The average American uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags per year. If everyone in the United States tied their annual consumption of plastic bags together in a giant chain, the chain would reach around the earth 760 times!
The rePETe Original Reusable Shopping Bag, now at depoteco.com
This bag is made from 7 plastic bottles 99% recycled content by weight rePETe Original
The rePETe Original Reusable Shopping Bag
ChicoBag rePETe Original Canyon Brown
Materials: Fabric 100% Recycled PET, Carabiner 97% Recycled Aluminium, Cord 100% Recycled PET, Cordlock 100% Recycled Polyurethane (Thread, Screen Print, Care Label Made from Virgin Material)
Dimensions:Bag 18 x 14.5- Pouch 3×4 (approximately)
Weight: 1.5 oz
Capacity: 25 lbs. (One gallon of milk is approximately 7 lbs.)
ChicoBag rePETe Original reusable shopping bag now at DepotEco.com!
The ChicoBag rePETe Original follows the Original reusable shopping bag design but is made from 99% recycled content by weight! Each rePETe has uniquely accented handles with the phrase, “This bag is made from 7 plastic bottles!” accompanied by a custom illustration. A list of the recycled materials used in manufacturing the rePETe is printed on the inside of each bag. All ChicoBags are reusable shopping bags designed to be unforgettable. They effortlessly fit in your pocket when they are stuffed into their integrated stuff pouch. Design encourages you to always have your ChicoBag on hand or pocket or purse.
What is PET?
Polyethylene terephthalate, abbreviated PET, is found in the polyester family and often used in the production of beverage containers like plastic bottles.
Learn the Facts
The average American uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags per year. If everyone in the United States tied their annual consumption of plastic bags together in a giant chain, the chain would reach around the earth 760 times! Learn more
Did You know…?
The average American uses between 300 and 700 plastic bags per year. If everyone in the United States tied their annual consumption of plastic bags together in a giant chain, the chain would reach around the Earth 760 times!
Windblown plastic bags are so prevalent in South Africa that a cottage industry has sprung up harvesting up to 30,000 plastic bags a month to weave into hats and handbags. – BBC
The world’s largest landfill can be found floating between Hawaii and San Francisco. Wind and sea currents carry marine debris from all over the world to what is now known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This “landfill” is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and thousands of pounds of our discarded trash, mostly plastics. Each year hundreds of thousands of sea birds and marine life die from digested plastics mistaken for food. –LA Times
Background on Bag Consumption
Single-use Plastic Bags:
First introduced in 1977, single-use bags, now account for 4 out of every 5 bags handed out at grocery stores.
According to the Wall Street Journal, 100 billion plastic shopping bags are consumed in the United States annually.
Cutting single-use bag waste in half would reduce our oil consumption by more than 2,000 barrels a day and keep out 73,000 tons of rubbish out of landfills.
EPA research has shown that only 1% of plastic bags get recycled while about 20% of paper bags are recycled.
Single-use Paper Bags:
Paper bags generate 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.
Paper in landfills doesn’t break down faster than plastic.
Solution:
Reusable bags! A sturdy, reusable shopping bag needs only be used 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using disposable plastic bags.
Sources:
Paper or Plastic?, Healthwell
Reusable Bags Tackle Plastic Bag Mess, Organic Trade Association
“Paper Cuts: Recovering the Paper Landscape”, Abromovitz & Mattoon, Worldwatch Institute, Washington DC, 1999
Keep the Sea Plastic Free—Bin It, Australian Government, Department of the Environment and HeritageSea Turtles Don’t Shop, Earth Resource Foundation
10 Things You Can Do to Create a Reusable Bag Habit in your Community
Wage a campaign in your town or city to end the use of single-use bags by encouraging legislators to implement a grocery bag fee. Contact advocacy@chicobag.com for more information.
Talk to local community and environmental groups about the bag issue and find out if they want to get involved.
Create a petition asking for your city to take on the single-use bag problem. Circulate it at schools, universities, the library, grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and anywhere else where you can connect with your neighbors.
Encourage local retailers to start a smart bagging policy with these tips:
- Offer a bag refund to customers who bring their own bags.
