Wood By Wood

Or, When Fresh Isn't Best

Believe it or not, RecycleBill has been to Clock Tower Place in Maynard, MA. It was back in my trucking days and while I never met Maggie Wood of Wood By Wood I like the idea that she makes new things from reclaimed hardwoods.

Maggie makes simple things like wooden coat racks. But sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference. Sure, it would be more cost efficient, faster and easier for Maggie to use fresh new wood for her projects but it just wouldn't be the same. It wouldn't be as green or as good as only old wood can be.

While you can go most anywhere and buy imported coat racks made from new wood, is there really any need?

Tis' Indeed Works Of Green Art

Or, Will RecycleBill Ever Shut Up?

Check out this fully functional work of art-- the work of motorized bicycle builder and vice president of EZ Motorcycles, Mike Simpson. A fully rideable, street legal replica of an old Indian board track racer.



You can learn more about Mike and his EZ Motorcycles at EZMSacramento.

Then there's Miles Giese, the EZ Motorbike dealer in Oceano, California. Miles was involved in the building of the first modern mountain bikes along with Robert Reissinger of Reissinger Engineering, aka, Mountain Cycle. Here's Miles and his EZM motorbike in Yosemite.



It's guys like Miles, Mike, Jay Cruise and Bill Boulton who, along with the many other EZM dealers who are still working to build blogs and websites who are going to guarantee the success of these new, green, American made motorized bicycles.

If only the rain would stop here in the Carolinas...

This post was made possible by EZ Motorbikes of Greensboro.

Federal Tax Credits for Tankless Water Heaters

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, making great changes to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Under the new Stimulus bill:

* Tax credits previously expiring in 2009 will now be effective until December 31, 2009.
* Tax credits have been increased from 10% to 30%.
* Instead of limiting the tax credits to a specific dollar amount (ex: $300 for tankless water heaters), tax credits are up to 30% of the cost.
* The maximum credit has been raised from $500 to $1500; however some improvements such as geothermal heat pumps, solar water heaters, and solar panels are not subject to the $1500 maximum.

Tax credits are available to consumers for 30% of the cost, up to $1500, in 2009 & 2010 (for existing homes only) for:

* Gas Tankless Water Heaters (non-solar, non-electric) placed into service before December 31st, 2010
* Water Heaters
* Windows and Doors
* Insulation
* Roofs (Metal & Asphalt)
* HVAC
* Biomass Stoves

Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes & new construction) for:

* Solar Water Heaters
* Solar Panels
* Geothermal Heat Pumps
* Small Wind Energy Systems
* Fuel Cells

How to get your tax credit:

* Choose a qualifying tankless water heater (see list above) that suits your needs.
* Manufacturer’s Certification Statement* is required.
* Save your receipts and Manufacturer’s Certification Statement for tax purposes.
* Use IRS Form 5695.
* Improvements must be “placed into service” (this generally refers to the installation, not the purchase) within the specified dates.

See the DSIRE database of state incentives, or contact your state energy office or local utility service providers for more information about tax credits and rebates in your area.

How Tankless Water Heaters Work

A tankless water heater is the perfect solution for those who want hot water and to save money. Tankless water heaters, which are also called instantaneous or demand water heaters, are becoming extremely popular these days because of their efficiency. Cold water travels through a pipe into the water heater and is then heated by an electric or a gas-fired element. As a result, hot water is instantaneous, and you don't need to waste your time waiting for the water to warm up. These electric water heaters can also simultaneously produce and supply endless streams of hot water to multiple outlets without the hassle of temperature fluctuation. These units are so popular that even the U.S. Department of Energy recommends them.

Federal Tax Credits for Tankless Water Heaters is brought to you by http://www.heater-home.com

Copper Theft, Again On The Rise

Or, Take A Bite Out Of Crime?

Copper theft is again on the rise in North Carolina and throughout the world as the world markets for copper have again exceeded $3.oo per pound.

In North Carolina and other states, scrap metal buyers are requiring fingerprints and valid state or Federal IDs from persons selling copper. In North Carolina, all scrap metal purchases in excess of $100.oo now require payment via company checks making it easier for police to follow the paper trail.

The scrap metal industry is also pooling through the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and the Canadian Association of Recycling Industries with a tool call ScrapTheftAlert.com that allows law enforcement officers all across the US and Canada to alert local recyclers via e-mail so we can be on the lookout for stolen metals.

At the recycling center, RecycleBill checks ScrapTheftAlert.com daily and subscribes to their e-mails so I can be informed of scrap metal thefts within 250 miles of our business.

Carbon Fouling Online Local Shopping

Or, Plug It In, Plug It In?

When automotive enthusiasts talk about carbon fouling they're usually talking about carbon deposits that cover the spark plugs and prevent their engines from running like they should but tonight RecycleBill is talking about the carbon that fouls the air we all breath.

Does shopping online emit less carbon than shopping locally? Best I can tell, the jury is still out. But what if we could shop locally online? Hey, that's another idea for a green business. Shoppers could go online to their local merchants and schedule deliveries. Grocery stores do it, book stores do it-- why can't other local retailers do the same?

Fact is: many local retailers are doing just that and if you're looking for a way to green your local retail business you only need not look afoul and look towards lowering not only your carbon emissions but the emissions of your customers. A small motorized bicycle pulling a trailer might be all you need.

Photo courtesy, EZ Motorbike Of Fountain Hills

Lots of talk about sequestering carbon goes in one ear and out the other but will we listen when they finally tell us how to turn carbon into fuel? And will the smart learn how to plug in to water? Will anyone?