers you the peace of mind of knowing that your lawn is always looking good. Unlike natural grass, it isn’t susceptible to droughts. You’ll also save money on gas, since you won’t have to refuel your mower.

If you’re considering hiring a tree service, it’s important to make sure you’re getting the best one for your needs. In order to do this, you should ask for references. While this isn’t a legal requirement, some companies do require money down before they can begin work. This is common practice for companies that use expensive supplies. You should also know that the company’s trucks and other machinery may require access to your driveway or lawn. You should also expect some minor disturbance to your yard, so make sure the crew is experienced in working in your area.

Before hiring a tree service, make sure they have the proper licenses and insurance. Moreover, the arborist should be a full-time employee of the company. It’s important to hire a certified arborist. They’re likely to know the right ways to cut trees and will leave the property clean and unharmed.

Ensure the company has insurance and is licensed. Without insurance, you might be responsible for any damages the company causes to your property. Before accepting a tree service’s quote, request a copy of their insurance certificate. Providing the insurance certificate is an official method of verifying the company’s legitimacy, and you shouldn’t hire a tree service without it. If you’re not sure, you can also check their online reviews and read customer testimonials.

You should ask for references. Although reviews online are biased, they can still provide helpful information. The best way to make sure you hire a reputable tree service is to read their previous clients’ testimonials. The company should also have a list of satisfied clients, and you should be able to contact them if you need more information.

You should look for a company that is licensed and insured. Secondly, you should consider how much you’re willing to spend for the service. Moreover, you should compare the quotes provided by different companies. Ensure that they’re affordable and offer the best quality. You should also consider the time they’ll need for the project.

A certified arborist should have no problems with liability insurance. You can ask for a copy of their insurance certificates from any tree service. In addition, ask for referrals and testimonials. Most of these companies will be happy to provide you with a list of satisfied clients.

With increased consumerism, electronic gadgets and materials are disposed of by consumers every year as soon as they upgrade to a newer model. Electronic materials contain hazardous substances that are harmful to the environment. The heavy metals, plastic, and glass in electronic components are dumped in a landfill, and these substances can then seep into the waterways and pollute the air.

Only 15-20 percent of all e-waste is recycled in the U.S. Yet nearly 100 percent of e-waste is recyclable. Recycling e-waste will decrease the demand for mining heavy metals and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing new materials. Here are some recycling companies in Austin that provide an ethical and environmentally safe way to dispose of e-waste.

R3eWaste

R3eWaste is one of the foremost recycling centers in Austin, and they are continually working on improving their services on electronic waste management. R3eWaste has been given the prestigious certifications of ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. ISO 14001 ensures that a company systemically manages its environmental responsibilities. ISO 45001 certifies that a company adheres to safety and health regulations.

They provide a responsible outlet for all electronic waste. R3eWaste collects electronic materials from a business at no extra cost. They ensure that sensitive components such as data centers are carefully disassembled to ensure that a company’s sensitive data stays secure. They maintain a zero-landfill policy and give back to local communities.

ATX Global Trading Mission

ATX Global Trading Mission supports the reuse, reduce, and recycle motto when it comes to electronic waste. The company’s mission is to be a provider of all used electrical components and retail products. The company’s goal is to protect the environment while ensuring positive impact on their local community, employees, and customers. They have been certified on various policies including occupational health and safety, quality, environmental health and safety, pollution prevention, and reuse.

E-cycle Enterprises

E-cycle Enterprises is an ethical electronics disposal company where they safely recycle all unwanted, broken, or outdated electronics. They provide both ethical electronic waste management, as well as safe and reliable data destruction. They offer their services to healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, financial, automobile, mining, electronics, retail, and service industries. E-cycle Enterprises have been awarded the prestigious certification of NAID AAA, one of the widely recognized Data Security Certification Programs in the world.