- Place signs reminding people to bring their own bags
- Create a reusable bag drop-off for others to use.
- Create an in-store bag recycling program.
- Sell reusable bags in their store.
Bring an extra reusable bag to the grocery story the next time you shop and give it away to a stranger who doesn’t have them. Ask them to “Pay it Forward” and give a bag away the next time they shop.
Write a letter to the newspaper explaining the environmental problems with paper and plastic bags. Use our resources to help you come up with talking points.
Start a ChicoBag fundraiser to raise money for an environmental or litter prevention group. Contact fundraisers@chicobag.com for more information!
Stage a Bag Monster sighting in your community. Contact bagmonster@chicobag.com to set it up!
Give your friends and family reusable bags as gifts for birthdays, graduation, housewarming parties, and special holidays.
Set a good example by just saying no to single-use bags when you’re at the store. Others in line will follow suit!
Keeping your lawn free of pet waste and looking its best can be a challenge for pet owners. Let’s face it, dog waste cleanup is not a task we look forward to. And the 4″ diameter brown polka dots in our yard from urine burns? Not very attractive.
Thankfully, there are a number of pet waste pickup and urine burn prevention products that help make cleanup easier, faster and more effective, and there are solutions for preventing urine burns. We’ll review a few of our favorites here.
Doggy Dooley In-Ground Digester systems are a convenient and environmentally safe way to dispose of your pet’s solid waste. You simply bury the unit in your yard so that the lid is flush with your grass, step on the trigger which makes the Doggy Dooley lid pop-up, and drop your pet’s waste inside. The stool digester solution that you add to the unit breaks down the waste into a harmless liquid that is absorbed into the earth beneath the unit. The Doggy Dooley dog waste system is convenient, it doesn’t make your garbage can smell, and it’s environmentally friendly.
Scooper Pans with Rake or Spade Potty Pick-up
Getting the dog waste to the In-Ground Digester system (or wherever you put it) is the part we don’t like. Fortunately there are tools to help make this job less unpleasant. Probably the most common products for pet waste cleanup are what are commonly called “pooper scoopers,” like The Grabber or a shovel and rake set. We would also hope that everyone practices responsible dog ownership courtesy and picks up after their dog when on walks, in parks, or if your dog wanders next door. Portable and disposable pick-up bags such as Dispoz-A-Scoop or Bottoms Up Waste Disposal Bags & Dispenser should be a product every pet owner has on hand.
Keeping Lawns Green
The nitrogen in your dog’s urine is what causes grass to die and leave brown and yellow marks in your otherwise beautiful lawn. The best way to prevent urine burns is to hose down the grass immediately after your dog eliminates, thus diluting the nitrogen and preventing it from burning your grass.
Lawn Guard® Treats There are products, such as Green Um you simply add to your pet’s food and it helps promote a healthy urinary tract. Our favorite, though, is the Lawn Guard® Treats because of their convenience and overall effectiveness. Because these products contain ingredients that work differently from dog to dog, we recommend starting with the Lawn Guard Treats and if you don’t see a noticeable improvement within a few weeks, try one of the other solutions.
Keeping your lawn free of pet waste is important for the health of your pet since very serious diseases, like parvovirus, can be transmitted through feces. We recommend immediate cleanup of stools, not only for the health of your pet, but also so you can enjoy your yard without worrying about your next step.
Did you know that as a homeowner you’re responsible for maintaining your septic system?
Did you know thatmaintaining your septic system protects your investment in your home?
Did you know that you should periodically inspect your system and pump out your septic tank?
If properly designed, constructed and maintained, your septic system can provide long-term, effective treatment of household wastewater. If your septic system isn’t maintained,
you might need to replace it, costing you thousands of dollars. A malfunctioning system can contaminate groundwater that might be a source of drinking water. And if you sell your
home, your septic system must be in good working order.
This guide will help you care for your septic system. It will help you understand how your system works and what steps you can take as a homeowner
to ensure your system will work properly.
Components
A typical septic system has four main components: a pipe from the home, a septic tank, a drainfield, and the soil. Microbes in the soil digest or remove most contaminants from wastewater before it eventually
reaches groundwater.
