Aube T1071/U Solar Programmable Timer Switch

This switch is not powered by the sun, of course. It works and is installed just like a normal switch. The key difference is that for each day of the week, you can choose sunset and sunrise programming or your own on and off time or one of each (e.g. sunrise and midnight). And the switch is compatible with just about any type of lighting, including electronic ballasts, compact fluorescent lights and tungsten lighting up to 12-Ampere. The switch can even be used with motors.

Here are more details on the Aube by Honewell T1071/U Solar Programmable Timer Switch:

Aube by Honeywell TI071/U Solar Time Table, Programmable Timer Switch, White List Price: $48.99

Features Sleek design mounts flush with standard decorative wall plate (not included) Three-operating modes: manual (conventional on and off switch), automatic, random Programming: up to 7-programs (7-on and off) per week. A program can apply to a single day or repeat every day Connection: single pole 3-wire (line, load, neutral 1800-Watt maximum; 3/4-Horespower at 120-Volt); For each day of the week, the user can choose sunset and sunrise programming or their own on and off time or one of each (e.g. sunrise and midnight) Dimensions (height by width by depth): 2.7-Inch by 1.7-Inch by 1.7-Inch

You can also find the T1071 on ebay:

Aube Universal Low Volt Thermostat Phone Controller    US $86.39

Aube by Honeywell TH141HC 28 B U Heat and Cooling 7 Day Programmable Thermostat    US $64.10

Aube by Honeywell TH140 28 01 B U Hydronic Heating 7 Day Programmable Thermostat    US $55.64

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LG LHB977 Blu-ray Disc Home Theater

Here are more details:

	LG LHB977 1000-Watt Blu-ray Disc Home Theater In a Box List Price: $599.99
	Features NetCast Entertainment Access Delivers access to Netflix Instant Streaming and Pandora Internet Radio Blu-ray Disc Playback Pure HD audio and video performance with Full HD 1080p and uncompressed audio technologies Tower Full Size Speakers deliver broader spectrum of audio sound Two HDMI Inputs Deliver convenience and all-digital quality for connecting to your high-def sources

Everyone can play a part in taking care of the earth. One of the easiest ways to do that is to recycle. You can start right from your own home or neighborhood. Recycling takes very little time yet it offers substantial benefits to the environment. According to the EPA, the national recycling rate is just 30%. Increasing materials recycling in the US to 60% could save the equivalent of 315 million barrels of oil per year. Recycling is a great way individuals can make a difference, both locally and globally.

Tips To Get You Started

The help get you started on the right path you should visit your local recycling center. This will allow you to find out what type of materials they accept for recycling. From there you can set your bins up accordingly. To find the recycling center near you call 1 800 CLEANUP. The key to being a successful at recycling is the storage bin set up. Once you have learned which items your local recycling center accepts you can set up your bins accordingly.

A good place to put your bins is the same place you put your garbage. Once your bins are in place, recycling is easy! It is a good idea to use plastic bags or totes to store your recycling material. This is suggested over paper bags that can leak or just not hold up if they get wet. Also, smaller containers are much easier to lift once they get full. To keep your recycling process organized you should label each recycling bin to ensure the materials are separated correctly.

When it comes to the bottles and tins you are recycling, you should clean them before throwing them in the recycling bin. This will prevent flies both at home and at the recycling station. Join the Freecycle™ movement. The idea is simple: you give away for free what you have and don’t need and you receive for free what you need, but don’t have. This ‘free cycle’ of goods keeps lots of useful stuff out of landfill sites and is about thinking globally and recycling locally. Finally, The value of recyclables is driven by market demand. As consumers, we must choose products with recycled content and packaged in recycled materials, so that the materials we recycle are put to use, and markets are sustained.