Texas Computer and Electronic Recycling

Texas Computer and Electronic Recycling provide full-service, EPA-permitted recycling, including pick up and removal from thousands of Texas-based companies. Trucks, workforce, and tools will be provided to ensure safe removal of all designated materials and transfer to a secured, compliant facility. They provide residential pick up anywhere in Austin.

Cinco Electronics Recycling

Cinco Electronics Recycling provides a wide range of recycling services for corporate and individual customers in Austin, Texas. They take old, outdated electronics and ensure that they are safely disposed of or reused and recycled in an environmentally safe manner. They have been given certifications of ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, OHSAS 18001:2007, and R2 (Responsible Recycler).

Z-tech Global

Z-tech Global provides responsible recycling and remarketing solutions for old, unwanted electronic materials and computers. Customized solutions are offered in I.T. asset management, material recovery, and remarketing of computers and I.T. equipment. They provide sensitive data sanitization and hard drive shredding services. They comply with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards.

R2 Corporation

R2 Corporation (Resale Resource/Recycling Resource) is a Texas-based organization that provides environmentally certified computer and electronics recycling services. They are committed to safeguarding the environment, ensuring customer satisfaction, and building a premier asset recovery and recycling company. R2 Corporation has been awarded the ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, OHSAS 45001:2018, and R2:2013 Certifications.

Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Centre

Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Centre is the city of Austin’s recycling center. Residents can ensure the safe disposal of their unwanted electronic waste by dropping them off at the center. The service is free for Austin residents.

E-waste is a significant problem that we are facing on a global scale. Every person must dispose of their electronic waste responsibly and ethically. Once we begin to take small steps to improve the environment, we will see increasingly positive results.

There are a lot of people dealing with upcycled fabrics and clothes. In fact, quite of few of these places have found a home on Etsy and other similar sites that put customers in touch with small craftsmen. There is a large market out there for clothing that is made out of recycled fabrics. They are quickly becoming one of the most popular overall fashions in the country and they are also lowering in price as demand grows. If you are interested in buying yourself some recycled clothes, you may find yourself being a little picky at times. After all, you don’t know who was wearing those old clothes last, and that can have a tendency to freak some people out. The best way to avoid worrying about something like this is to simply buy from a reputable dealer or a reputable clothing creator.

Zasra Shop at Etsy

There are a lot of great shops on Etsy that let you buy upcycled clothes, but the stuff being sold at the Zasra shop in the Etsy marketplace is taking it to another level. A lot of people simply make stuff that “looks” like clothes out of older clothes. They feel like they can bring in customers no matter what the clothes look like since the fabrics are upcycled and that’s what customers “really” want. Zasra doesn’t take this tact. This store actually provides you with clothing that will be something that you’d be proud to wear for more than just environmental reasons. The selection here is great and you’ll like what you see.

Anita Spero Design Shop at Etsy

Also on Etsy, you will find the Anita Spero Design shop to be a high-class operation with a lot of great upcycled clothes. The clothes here are stylish and they can be worn for any occasion from formal events to lounging around at home. This shop really makes it easy to shop with an environmentally-friendly mindset.

One of the most wasteful parts of any home is always the kitchen. Everything gets wasted here. Water gets wasted constantly. Food gets wasted. Paper gets wasted. Plastic wrap gets wasted. Everything gets tossed away in the hubbub of getting dinner done and the dishes washed, and in between, we all produce quite a lot of waste here. While waste is a cycle that is borne mostly out of a desire for efficiency, it can be mitigated through the use of appropriate items throughout our kitchens. Two great ways to reduce waste and be more environmentally friendly in the kitchen are:

Biobag Compostable Trash Bags

These bags are absolutely great. Not only can you use them for regular trash, but you can compost them in your compost pile just like you would compost a paper bag. The secret is what it’s made out of. The plastic here isn’t quite the same as the plastic you’ve become accustomed to over the years. Instead of the nasty, oil-based plastics we more commonly use, the Biobag Compostable Trash Bag will break down in a very short amount of time. The secret is in its chemistry. The plastic in the bag is made out of corn starches, meaning it has a much more natural rate of decay than a plastic bag.