Your Septic System is your responsibility!
Howdoes it work?
1. Regularly inspect your system and pump your tank as necessary.
2. Use water efficiently.
3. Don’t dispose of household hazardous wastes in sinks or toilets.
4. Care for your drainfield.
Top Four Things You Can Do to Protect Your Septic System
Typical septic system
Septic tank
The septic tank is a buried, watertight container typically made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. It holds the
wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle out (forming sludge) and oil and grease to float to the surface (as scum). It also allows partial decomposition of the solid materials. Compartments and a T-shaped outlet in the
septic tank prevent the sludge and scum from leaving the tank and traveling into the drainfield area. Screens are also recommended to keep solids from entering the drainfield.
Newer tanks generally have risers with lids at the ground surface to allow easy location, inspection, and pumping of the tank.
Septic system aliases:
• On-lot system
• Onsite system
• Individual sewage disposal system
• Onsite sewage disposal system
• Onsite wastewater treatment system
Tip To prevent buildup, sludge and floating scum need to be removed through periodic pumping of the septic tank. Regular inspections and pumping are the best and cheapest way to keep your septic
system in good working order. Typical single-compartment septic tank with ground-level inspection risers and screen
All of your household wastewater exits your home through a pipe to the septic tank.
Drainfield
The wastewater exits the septic tank and is discharged into the drainfield for further treatment by the soil. The partially treated waste water is pushed
along into the drainfield for further treatment every time new wastewater enters the tank. If the drainfield is overloaded with too much liquid, it will flood, causing
sewage to flow to the ground surface or create backups in plumbing fixtures and prevent treatment of all wastewater.
A reserve drainfield, required by many states, is an area on your property suitable for a new drainfield system if your current drainfield fails. Treat
this area with the same care as your septic system.
Soil
Septic tank wastewater flows to the drainfield, where it percolates into the soil, which provides final treatment by removing harmful bacteria, viruses,
and nutrients. Suitable soil is necessary for successful wastewater treatment.
Alternative systems
Because many areas don’t have soils suitable for typical septic systems, you might have or need an alternative system. You might also have or need an
alternative system if there are too many typical septic systems in one area or the systems are too close to groundwater or surface waters.
Finding Your System
Your septic tank, drainfield, and reserve drainfield should be clearly designated on the
“as-built” drawing for your home. (An “as-built” drawing is a line drawing that accurately portrays the buildings on your property and is usually filed in your local
land records.) You might also see lids or manhole covers for your septic tank. Older tanks are often hard to find because there
are no visible parts. An inspector/pumper can help you locate your septic system if your septic tank has no risers.
Systems systems use new technology to improve treatment processes and might need special care and maintenance. Some alternative systems use sand, peat,
or plastic media instead of soil to promote wastewater treatment. Other systems might use wetlands, lagoons, aerators, or disinfection devices.
Float switches, pumps, and other electrical or mechanical components are often used in alternative systems. Alternative systems should be inspected
annually. Check with your local health department or installer for more information on operation and maintenance needs if you have or need an
alternative system.
When septic systems are properly designed, constructed, and maintained, they effectively reduce or eliminate most human health or environmental
threats posed by pollutants in household wastewater. However, they require regular maintenance or they can fail. Septic systems need to be monitored to
ensure that they work properly throughout their service lives.
Saving money
A key reason to maintain your septic system is to save money! Failing septic systems are expensive to repair or replace, and poor maintenance is often
the culprit. Having your septic system inspected regularly is a bargain when you consider the cost of replacing the entire system. Your system will need
pumping depending on how many people live in the house and the size of the system. An unusable septic system or one in disrepair will lower your
property value and could pose a legal liability.
Protecting health and the environment
Other good reasons for safe treatment of sewage include preventing the spread of infection and disease and protecting water resources. Typical
pollutants in household wastewater are nitrogen, phosphorus, and disease – causing bacteria and viruses. If a septic system is working properly, it will
effectively remove most of these pollutants.
With one-fourth of U.S. homes using septic systems, more than 4 billion gallons of wastewater per day is dispersed below the ground’s surface.