15 Recyclable Items At Home

• Newspapers: You should these in their own bin, as this material goes directly back into newsprint recycling. Recycling a four-foot stack of newspapers saves the equivalent of one 40-foot fir tree.
• Magazines, Flyers or 'inserts, Phone Books, Envelopes, Paper: These can be saved together in one bin. Staples in paper are acceptable, but remove rubber bands or plastic wrap. Do not include the following in your paper recycling: carbon paper, stickers, cardboard, laminated paper, laminated cardboard.
• Plastic-Lined Paper Drink Cartons: These are recyclable. Most recycling centers now accept these items but be sure to ask. Discard fast food wrappers made from plastic, dirty or food-stained paper tissues or napkins.
• Corrugated Cardboard: This is a highly valued recyclable material. Most curbside collectors ask you to bale the cardboard together and tie it with string. You should check to see if there are size and weight limits to how much you are allowed to bale together. The most important thing to remember is to keep it dry. Plastic or waxy coated, and wet or greasy cardboard, such as pizza boxes, cannot be recycled because it clogs sorting machines.
• Plastic Bottles: They are usually made of #1 PET plastic, a valuable recyclable material. Among many other items, this plastic can be "spun' into fleece fabric. Tops should be removed before recycling, and put in with your general plastic items. Polycarbonate baby bottles (#7 plastic) are not recyclable. Because it is difficult to clean PET plastic without releasing harmful chemicals, bottles made of PET should not be reused.

Plastic goods are assigned different numbers to grade them for recycling: #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) for containers, #4 (LDPE) for bags, #7 for mixed plastics such as polycarbonates that are not recyclable. Almost all recycling centers accept plastics #1 and 2.

• Plastic Grocery Bags: Most grocery bags are made of high density polyethylene, a Type 2 recyclable plastic. Most grocery stores have bins outside so customers can drop off used plastic bags for recycling.
• Polystyrene: (#6) (cups, food trays, egg cartons, etc) are not biodegradable. Ask if your recycling center accepts polystyrene for recycling; many now accept this material. Try to reduce your use of this material.
• Glass: This is recycled according to color clear, green and brown. Recycling centers prefer it when glass is separated this way. Collectively, these types of glass are referred to as "container" glass, and widely accepted for recycling. The paper labels can be left on the glass.
• Store Lightbulbs, Sheet Glass, Mirrors and Pyrex: Store these separately from bottles, since they have a different composition and melting points, and not all centers accept these materials.
• Food Cans: They should be rinsed and have lids and labels removed. It helps if they are flattened, although many new cans are difficult to flatten; they should still be recycled.
• Aluminum Cans: They are very valuable as recyclable items. Many recycling centers request they be not crushed flat. Check locally.
• Aluminum Foil and Foil Packaging: These are also important to recycle; they are reprocessed into aluminum mechanical components, such as engine parts.
• Computers, Printers and Hardware: The simplest solution to recycling your old computer is to ask a local school or put a notice on a community bulletin board offering your computer free for the taking. Many people without a computer will still find use with the word processor and basic programs.
• Paint cans, aerosol cans: These are recyclable, but are considered hazardous waste and need to be kept separate from other metals. It is important to leave labels on these cans, as recyclers need to know the former contents. Try to return the lids along with empty paint cans.
• Cell Phones and Rechargeable Batteries: Office Depot will collect, free of charge, all old cell phones and used rechargeable batteries for recycling, including Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion), and Small Sealed Lead (Pb) weighing less than 2 lbs/1 kg. These batteries are also commonly found in other portable office electronics products including cordless phones, laptop computers, PDAs, digital cameras, and portable printers.

You can also call 1-800-8-BATTERY to find out which stores in your area have free recycling programs for rechargeable batteries.

Links for Additional Information
National Cristina - in the US, working computers can be donated to this nonprofit organization, which provides computer technology to people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons.
eBay's Rethink Initiative - helps consumers and businesses learn about the different product disposition alternatives, such as recycling and refurbishing. Options are available for both working computers and obsolete or non-working computers.
Barclay T-Waste - recycling and disposal program will recycle unwanted phones and equipment at no charge. Usable parts will be recycled, unusable materials will be disposed of properly.
Collective Good - how to donate cell phones or other PDAs to the charity of your choice.
Cell For Cash - this company will pay you for the value of a reusable cell phone.

