Three new green countertops

In yesterday's Post, Katherine Salant profiles three new countertop materials: IceStone, Bio-Glass and Eco.

Her article ("New shades of green for your kitchen") was in the Real Estate section.

IceStone is made from concrete with bits of recycled glass in it; Bio-Glass from recycled bottles; and Eco from recycled glass, porcelain, stones and ash. All three products sounded expensive ($80-$160 per square foot), but if you can afford one of them, they're worth considering.

Have you bought green furnishings for your kitchen? Tell me about it!

Get a few bucks for your old tech gadgets

If you received some new gadgets this holiday season and are wondering what to do with the old ones, a recent Washington Post article has the answer.

There are two Web sites that will buy your old gadget -- cell phones, laptops, PlayStations and more. You type in info about the gadget and the sites calculate how much they'll pay you for it. Then they either refurbish it and resell it, or recycle it.

The sites are: Gazelle.com and YouRenew.com. Even if they won't pay you for the gadget -- if it's worth $0 -- they'll still recycle it. Gazelle claims that 80 percent of the items it buys get reused. For each item you send them to recycle, YouRenew let's you choose how they contribute to a better environment: You can ask them to give towards domestic renewable energy production or plant one tree.

So, if you got a new cell phone for the holidays and still have your old one, check out these sites and let that gadget get reused!

Boost your gas mileage this summer

I saw some good info in the Small Change column in the Washington Post today. Writer Nancy Trejos lists nine tips that will have you Maximizing Your Mileage During Road-Trip Season.

They're all simple things that can add up: Keep your car tuned up, don't speed, keep your tires inflated to the correct pressure, etc.

I'll add one not on the list: Using cruise control on the highway can improve your gas mileage. When I do this with my Prius, I can watch the mpg readout rise steadily.

All of this car talk reminds me that it's time to schedule an oil change!

Do you get the most mpg out of your car? Post here!

DC company will pay you to reduce your energy use

The Post's Small Change blog has an item today about Earth Aid Enterprises, a two-year-old DC company that will pay you if you reduce your household's energy use.

When you reduce your home energy use (electricity, natural gas), you're also lowering your carbon footprint. Earth Aid bundles these carbon reductions and sells them to companies that want to buy carbon offsets. Earth Aid then pays homeowners for their energy savings, minus a brokerage fee.

It sounds pretty cool. The service is free and if you don't reduce your energy use, you don't pay a penalty. No hidden costs, according to the Earth Aid site. What's not to like? (You'll have to register on the Earth Aid site, then they'll track your energy use through your utility company. They'll even send you tips on how to save energy -- and money.)

Are high-efficiency washing machines worth it?

Yesterday the Washington Post had a good guide to buying high-efficiency washing machines ("Time to Say Bye to Washers of Old?"). These washers are usually front-loading and use less energy and water than older models -- and can save you $50-$100 a year in utilitybills.

Denise DiFulco points out a few negatives in her story: These machines can shake violently and often have issues with mold buildup.

I don't own a front-loader, but my friends have given them mixed reviews. The energy and water savings sound worthwhile, though. Do you have one? How do you like it?

p.s. -- learn more about Energy Star qualified clothes washers here, http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=clotheswash.pr_clothes_washers