Inadequately treated sewage from septic systems can be a cause of groundwater contamination. It poses a significant threat to drinking water and
human health because it can contaminate drinking water wells and cause diseases and infections in people and animals. Improperly treated sewage
that contaminates nearby surface waters also increases the chance of swimmers contracting a variety of infectious diseases. These range from eye
and ear infections to acute gastrointestinal illness and diseases like hepatitis.
Inspect and pump frequently
You should have a typical septic system inspected at least every 3 years by a professional and your tank pumped
as recommended by the inspector (generally every 3 to 5 years). Alternative systems with electrical float switches,
pumps, or mechanical components need to be inspected more often, generally once a year. Your service provider
should inspect for leaks and look at the scum and sludge layers in your septic tank. If the bottom of the scum layer is
within 6 inches of the bottom of the outlet tee or the top of the sludge layer is within 12 inches of the outlet tee, your
tank needs to be pumped. Remember to note the sludge and scum levels determined by your service provider in
your operation and maintenance records.
This information will help you decide how often pumping is necessary.
How do I maintain my septic system?
What Does an
Inspection Include?
• Locating the system.
• Uncovering access holes.
• Flushing the toilets.
• Checking for signs of back up.
• Measuring scum and sludge layers.
• Identifying any leaks.
• Inspecting mechanical components.
• Pumping the tank if necessary.
Four major factors influence the frequency of pumping: the number of people in your household, the amount of wastewater generated (based on
the number of people in the household and the amount of water used), the volume of solids in the wastewater (for example, using a garbage disposal
increases the amount of solids), and septic tank size.
Some makers of septic tank additives claim that their products break down the sludge in septic tanks so the tanks never need to be pumped. Not
everyone agrees on the effectiveness of additives. In fact, septic tanks already contain the microbes they need for effective treatment. Periodic
pumping is a much better way to ensure that septic systems work properlyand provide many years of service. Regardless, every septic tank requires
periodic pumping.
In the service report, the pumper should note any repairs completed and whether the tank is in good condition. If the pumper recommends additional
repairs he or she can’t perform, hire someone to make the repairs as soon as possible.
Use water efficiently
Average indoor water use in the typical single-family home is almost 70 gallons per person per day. Leaky toilets can waste as much as 200
gallons each day. The more water a household conserves, the less water enters the septic system. Efficient water use can improve the operation of
the septic system and reduce the risk of failure.
High-efficiency toilets
Toilet use accounts for 25 to 30 percent of household water use. Do you know how many gallons of water your toilet uses to empty the bowl? Most
older homes have toilets with 3.5- to 5-gallon reservoirs, while newer high-efficiency toilets use 1.6 gallons of water or less per flush. If you have
problems with your septic system being flooded with household water, consider reducing the volume of water in the toilet tank if you don’t have a
high-efficiency model or replacing your existing toilets with high-efficiency models.
Faucet aerators and highefficiency showerheads
Faucet aerators help reduce water use and the volume of water entering your septic system. High-efficiency showerheads
or shower flow restrictors also reduce water use.
Check to make sure your toilet’s reservoir isn’t leaking into the bowl.
Add five drops of liquid food coloring to the reservoir before bed. If the dye
is in the bowl the next morning, thereservoir is leaking and repairs are
needed.
A small drip from a faucet adds many gallons of unnecessary water to your system every day. To see how much a
leak adds to your water usage, place a cup under the drip for 10 minutes.
Multiply the amount of water in the cup by 144 (the number of minutes in 24 hours, divided by 10). This is the
total amount of clean water traveling to your septic system each day from that
little leak.
Use Water Efficiently!
• Install high-efficiency showerheads
• Fill the bathtub with only as much water as you need
• Turn off faucets while shaving or brushing your teeth
• Run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when they’re full
• Use toilets to flush sanitary waste only (not kitty litter, diapers, or other trash)
• Make sure all faucets are completely turned off when not in use
• Maintain your plumbing to eliminate leaks
• Install aerators in the faucets in your kitchen and bathroom
• Replace old dishwashers, toilets, and clothes washers with new, highefficiency models.
This Very Popular LED Work Light is flying off our shelvs.