Perform an Energy Audit
One of the first steps you should take in "greening" your home theater is to perform an energy audit. By doing this you can locate the inefficiencies that are costing you money. These inefficiencies can come form electronic devices that use more energy than needed, inefficient lighting, and even drafty windows and outlets. Performing an audit will help you pinpoint the exact locations that are using excessive energy and from there you can make repairs or replace devices with ones that are better qualified for saving energy. There are many products available that will get you started with your audit and start saving you money. Some items that have been featured on ESG that can help you with your audit are: The Thermal Leak Detector, P4320 Kill-A-Watt Power Strip, and the Watts Up Internet Enabled Power Meter.

Use Energy Efficient Products
The typical home-theater setup includes a TV set with cable or satellite hookup, a DVD/CD player, a receiver, and two to eight speakers. It is reported that home electronic products such as the ones used in home theaters make up about 15% of a household's annual electricity bill and many of these products are using energy even when they are in the off position.

Energy Star products use up to 30% less energy than products that don't meet the government standards. Setting up your home theater system involves choosing between a vast array of components from different manufacturers. Purchasing an integrated system is sometimes the most green approach because each individual item in the package is designed to work together and save the most energy. Here are some quick links to Energy Star components:

• Energy Star TVs
• Energy Star DVDs
• Energy Star Integrated Home Theater Systems

One eco-friendly option is to consider buying refurbished components, this can save resources and money while not sacrificing performance. If you are upgrading your current system remember to recycle the old components. Consider several eco-friendly options for getting rid of your old equipment. If all the items are still operational, donate them to a church or school, post an on-line ad, or sell them at a garage sale. If the equipment is beyond repair, visit earth 911 to find the closest recycling drop-off centers nearest you.

Use Energy-Efficient Lighting
LED light bulbs have been around for years, but it has only been recently that their quality has been improved enough for them to be used as a primary light source. Like with many products we use, not all are created equal which is why it is recommended to choose LED lighting that meets the Energy Star requirements. You know when your buying an Energy Star product it has been tested and meets strict efficiency and performance criteria. Energy Star qualified LED lighting uses at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting which means you can expect to reduce your energy bill just by changing out your light bulbs. All Energy Star LED lighting comes with a minimum three year warranty which exceeds the industry standards. LED bulbs are not nearly as fragile and they won't break like a typical bulb.

Use A Programmable Thermostat
One sure way to lower your heating and cooling bill is to use a programmable thermostat. These thermostat is designed to help you save money and conserve energy all while reducing your impact on the environment. They are typically easy to use and allow you to program your settings five to seven days at a time. The average household spends $2,200 a year on energy bills and half of that goes towards heating and cooling. By properly setting a programmable thermostat you could save about $180 a year on your energy bill.

Don't Waste Energy
Even if you don't own Energy Star or your just not ready to upgrade, you can still take steps to control power usage around your home. The most obvious one is to turn off equipment and lights when you aren't using them. Many electronics aren't really off when they're in the off position and since unplugging all your electronics when they aren't in use is a bit impractical you should consider using a product like the Niles' APC-2 current-sensing switcher. As the name suggests, this product senses when you turn on the receiver and switches on the rest of the equipment or turns the equipment off when not in use.