Green Cleaning Products

There are a lot of options out there if you want to use green cleaning products. I personally like the Seventh Generation line of products, but there are a lot of choices. If you’re new to using green cleaning products, then I recommend getting a gift basket of some type that will give you the chance to see how many different environmentally-friendly cleaners work.

There are a few different options out there for people looking to have a more sustainable lifestyle. First, you can always just use reusable things. This is probably the simplest of all things you could do, and it will probably have the most immediate effect. However, if you simply need to use something that is lightweight, and that you may be OK with tossing every now and then, then you can’t go wrong with bamboo.

Not only does bamboo look good, but it’s light and it’s very sustainable. Some types of bamboo can grow feet in just a single day, meaning that there’s even less time spent between seeding and harvesting. Not only does this mean it’s a very useful product, but it also means that it’s a much more sustainable one. After all, if resource managers can get tons of bamboo out of one spot over and over again, why would they ever need to branch out into other spots?

I specifically like this travel set on Treehugger.com if you are looking for something nice, attractive, and sustainable. The great thing about this utensil set is that it comes with a very cool carrying case, making it very easy to tote around with you wherever you go. The size of the case doesn’t seem to be very proprietary or anything, so if you ever need to replace the bamboo with metal or other bamboo utensils, then it’s going to work just as well.

In the end, this is just a cool little thing to have around. It’s simple things like this that really add up over time to make your life much more sustainable, and really that much easier to live. If you are looking for any other green living ideas, Treehugger.com is a great place to start. This is especially true if you’re looking for recycled goods or anything of that nature.

I’ve talked about bike chain-themed wares on this site before, but this is a really interesting take on what can be done with a chain. This bike chain picture frame by Graham Bergh is a great little piece that adds a very unique flavor to any photo and room arrangement. The greatness of the piece lies within its utilitarian, yet infinitely versatile, look. This is definitely a piece that can make people stop and take a peek, and it is a wonderful addition to any home.

First, they start off much the same as many other items of this nature. They start off as old, useless junk that most people have already written off as trash. This is where Bergh and his small team of designers come into play. They put themselves in the right place at the right time to grab the best chains they can to do a lot of different things with. Some of the chains get turned into those awesome little bottle openers I talked about a few posts ago. Others get turned into these frames. The ones that aren’t up to snuff in terms of quality are either tossed or donated to local schools that teach bike maintenance. Either way, every effort possible has been made to do something with these chains other than just dump them off.

The thing that is really great about this piece is that it invokes a certain “steampunk-esque” feel to just about any living arrangement. The patterns of the chain are delicate, and they contrast with the brute strength of the steel chain, making for a very interesting melding of form and function. This is also great for the frame since it means that it is very abrasion resistant, meaning you won’t have to worry about messing the frame up until it’s busted beyond repair.

There are a lot of great ways to make your home much more eco-friendly without really going to that much trouble. The simplest ways are always the best ways, and it doesn’t get a whole lot simpler than just intercepting something on its way to the dump.

I recently had an anniversary with my wife (only two years, hold your applause), and I wanted to get her some interesting stuff to mark the occasion. She’s big into recycled clothes and jewelry and stuff like that, so I figured one of the things I’d get here would be recycled paper earrings. They looked cool and kind of funky like her, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I’m glad I did, and so is she. This is a great way to reuse something old and make something really neat out of it.

For one thing, who the hell knew that you could even do this in the first place? I never even thought that you could ever use newspaper to make earrings. I mean, I’m no crafty son of a gun or anything, but I consider myself to be a fairly worldly type of person and I had never even thought that it was possible to do something like this. Upon further inspection of the process, I felt a little embarrassed that I was so thoroughly impressed by this whole thing, but I stand by my amazement. It’s a good idea, and good ideas deserve an appropriate level of amazement to mark the occasion.