We really like it because it rechargeable and the LEDs allow the unit to stay bright for a long time.
Details blow.
Product Details
LED Rechargeable Work Light
Flip-out kickstand for flexibility
Built-in Rechargeable Ni-MH Battery Pack Included
Swivel Hook
High-Impact, shatter resistant housing
Model: VEC164 – Brand: Vector
Detail Images
The extremely well-designed Vector VEC164 26 LED Foldable/Rechargeable Work Light & Flashlight is ideal for roadside emergencies, power failures, camping and much more! The Vector VEC164 features 180 degree of rotation for optimal light positioning with long lasting ultra-bright LED bulbs that never need replacing! With the Vector VEC164 you can get up to 7 hours of continuous use on low mode and up to 4 hours on high mode! Its water-resistant, shatterproof housing is great for outdoor use. 120 volt AC and 12 volt DC power/charging cords are also included.
WE love great new products like these. BPA Free, Spill Proof Hot/Cold Mugs. Kids Mugs to for Smaller hands.
Check them out .
Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Travel Mugs
BPA free. (2 Pack 1 Blue and 1Stainless) – Two Stainless Steel Auto Seal Mugs. Impossible to spill, and 100% leak-proof. Those are pretty bold claims, but they are what AUTOSEAL® is all about. Need a leak-proof travel mug to use in the car? Need a spill-proof coffee mug to use at your desk? Need a travel mug that will keep your coffee hot for hours? How about all of the above? AUTOSEAL® has you covered. The Stainless Steel AUTOSEAL® Mug has a double wall and is vacuum-insulated, ensuring that your hot coffee or other beverages stay that way for hours.
2 Pack Contigo Mugs
Patented AUTOSEAL® lid is 100% leak-proof and 100% spill-proof.
Drinking made easy! Press to sip. Release to seal. AUTOSEAL® automatically seals between sips to ensure no spills.
Vacuum-insulated technology keeps beverages hot for 4 hours, and cold for 12 hours.
Contoured body makes this mug easy to hold and easy on the eyes.
Will hold up to 16 oz. of your favorite beverage and fits most standard car cupholders.
You’ve got some money saved and going solar crossed your mind. But you’d rather have new floors or walls, or invest in the little addition you always wanted. Why not do both?
Solar energy is making strides in many a home, but most homeowners still think it’s beyond them. Up-front costs in the tens of thousands loom large, and not every state’s got an encouraging rebate program to speak of. Then there’s the technology. Take the confusing reports of building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), for instance. BIPV products are made from thin film solar cells, reportedly growing in efficiency, but still far behind the productivity of traditional silicon panels. Are they worth the investment? Issues such as this create a mental block that prevents a lot of homeowners from getting started.
However, solar energy isn’t just a scientific novelty for big laboratories and power plants. And when it comes to residential applications, it does not begin and end with expensive PV panels. Several options are readily available for harvesting sunlight toward a more energy-efficient home, and, moreover, for a practical price. For many of us, the real challenge lies in getting the information, making some room alongside time-tested, traditional values, and finally, getting over the disbelief. Let these very real possibilities help you:
1.) Upgrade your water-heating system using solar thermal power.
Solar thermal is finally gaining ground, making a name for itself alongside its more publicized “cousin” – photovoltaics. Solar electricity, however, entails a more expensive, less efficient use of renewable energy. You can use 70% of the sun’s energy with a solar thermal collector, compared to a 12% conversion rate with PV panels. You do the math.
If you want to let the sun help you warm your water, you don’t even need to buy a new tank. Solar thermal systems can be retrofitted into existing water heating systems. Using this method, you would only spend $3,000 to $6,000.
2.) Start with a small PV system and work your way up.
Back to photovoltaics for a moment. After all, the point isn’t to dismiss them altogether. The neat thing about these systems is you can choose the amount of energy you want to produce and the size of the system you want to start with. Paul Smith of Sunstream USA advises the following for homeowners on a budget:
“In most cases, a customer can attain a rebate that will cover approximately 40% of the cost of an array. When that sum is added to the state and federal tax credits, nearly 50% of the cost of an array can be covered. In most cases, residential customers can purchase up to a 10 Kilowatt system and receive a rebate. There is no reason why a customer couldn’t buy a smaller array (Perhaps a 4 Kilowatt system) and then enlarge it at a later date. The customer would still be eligible for the remaining 6 Kilowatts of rebate money whenever they might decide to add to their existing array.”