When it comes to energy efficiency, not all printers are created equal. One printer that delivers both energy star efficiency and double-sided printing capabilities is the the Brother HL-5250DN Network Ready Laser Printer. The 5250 is a monochrome printer with several features normally found in more expensive options:

• Network-ready monochrome printer ideal for small workgroups
• Built-in duplex feature easily prints 2-sided documents
• Up to 30 ppm with a resolution of up to 1200 x 1200 dpi
• Built-in Ethernet network interface brings workgroup together
• Dimensions: 14.6 x 9.7 x 15.1 in. (WxHxD); weighs 21.6 pounds

The printer is also capable of watermark printing and poster printer. The printer's ability to create two-sided printouts reduces the demand for paper. The printer is very easy to connect into shared networks so several employees within the same office environment can use the same printer easy and effectively. This has the obvious benefit of reducing office costs dramatically since the need to purchase multiple printers is eliminated. Another popular cost shaving feature on this printer is the toner saving option. Since the printer is designed to save and preserve the toner, this will also cut back on costs and allow an office to operate with peak cost efficiency.

The Brother HL-5250DN has also received a excellent Energy Star rating which means the electricity usage it requires is minimal and efficient. On average, ENERGY STAR-qualified imaging equipment that meets the new imaging equipment specification is 25 percent more efficient than conventional models. This would save consumers more than $3 billion over the next five years and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 4 million vehicles. This year, approximately 225 million imaging equipment products will consume more than $8.5 billion in energy, accounting for 3 percent of U.S. electricity expenditures.

Overall, the Brother HL-5250DN is an excellent printer for home or office use. It delivers on all expectations and does not come with a high price tag either. As such, it can be one of the best printer purchasing options available.

The Brother HL-5250DN is also available on eBay:

BROTHER HL 5280DW LASER PRINTER FOR PARTS OR REPAIR FS    US $149.00

Brother HL 5250DN Workgroup Laser Printer Ac Adapter Cable Pg Ct 50861    US $31.99

Brother HL 5250DN Workgroup Laser Printer    US $15.00

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A perfect eco-friendly gift set to surround those who love nature with earth friendly items. The set includes handcrafted wooden boxes, a handmade writing journal, and a natural picture frame woven from natural palm. Each piece is a handmade original, harvested from the
sustainable Bali forests.

The dark chocolate wooden boxes come in a set of three, with each piece being an original. Theses boxes would be ideal piece of natural décor for any room of the house. The picture frame is made of natural palm vein that has been woven together to create a unique texture. The colors of the frame are neutral with a light earth tan and dark brown accents throughout. The frame holds one 4X6 photo that can be displayed vertically or horizontally. The handcrafted journal could be used as a scrapbook to keep special pictures, for special occasions, or for just daily use. The cover of the journal, as well as the paper, are both made of natural wood.

When purchasing this product, you will be supporting the local villages of the native craftsman. The set is available through Amazon for $72.

Natural Fitness is a company that carries a line of environmentally friendly fitness products, one of which is the Natural Fitness Natural Rubber Yoga Mat. This yoga mat is made from a biodegradable, natural rubber that will allow you to practice yoga while achieving a more environmental balance.

Unlike many yoga mats, this one is free of lead, cadmium, phthalates and PVC which makes it safe for our environment and for you. The mat offers outstanding traction and a high-rebound dense cushion for maximum comfort. The Natural Fitness Professional Yoga Mat is available in several earth colors such as: ocean/night, earth/red rock, moss/ lavender – all are reversible. The mat measures 24” x 69” x 3/16” thick which makes this mat longer than a traditional yoga mat. The mat retails for just about $50 and can be found on Amazon.

To go along with your yoga mat, you should consider an all natural hemp mat bag. This type of Yoga Bag offers a stylish way to toe your mat around while still being eco conscious. Also available are recycled bags that are made from plastic bottles. Here are a few mat bags to check out.

Sanuk June Bug Womens SZ 9 Gray Shoes    US $51.99

Manduka Cotton Yoga Strap Yoga Prop LIMESTONE 8 NEW    US $13.00

Manduka Cotton Yoga Strap Yoga Prop THUNDER 8    US $13.00

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Eco Golf Balls

This biodegradable golf ball is a great alternative because this type of ball has no negative effects on the environment. If this ball lands in the water it might put a damper on your golf score, but it won’t hurt the environment.