So, here’s the background. The company that makes these Recycled Newspaper Earrings is a co-op in Cambodia. They work to put kids in school and keep them off the streets. The newspaper you’re wearing was actually something that they found on a street in Cambodia. They use a water-based varnish on the paper to keep it in the ball shape but it’s water-based so it doesn’t agitate your skin or anything. I thought it was pretty great that they were not only helping to keep Cambodia clean but that they were also working to help kids get an education that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise. No matter how you slice it, this is a cool little piece of kitsch that actually looks cool.

Yeah, I thought it said crappy at first. I thought, what a horrible marketing schema to use… but man I was wrong. Upon further inspection, these things are actually pretty interesting, and by “these things” I mean Scrappy Scarves by the Scrappy Scarves company. They’re a Canadian company, which I’ve been glad to find since I know a bunch of people reading this blog are from Canada, and I’m sure you want to know about goods being made in your country. So here it is the Scrappy Scarf.

The name is sort of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, there is the fact that it’s made out of old scrap cloth. On the other hand, they’re built to last. Scrappy, as it were. The great thing about these scarves is that you will literally have a one-of-a-kind scarf that will never be found elegantly draped around the neck of another person. This is something that I personally look for in just about anything I ever buy. I mean, if I’m going to be spending money on something, why on Earth would I want something that looks identical to thousands of other things? Especially when it comes to clothes, this kind of automatic individualism is a really great thing to have as an extra feature.

The quality is nothing to shake a stick at, either. Too many people seem to have it in their heads that an article of clothing made out of recycled clothes will just fall apart around them. Not so with this product. In fact, they seem to overcompensate for the old fabric by making sure to reinforce the joints of fabric to make sure that the whole thing holds together nicely. It doesn’t detract from how attractive these scarves are, and they will go with just about any type of outfit you can think of. Whether you like to dress a little funky or super-straight, you’ll be able to get a scarf that looks great with what you’re wearing. All that for a pretty decently reasonable price when compared to other types of “artisan” green clothes out there.

There are a lot of different things that people do to turn old, useless junk into something usable. Not only is this great for the environment, but it is also a great way to create useful, kitschy stuff for around your home that says something about you. Sort of like the Vinyl Record bowl by Modern Artisans. For the music lover in your life, this is a great way to give a great eco-friendly gift that says something about them.

Or go ahead and buy it for yourself. I’m sure you’ve earned it. Whatever you do, there’s no doubt that you’ll be impressed by this thing. I’m not entirely sure how they force it to keep its “vinyl” look despite being warped like this, but it’s still pretty cool despite that. That’s really the great thing about these bowls that makes them really stand out. They still “look” like vinyl records, just warped into a bowl. It’s like you’re really eating off of a record of Buddy Hackett’s greatest hits… and maybe you are.

The bowls come in a number of genres as well. So if you’re a metalhead at heart, you can eat your mead and gruel off of an old UFO. If I could find a Rush album among the mix of bowls these guys sell, I can just about guarantee I would get it. It’s cool that you get that much control over what the bowl looks like, and it’s another way that a music lover can really tailor these bowls to say something about who they are and the role of music in his or her life.

Either way, it’s a great way to reuse something that would just go in a heap of trash outside the city limits anyway. As has been said time and time again, reusing is always better than buying new, and generally better than recycling. In fact, it’s the ULTIMATE form of recycling in that you’re cutting out the middle man and just using the thing itself instead of just the material.

I’m on a home-brewing KICK! And now I’m going to talk about homemade wine. I never really have done a whole lot with homemade wine before, but that’s mostly just because I’m not really much for wine. I’m a beer man, but it’s a pretty cool experiment to try and make your own wine. There are even a bunch of recipes out there for making wine with juice concentrate and bakers yeast, but I REALLY don’t recommend doing that. Unless you’re in prison. Then: knock yourself out.