When it comes to recouping your money, keep savings in electricity costs in mind, as well as an increase in property value.
3.) Combine an existing remodeling project with passive solar methods.
You’ve got some money saved and going solar crossed your mind. But you’d rather have new floors or walls, or invest in the little addition you always wanted. Why not do both?
Passive solar homes have come to be known as “smarter” homes. Long before the solar panel was invented, our ancestors built their abodes in conjunction with the position of the sun. If you build your walls or floors with materials high in thermal mass, the house itself works for you, effectually absorbing, storing, and even distributing heat from the sun into your living spaces. All without mechanical devices or operational costs.
Concrete, brick, and water all have high thermal mass. Before we get too caught up in design, let’s get back to that addition. Why not make it a sunspace? If you’re strategic with placement, window installation, and the set up of your walls, your new addition can help collect heat when you need it, distributing it to the rest of your home and lowering your energy bills in the process.
4.) Forget CFLs, think LEDs.
Do you have any idea how long these little gizmos last? We’re not talking 25 hours – more like 25 years. LEDs are perfect for the garden. They bask in the sun all day long, transferring energy into a battery, which then powers the lighting device at night. They don’t even need to be plugged in. And they’re made for the indoors, too. The cost? A Cypress Solar Powered Metal Garden Accent, 2 Light Kit by Brinkmann is $69.95. Solar security lights by Silicon Solar range in price from $39.95 to $229.95.
5.) Take the burden off your AC.
For as low as $400, you can purchase a solar powered fan for your attic. As you know, heat rises, and poorly ventilated attic spaces are culprits to your air conditioning system and your electricity bill. Like other solar-powered solutions, solar attic fan draws power from the sun. Requiring no additional power, it’s absolutely free to run and keeps the air flowing freely through your home.
Thinking carefully about the way you use residential power, you’ll find that solar solutions fit in where you may never have expected them to. Remember, solar power solutions require, light, not heat, to run. So even if it gets downright cold where you live, most regions in the U.S. receive enough sunlight to make solar power viable. Even the small steps, taken collectively, will reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil and protect our global resources from further damage caused by processing nonrenewable resources.
Emergency Lithium – Ion power for all your USB powered devices
2 USB Powerd Outports
High Capacity Lithium-Ion eneloop battery
Includes AC Adapter
Light Weight & Compact
Once charged, the Blue light will stop blinking. Push and hold the DC out button to activate the USB ports. The Blue light will stay on steady for one second to signify the USB ports are on!
Product Description
New eneloop Mobile USB Booster allows you to charge your USB powered devices. Instant back-up power for all your mobile needs. Recharge your mobile booster with any powered USB port or any AC wall outlet. World wide voltage ready!
The Mobile USB booster comes equipped with two USB outports, allowing you to power two USB devices at the same time! Using Lithium ION technology which is more powerful than most device batteries you can leave the wires at home with the eneloop Mobile USB Booster, take the booster with you anywhere and anytime. Lightweight hand held size makes it convenient for travel and it complies with travel regulations. Never be caught without a charge.
The Mobile USB Booster, with a modern design for mobile terminal devices such as MP3 players or portable game consoles, expands the eneloop product range. Once charged via the USB port of a computer or via any AC power outlet, the Lithium-Ion batteries of the eneloop Mobile USB Booster solves power shortages of mobile/hand held devices. When traveling or outdoors, the white eneloop Mobile USB Boosters are the ideal emergency companions when the batteries of the hand held / mobile devices are drained and no power outlet is available for charging.
