The Bike in the Bathroom

Interior Design or Art?
Both.

Artist Benjamin Bullins has taken a discarded bike and created a bathroom vanity. Bullins doesn’t stop with the bike vanity. The mirror has been fashioned from an old trombone case. A snare drum has been made into a ceiling light fixture. The bike’s handlebars are now towel bars (not shown). And what’s not to love about the basket as a towel holder?

Bullins aims to create sculptures that reflect the culture of his hometown of New Orleans. He successfully achieves this here and manages to be creative, functional and green at the same time.

What do you have around your house that can be re-purposed and re-used in a new way? I suspect many of you will love this bathroom bike vanity design. If you’re not the Do-It-Yourself type, contact Benjamin Bullins about buying his mixed-media artwork. Yes, artwork. And vanity and mirror. Both are available for purchase through the artist. Contact him at his artist website.

Read more about the very talented artist and photographer Benjamin Bullins.

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Furnace Filters Become Art

Relief Circles by Louise Harris

I came across this art and met the artist, Louise Harris, at the “Fall into the Arts Festival” in Edina. I was first struck by the three-dimensional aspect of the artwork. I then learned they were made from recycled furnace filters. Talk about creativity and vision!

Can you see the undulating waves of the smaller circles over the larger circles in this piece? I loved both of these pieces when I saw them.

Here’s a sampling of her smaller works. Ms. Harris is producing unique, beautiful and green art; she‘s also donating profits to non-profit organizations around the world. For more information, visit her website:

lhoriginals.com – The artwork of Louise Harris

Edina Fall Into the Arts Festival – Sept 8-9, 2012

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Get Paid to Recycle Your Fridge

Going Green-Twice!

If you’re replacing a working refrigerator in your home to improve the energy efficiency or due to a kitchen remodel, get paid for recycling it. No hauling required. They’ll pick up. Incentives and requirements vary between power supply companies. Here’s what Xcel Energy in Minnesota will do:

Excel Energy Refrigerator Recycling Program

800-599-5795

$35 incentive check Must be cooling and capable of making ice Must be a secondary unit in the home for at least 6 months Must be 10-30 cubic feet One unit allowed per calendar year To qualify for the program, you must: 1) Be a residential electric customer of Xcel Energy. 2) Own the refrigerator and it must be picked up at a location listed on the billing account.

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This is a nationwide program. I called to inquire about the secondary unit and learned that I could replace my primary (and only) refrigerator to qualify for this program. Learn more about the program by clicking on the links below.

Appliance Recycling Information for United States

Appliance Recycling Information for Minnesota

Sign up for the Xcel Energy program here.
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Recycle Old Thermostats and Get a Gift Card

Conserve Energy and Reduce Heating and Cooling Costs

Save money and energy by using a programmable thermostat instead of a traditional thermostat. Estimates are that homeowners can save about $180 a year with a programmable thermostat. Traditional thermostats contain mercury and therefore must be recycled rather than placed in the trash. Covanta Energy is offering a $5 Menards gift card as a thank you gift for recycling your traditional thermostat and as a way to help reduce the cost of the programmable thermostat.

This offer is available through December 31, 2010 or while supplies last. There is a limit of one gift per household. Click on the link below for more details.
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Recycle Old Thermostats, Get a Gift Card Program Information

Learn more about Covanta Energy Corporation

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