For the rest of us, getting a good kit is essential for getting decent wine out of your experiment. There are even some very fancy sets out there that give you special wine pressing equipment and all of that. I’m not going to get into anything that crazy, but I can recommend a great beginners kit that I haven’t personally used but that a friend of mine has used with great success. It’s called the Strange Brew Wine Making Kit, and as a homebrewer, I can tell that this thing is well worth the money and time.

One thing that is great about this set is its simplicity. Some sets are full of confusing home brew components that can make the whole process seem way more complicated to a newbie than it has to be, and there’s really no good reason for that. Another thing that I love is that it has a glass carboy. The carboy is the thing that you’re doing the actual fermentation in before you do the initial bottling, and having a glass one is great because it allows you to actually see the fermentation going on. When it comes to wine fermentation, this is a great way to keep an eye on the fermentation process so you can see when it’s done. Aside from that, this kit has a very sturdy build and none of the parts that come with it are built out of that cheap, shaky plastic that makes you shake your head in shame at having spent money on them.

As the name might tell you, the Samsung Reclaim is a little more than just another phone. It’s a newer type of phone that is looking to put a hurt on the immensely wasteful consumer electronics industry, and hopefully, make people think a little bit about the problem of “throwaway” technology while they’re at it. After all, it’s getting a little crazy out there in the electronics world.

The average person goes through a phone every year. Some people go through as many as three phones a year, and they’re always buying the newest and most “up to date” phone whenever it comes out. On the other hand, some people keep the same phone for years at a time because a phone is just that to them - a phone. Throughout the consumer electronics industry, there is a trend toward just tossing out old tech for the new tech that is just a month or two away.

The Samsung Reclaim, however, is made out of recycled materials through and through. Its casing is “reclaimed” from old recycled plastic, and the components are partially recycled from older phones and electronics. One of the other really great aspects of this phone is that it is made without PVC or other harmful materials that can leach out into your skin when it sweats. These things have been linked to cancer and other illnesses, so the Reclaim has taken them out of the equation entirely. The Reclaim instead opts for using less harmful materials and reduces its imprint on the world by significantly reducing the number of materials it uses in total.

In a world of throwaway technology, it’s nice that there’s something out there for the rest of us. If you’re not a smartphone addict, and you just need a great phone that is loaded with features and easy to use, the Samsung Reclaim is made almost entirely with you in mind. It’s worth noting that Samsung has recently overtaken every major cell phone manufacturer in the United States and Canada in terms of sales, so they’re obviously pretty keen at giving people what they want.

I’m a huge fan of recycling glass for a number of reasons. Mostly, it’s because I’m a huge fan of going barefoot and nothing ruins your day more than some carelessly strewn glass interacting with your foot. However, it’s also because it’s one of the most widely used materials on Earth, and it often simply winds up being dumped into a junkyard once people are done with it. This is especially true with windshields, windows for buildings, and stuff like that.

This is why I love these recycled beer glasses so much. First, I love me some beer. Second, they are made out of 100% recycled glass. They even retain some of the hues that was imbued within the glass originally to keep out sun glare. Don’t worry, there are no harsh chemicals in the glass that could leech into your drink, but it does give them a really interesting look. Each one of these glasses is completely hand made, and no two of them look identical. Since I’ve never understood this obsession that some people have with all of their stuff looking the exact same, this is really great for me. It gives your kitchen some character when you have stuff in it that varies a little. Maybe that’s just me.

This is the time of year when you can make bad decisions or good decisions in epic proportions. At no other time of year do people spend so much money all at once. Due to this, it’s important that we all dedicate our purchases during this time of year to the most responsible items we can. It’s important to take advantage of the massive saturation provided by the temporary acceptance of “shopaholism” that happens during the Christmas season. Things like this are a great way to do that.

There are a lot of different products out there that are made out of entirely recycled materials. Since the best way to be environmentally conscious is to recycle, reduce, and reuse, these really are the top of the line in terms of eco-friendly gifts. There will be more of these types of gifts coming up in future posts.