The eneloop Mobile USB Booster charger supplies an MP3 player or a mobile telephone with power for up to 70 minutes via the 2 USB ports Lithium-ion batteries and, as a result, offer an even higher capacity. The KBC-L2S is particularly powerful due to its two lithium-ion batteries and has two USB output connectors so that two mobile devices can be simultaneously rendered operational again for approximately two hours. Another feature is the AC connector with which this versatile Mobile Booster can also be recharged via the power outlet while enabling the charging time to be reduced from 14 to seven hours. eneloop Mobile USB Booster has a voltage of five volts (5vDC) at 500 mA.
Once charged, the Blue light will stop blinking. Push and hold the DC out button to activate the USB ports. The Blue light will stay on steady for one second to signify the USB ports are on!
DepotEco.com has just received the new GE StayBright line of LED Holiday Lights.
We will highlight them here.
Of course the largest benefit here is the tremendous power savings. G.E. claims an 80% savings compared to a traditional set of Holiday / Christmas lights. Another added benefit to these LED Holiday lights is the fact that they do not get warm. Because they are LED’s the lamps stay cool to the touch and thus don’t dry out your tree’s and are much safer indoors and out.
StayBright Indoor / Outdoor 100 LED Miniature Holiday Lights Clear
LED Holiday Lighting
LED energy saving Holiday / Christmas Lights for Trees, House and Yard
Low Heat, Long Life , Low Energy Use
Great Green Gift – 20,000 hour avrage LED life
Constant On – Continues to work even if one LED is loose or burned out.
Product Features * LED Holiday Lighting. 100 Mini Clear LED Lights Indoor/Outdoor Energy Saving. 20,000 hour average LED life Indoor/Outdoor Clear Mini LED String Lights. Perfect for your Holiday Trees, House, Yard and more. Use 80% less electricity. Cost less than a dollar per season to operate. Cool operation safe for Live and artificial trees. 33 ft long (10.0m) lighted length Great Green Gift Idea for the holidays from DepotEco.Com
LED Holiday Lighting
100 C-5 Color LED Lights Indoor/Outdoor
Energy Saving
20,000 hour avrage LED life
Constant On – Continues to work even if one LED is loose or burned out.
Indoor/Outdoor Color C-5 LED String Lights. Perfect for your Holiday Trees, House, Yard and more. Use 80 % less electricity. Cost less than a dollar per season to operate. Cool operation safe for Live and artificial trees.
33 ft long (10.0m) lighted length Great Green Gift Idea for the holidays from DepotEco.com
With SolarLease, you pay as you go, instead of all at once. Monthly lease payments are typically lower than what you currently pay for electricity.
————————————————
About SolarLease
At SolarCity we believe clean solar energy should be affordable. That’s why we created SolarLease, a way for homeowners to economically capture clean energy from the sun.
Low Initial Payment
You can afford to go solar now without the high upfront cost.
Save on Your Monthly Energy Bills
With a SolarLease, you pay as you go, instead of all at once. Monthly lease payments are usually lower than what you are currently paying the utility company. So you can save money every month!
Not only that, but this savings can grow over time as utility rates continue to increase. That’s because utility rates have historically increased over 5% every year. With a SolarLease, you can lock in lower electricity rates for the term of your lease.
SolarLease Example for Typical 3-Bedroom Home
For a home with a monthly electricity bill of $250 we would recommend installing a 4.0 kW size system.
This system will generate enough electricity to offset what you are currently paying to the utility company from $250 down to $100 per month. Your monthly SolarLease payment would be $125, so you could actually save $25 per month from day one.
Smart Financial Investment
A SolarLease is a better investment than a cash purchase because you do not have a big upfront payment and you can save your money for other opportunities. You o save money every month on electricity bills so you can be cash flow positive from day one, In addition, you do not have to worry about unexpected repair costs because that are covered under a SolarLease.
Free Repair Service
If your solar system is in need of repair, we will send a SolarCity crew to fix it for free over the life of the lease. This includes replacing worn out parts such as the inverter. The good news is that solar panels typically last up 30 years or longer, and have few, if any moving parts. So once they are installed, they require little ongoing maintenance.
SolarGuard System Monitoring Ensures Optimal Performance
With SolarLease, your system will be continuously monitored using our state-of-the-art SolarGuard monitoring system. In the unlikely event your system’s performance starts to dip, we will know it right away. We will give you a call to schedule a technician to come to your home for a free repair for the life of your SolarLease!