The ball is constructed out of a Water-Soluble polymer non-toxic material similar to those found in agrochemical packaging, laundry bags, and food packaging, which allows the ball to dissolve in the water. The microorganism that is contained in the material causes the solid to turn into carbon dioxide and water. The Eco Golf Ball is also 100% safe for marine life.

Golf Tee XT - 1

The XT-1 will allow you to play a part in creating a cleaner environment as well as reducing the need to cut down precious trees. The design of the XT-1 comes from the aeronautical industry, as a tee is a platform to launch a golf ball. The X shape with its upward funnels decrease the resistance on impact with the golf club and channel the air upwards under the ball assisting with lift to create a clean strike. These golf tees are completely 100% biodegradable and won’t chip mower blades either!

The Google PowerMeter underscores, at least for me, why a company like Google is head and shoulders above a company like Yahoo! It's called innovation. Google does it; Yahoo! doesn't. The idea behind Google PowerMeter is simple. With the use of smart meters, homeowners and business can monitor their electricity usage via the internet. Here's how the good folks at Google describe the project:

Google PowerMeter, now in prototype, will receive information from utility smart meters and energy management devices and provide anyone who signs up access to her home electricity consumption right on her iGoogle homepage. The graph below shows how someone could use this information to figure out how much energy is used by different household activities.

Some Google employees have been testing the system, and the results speak for themselves:

"After installing Google PowerMeter, we immediately switched out all our lights for CFLs and our usage dropped by about 13%. Now I continue to use the product to monitor our baseload and if it's unusually high, it probably means that I've left one of our silent computers on."--Karen, Google Program Manager

"By monitoring my energy use, I figured out that the bulk of my electricity was caused by my two 20-year-old fridges, my incandescent lights and my pool pump, which was set to run more than necessary. By replacing the refrigerators with new energy-efficient models, the lights with CFLs and setting the pool pump to only run at specified intervals, I've saved $3,000 in the past year and I am on track to save even more this year! "--Russ, Google Hardware Engineer

Russ needs to get off the grid. Anyway, check out this video of Google PowerMeter that explains it all:

Hat Tip: Resource Based Living

When you are looking for a way to store your music DVDs or CDs then the Sony 400 Disc Changer is a must. It is remote controlled and can give you hours of listening pleasure with just a click of a button.

If you have a large library of music this takes care of all those stacked CD cases and allows you to put everything in one unit. This also allows you to organize your CDs or DVDs in a way that makes sense.

This is one of the few units that allow you to store both movie DVDs and music CDs in one space. It is almost worth having several if you have a very large collection. This one will store up to 400 for you and it also includes other formats that will allow you to see photos as well as incorporate downloads you have saved.

Not only will you get high quality audio but you will also get high quality video. The video is high grade at 1080i/720p resolution and it includes Dolby Digital® and DTS 5.1 channel outputs. This changer is compatible with a variety of different interfaces including DVD-RW/-R/+RW/+R, JPEG, MP3, SVCD playback, VCD, and CD-RW/-R.

One important feature of the Sony 400 Disc Changer is that it is Energy Star rated so it saves energy when you use it. It is a very easy to use; although it seems a bit slow in the changing of discs.

A feature that will make everyone's job easier is that you can choose your CD or DVD by title, number or you can scroll through them. This is a handy feature because it allows you to get to the item you want quickly.

One drawback for this product may be the fact that it can only be shipped to an address in the United States and it must be shipped to the billing address. They are pretty strict on this requirement. This of course applies to those ordering online but it is something to note; you will also get a heavy item shipping charge added to your total.

There is a bit of a learning curve on this Sony 400 Disc Changer unit to make sure that you understand all of the features. Users say it is worth the extra effort to totally use this unit because it has a lot of information when you first get it.

