Keeping it Green

On Greening of the Great Lakes Russ White interviewed Founder and CEO, Tim Whaley, of Glass Recycled.

The interview summarized what Glass Recycled is and its contributions to not only the environment, but a university, Michigan State University. By recycling post consumer waste products such as glass, porcelain, and mirror, Glass Recycled is able to create custom resin mixtures of these recycled products. This creation and art is also referred to as upcycling.

The MSU Recycling Center is a perfect place for our countertops to lie simply because it is among many other recycled items. (I posted a blog prior to this featuring the MSU Recycling Center that offers pictures and more information about their recycling program.)

Walking onto Michigan State University (MSU) Mr. Tim Whaley has given back many ways as an alumnus to MSU. Glass Recycled products can be found in the men’s basketball locker room in the Breslin, Chemistry Building flooring, and a conference table in the Recycling Center and in the Communication of Arts and Sciences Building.

With both Russ White and Tim Whaley being Spartans the interview shows the passion for going green.

Building Green Communities

Focusing on environmentally sustainable materials, reduction of negative environmental impacts and increased energy efficiency Glass Recycled countertops is almost a must when it comes to making a "green" statement in your home.Going "green" is much more than a trend- in fact people have been doing the "green" for years. I recently came in contact with a woman from the Breckenridge, CO area, she shared her personal experience with Glass Recycled with me!

The health of our communities, our planet, and ourselves depend on how we plan, design, and construct our live style from this point on.

Being one of the first proprieties permitted to go forth with the new Green Community/"green lifestlye" the Breckenridge home owners found Glass Recycled . 

 

"I found [Glass Recycled] and really wanted to put it to use.  Since my kitchen cabinets were cobalt, I was ready to go with the cobalt glass in the countertop.  The other colors in the slab make everything blend together - stainless, aluminum, frosted glass - it is perfect!"

 

Starting with the cabinet's striking color, the family was able to create a perfect creation of recycled mirror, glass, and frosted glass to match their kitchen cabinets! 

 
"We ask[ed] for bigger chunks of glass and mirror and a more white base - the result was a wetbar [in addition to their kitchen] that pops and a fun laundry room." 
 

Check out our photo gallery in addition to this Breckenridge home!

Go Green. Recycle!

After attending Michigan State University for 3 years I finally thought I would share with you all how wonderful life is when you bleed green.

The MSU Recycling Center began in 1988 when the student body put together a petition to the board of Trustees about MSU's amount of waste by 1990 MSU took action. Fast forward 18 years and the board of MSU Trustees authorized an actual processing facility. With several grants and funds MSU was able to provide MSU with the Office of Recycling and Waste Reproduction (ORWR).

The MSU Recycling facility does on site packaging of recyclable products and sorting. The facility also provides a surplus store and a area for recycling education. You may think where does Glass Recycled come in... Well Glass Recycled made a few custom items to donated to our beloved facility where students, staff, and the public can view the beauty of recycling. Besides the counters there is rainwater collection tanks on the roof of the building that will provide toilet water; rooftop photovoltaic solar panels that will produce 10 percent of the electricity for the building; broad use of day lighting throughout the facility through large number of windows; motion sensors to control lights within high-traffic areas; low-flow fixtures in restrooms; and our countertops. 

 

This makes me so excited to be involved with such a green company and attend a green university!We will achieve our goals to reduce energy use by 15%, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15%, and reduce landfill waste by 30% by 2015. 

 As a student I walk past about 40 recycling bins a day on campus and I am not the only one that takes part in going green. Since our campus is known for our "Go Green" and "Go White" we take great pride in bleeding green and being green. If you haven't seen a green community come to East Lansing, Michigan and see MSU's Green and White!

Be Spartan Green!

Do It Yourself!

Do you hate your bathroom?

Each day we spend an hour or more brushing our teeth and hair, bathing, or applying makeup... So why doesn't your bathroom reflect you? Shana and Wade took the steps necessary to make their morning and evening routines comfortable, stylish, and unique!

A given GlassSLAB sized at 7"x84"x1"contains on average about 417 wine bottles. I bet you never thought of recycling your own spirits glasses to create a countertop for your own home. Glass Recycled's mission is to recycle and recreate beauty in your home and workplace.

 Glass Recycled was featured in DIY on October 1, 2011  in the Kissler's home and took part in a $15,000 renovation. You are probably thinking wow these countertops are pricey... But let me tell you what this bathroom included- Cork flooring, penny "rugs, an automatic cleaning, music playing, and talking toliet, it also included a deluxe shower with several features, and our recycled coutertops with a dual sinks. The giant shower included numerous light settings, steam, jets, and a rain like showering options. The bright and unique bathroom made the statement in their home beyond the bright orange pint. This DIY episode wiill be playing the episode a few more times throughout the month before our next premiere in a kitchen remodel.

You can view Shana and Wade's bathroom makeover:

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• October 11, 2011 9:30 AM e/p
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•  October 15, 2011 2:30 PM e/p
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Adding a little tile work or color to a drab bathroom can go a long way!

The Art of Glass in NYC

For those of you who are keeping up with my where-abouts and Glass Recycled's recent projects you'll find a few updates in our Facebook statuses and tweets on twitter. I recently visited New York this past weekend for little fun with my sister.  I contact Mark Reigelman, a New Yorker upcoming artist, who has purchased our glass for his vision of house protection through the design and creativity of art.

Mark is a young and upcoming artist in the New York City area with several glass collections.  He is known for is collection in the Heller Gallery. The piece displayed in the Heller Gallery is called Breaking the Bottle and is quite massive in comparison to other art displays. With a life size table and chairs along with lamps and rugs it makes this green art come to life.

Mark and I spent a good part of my first day in New York examining his art and informing one and other about the green industry. To my surprise I found the furniture to be very sturdy and not as sharp as you think! Mark and I posed a few times on the chairs and rugs to prove that his art is not just for looks! Mark went on to tell me where his inspirations came from, ""Breaking the Bottle" is inspired by the do-it-yourself protective glass barriers surrounding homes. Found on fences and rooftops around the world, these labor-intensive layers of glass shards display careful planning and placement, while exposing an underlying and pervasive mistrust of the community.   These barriers, which intend to protect the contents within their perimeter, greatly isolate the objects therein. The intention of this installation is to highlight the elegant results but unfortunate need of D-I-Y glass barriers while exaggerating the repercussions of over-protection." Mark is a do it yourself kind of guy and until he realized how much work went into breaking all the bottles necessary to create his vision that is when Mark and Glass Recycled met.  

"I spent hundreds of hours collecting and breaking bottles for my first 5 Cent glass chair. At one point I realized how ridiculous this process was. Shortly after I started researching broken glass and I discovered [Glass Recycled]. They offer a product that suits my needs perfectly and their drive to promote recycled material blended wonderfully with my work formally and conceptually.  Ever since, [Glass Recycled] has been extremely generous and supportive of my current exploration."

Glass Recycled is nationally known and has taken its part in many aspects of media... From the involvement in making a difference in homes and offices to its premieres on several television networks, and now art Glass Recycled is not only promoting the company, but the green ways of living.