With SolarGuard, you can also access your personal web page to watch your system’s performance over time and how it is affected by season and weather. We’ll show you the cumulative environmental and financial benefits of using solar energy.
We Guarantee the System Performance or Will Pay You Back
We’re so confident with our system installation and design that we guarantee your system will perform as promised or SolarCity will pay you the difference!
Flexibility to Buy or Upgrade the System Later
When your SolarLease ends, the power is still in your hands. You can upgrade to a new system with the latest solar technology. You can also extend your lease, buy the system, or simply have the panels removed for free.
If you sell your home before the end of the lease, you can transfer the lease to the new owners if they qualify with excellent credit—or you can buy out the system ahead of time and add it to your asking price. A solar energy system is a financially-attractive and differentiating feature for home buyers—and may help your home stand out against others. If you should ever decide to place your home on the market, the solar system can be a distinct asset.
SAN JOSE, Calif.–The West Coast Green 2008 building show
SAN JOSE, Calif.–The West Coast Green 2008 building show kicked off on Thursday, for the first time in this city with one of the nation’s most ambitious “greening” plans.
During our sneak peek at some of the 400 exhibits, products that caught our attention included a device that seemed to make water out of thin air, a solar-powered table, home energy automation systems, and better concrete blocks. Check out the video below for more.
Element Four
Element Four claims to extract water from the air. Its Watermill appliance is supposed to supply enough water daily to quench the needs of a six-person family. It costs around 35 cents to produce more than 3 gallons of drinking water each day, according to the British Columbia-based company. The Watermill is set to become available next February for around $1,300.
CEO Rick Howard said he’d like to create different versions of the 300-watt Watermill, perhaps powered by the sun or wind. He sees the technology as ideal for household use during emergencies, as well as for people in the developing world. It could even customize flavored water, Howard added.
As air enters the Watermill, humidity condenses on a patented coil, and passes into a reservoir. Water passes through a carbon filter and past a germ-killing UV light. The product could be hooked up to a kitchen faucet.
Most drinking water technologies, by contrast, take dirty or salty water, or even sludge, then purify it.
Intelligent Forms
This Vancouver design firm’s $14,000 solar panel-topped table could become a fixture on the decks of cruise ships and on poolside patios of the well-heeled and eco-chic. The weather-sealed, stainless-steel shell encases a 110-volt outlet and USB ports meant for a laptop and various gadgets. Beneath the SOlo lounge table’s top are an inverter and 18 batteries of 12 volts each.
“Everything we did we tried to stick with local suppliers and as much recycled content as we could,” said co-founder and designer Keith Doyle.
Adura Technologies
Adura Technologies of San Francisco specializes in wireless lighting controls for commercial buildings, which make up nearly 20 percent of U.S. energy consumption and carbon emissions. The system can be installed within light fixtures, without running wires or tearing up walls, and controlled remotely with an iPod or other handheld device. The company, a 2005 winner of the California Clean Tech Open competition, is closing a $5 million Series A round of financing.
Agilewaves
Agilewaves of Menlo Park, Calif., makes energy monitoring systems to help homeowners see and control their use of gas, water, and electricity. At West Coast Green, Agilewaves demonstrated its product within a showcase home made from five shipping containers.
The company integrated its product this summer with home control systems from Crestron.
“We can now truly make a smart home,” said David Brock, chief technology officer. “You may set up your carbon budget, and this system will tell the home control system that it needs to reduce the carbon footprint. Maybe that means reducing your lights by 20 percent by turning off nonessential appliances.”
Integrity Block
Integrity Block of Los Altos, Calif., aims to build more sustainable buildings from the bottom up by reinventing the lowly concrete block. Cement manufacturing increasingly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, and cement can’t be recycled easily. Integrity Block, by contrast, says it uses an engineered soil composite, including recycled materials, resulting in 40 percent fewer carbon emissions.
“We have a block that’s inherently sustainable,” said company co-founder Randy Schmitz.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is on the advisory board of Integrity Block, which raised $2.7 million in capital in June.
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SolarLease Example for Typical 3-Bedroom Home