Sony CDXM60UI Marine CD Receiver MP3/WMA/AAC Player with USB Wire for iPod and USB Devices (White/Silver) List Price: $199.95 Sale Price: Too low to display

Description 52W x4 High Power : Detachable Faceplate with Front Panel Aux In & AUX cap : Rear USB Wire for iPod and other USB devices (1.5 m cable included) : Quick-BrowZer with Jump Mode and Zappin : Passenger Control with Display Function : MP3/WMA/AAC playback1 with DM+ : UV resistant paint : Conformal circuit board coating : EQ3 Stage 2, DSO2 : SAT Radio ready / HD Radio ready : Front, Rear/Sub selectable pre amp output : Blue Key Illumination : Blue 13 segment LED display : Supplied wireless card remote (RM-X151) : Band - AM / FM : Dimensions (Approx.) - 7.0 x 2.0 x 7.1 in. (178 x 50 x 180mm) : Weight (Approx.) - 3.9 lbs. (1.4kg) Rock your boat with superior sound quality and a wealth of music options. The CDX-M60UI marine CD receiver features USB 1-wire, which allows you to connect, control and charge your iPhone, iPod, or Walkman MP3 player. You can also play your CDs loaded with MP3, WMA or AAC songs. Plus, searching for songs is a snap thanks Quick-BrowZer with Jump Mode and Zappin technology. Plus, a flip-down, detachable faceplate, coated circuit board and UV-resistant paint helps keep this radio protected from the elements. Rock your boat with superior sound quality and a wealth of music options. Click here for a larger image Rock the Boat. Play CDs and MP3/WMA FIles Play back all your favorite CDs, along with CD-R/RW discs. Better yet, why not burn a CD-R/RW full of MP3 and WMA files, for hours of music on a single disc? Dial it all in with Sony's EQ3 three-band equalization to get just the sound you're after. USB 1 Wire for iPod Now, one single head unit can access and control your iPod, Walkman player, and numerous other digital music players, plus USB thumb drives and memory devices. Plug in your iPod and get direct control over playback, or use the Passenger Control feature to let your passenger control things directly from the iPod. Zappin Plays music clips by scanning your music collection. Find your favorites quickly and easily by the simple touch of the Zappin control button. Quick-BrowZer Quick-BrowZer lets you quickly search for and select songs while driving. Add HD or SAT Radio with add-ons like the XT-100HD HD Receiver above. Further safeguard your receiver from sun, salt and water with a Sony waterproof cover. DRIVE-S Chassis Sony DRIVE-S technology provides the ultimate audio platform, upon which to build a system that caters to demanding ears. SAT Radio / HD Radio Adaptor Ready The CDX-M60UI integrates seamlessly with satellite radio Sony Bus adaptors, so you can receive digital satellite radio broadcasts. Ditto on HD Radio: you can receive digital audio broadcasts when you connect an optional HD Radio tuner. Room to grow. Three Preamp Outputs The Sony Marine CDX-M60UI delivers 52 watts x 4, but if you need more, it also includes three preamp outputs, so you can boost your boat's sound system with minimal effort and maximum flexibility. DM+ Advanced This Sony original codec enhancer brings your compressed music files back to life. UV Resistant Coating A UV Resistant front panel coating protects faceplate helps prevent discoloration from the sun, very important in marine applications. Conformal Circuit Board Coating The sun's not the only damaging element out there... A conformal coating on the circuit board helps protect the electronic assembly from damage due to contamination, salt spray, moisture, fungus, dust, and corrosion, all standard fare in the harsh marine environment. What's in the Box Sony CDX-M60UI Marine CD Receiver, RM-X151 Wireless Remote, Parts for Installation and Connections (1 Set), Documentation Features AM/FM Radio, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3/WMA, USB, iPod marine receiver 52 Watts x 4 peak power with three 2V RCA preamp outputs (rear, front, sub) Detachable faceplate with two-line white LCD display; selectable red/blue illumination Features MP3/WMA playback, direct iPod control, auxiliary input; ready for HD/SAT radio adapters UV Resistant front panel coating and conformal coated circuit board