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On March 11th, 14:46 JST, a strong earthquake with the magnitude of 9.0, dubbed “The 2011 off the Pacific cost of Tohoku Earthquake” by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), occurred 130 km ESE off Ojika Peninsula. The Tohoku quake caused a Tsunami with waves of up to 15 meters, and damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant compound, causing the failure of the generator cooling system. Due to reactor nuclear meltdown, as of April 12^th, Tepco declared the INES rating at Fukushima Daiichi NPS to be Level 7, equaling it to the Chernobyl accident with 90% less radiation leakage compared to the Chernobyl accident. The estimated number of casualties caused by the earthquake and tsunami on April 11^th was at 12,000 deaths and 15,000 missing persons. (Asia, 2011, April 11th)

In the current economic climate, its been a bit rough for those that want to go green on a budget. Not everyone can afford a car like the Chevy Volt, but you can make simple and affordable changes around the house that will lower utility bills and add some green mojo to your home. These common sense ideas can not only lower your utility bills but can also be a great teaching tool for kids. Make sure to check your utility bill to find more info on your provider's web site or call them directly for more information. If you have other suggestions, please leave us a note!

• Tips for cold weather
• Tips for hot weather
• Electricity & gas
• Water
• Get your kids involved

When it's cold out:

The software on Sprint’s Samsung Reclaim is basic but it will meet the needs of users looking for a phone first, and other functions second. It provides basic connections to social networking sites like FaceBook or MySpace and does allow Internet browsing.

There’s even a YouTube application, though that generated errors during testing.

Looking for a phone with lots of custom applications and a base of developers eager to deliver the next big thing? Move along, this phone isn’t for you, try the iPhone or the HTC Hero intead.

Sprint and Samsung are hoping for some kudos from the green movement with their launch of the Reclaim, and overall it provides some great functionality for a midrange mobile phone. It’s made from recycled and recyclable plastics, but that doesn’t get in the way of this value-packed device.

Soy-based inks used in the instruction manual and minimalist packaging emphasize the Reclaim’s eco friendliness.

The Reclaim comfortably fit in my hand and the plastic felt sturdy. Button placement was intuitive although at times I found myself hitting the selector button and return button at once on accident because of cramped space.

Some things just don’t belong in a landfill. With that in mind, Tainted Green has created this guide, which provides tips on recycling everyday items to reduce our impact on the environment.

You’ll finally have a way to handle the old pair of shoes in the back of your closet, the overflowing bag of used batteries, and that container of used oil gathering dust in the garage.

Before using the options below, you should check to see what your home recycling program accepts. Many programs now accept materials such as Styrofoam and plastic grocery bags. Also, check to see if your city or county has a hazardous waste program. In Michigan, some programs take everything from motor oil to cell phones to lawn fertilizer. Here’s a link to one list.

This guide will be updated regularly as we think of new things to recycle. If you have suggestions, please leave us a note!