The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has introduced a new widget that calculates how much energy can be saved through recycling. Results can be shared via Facebook or Twitter, or the widget can be added to a Web site or blog.
The widget is the digital version of the iWARM—Individual WAste Reduction Model—which helps consumers understand the energy saved by recycling small quantities of common household products, rather than landfilling them. The types of recyclables evaluated include aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, weekly magazines, and plastic grocery bags. The energy savings are translated into the equivalent amount of electricity, estimating how long that amount of electricity will operate a variety of household appliances.
