More and more architects and designers are now tasked with creating eco-friendly homes and buildings for their clients. Having an environmentally conscious home or work space is something that consumers are willing to invest in and while converting a house or office into a green space is now easier than ever, more still needs to be done.

Many architects and designers are currently using eco-products including solar panels, energy-saving appliances and recycled building materials, but many more do not realize that there are other simple eco-measures they can implement into their daily routines.

Whether using a laptop computer to design a room, using a cell phone to connect with a client or determining measurements on a calculator, architects and designers use products powered by rechargeable batteries on a regular basis. In fact, on average, six or more wireless products are likely used each day by individuals, according to a recent survey of American households conducted by the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC).

So what can be done about all of the extra rechargeable batteries that power these everyday items? With RBRC’s Call2Recycle program, builders and architects have a free, convenient way to properly dispose of used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones and keep them out of the solid waste stream. Enrolling in the program is free, as are the collection containers, freight, processing and actual recycling of used rechargeable batteries. RBRC assists businesses with the set-up and management of the program and provides streamlined procedures for returning the recovered batteries and/or cell phones to the recycling facility.

In addition to businesses, RBRC can also assist consumers. The Call2Recycle program also makes it easy to recycle the used rechargeable batteries lying around one’s home from portable electronic devices like digital cameras, cell phones, MP3 players, electronic toys etc., by providing a network of over 50,000 collection locations including major retailers such as The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Circuit City, Best Buy and Staples where consumers can drop off their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones while they shop for new ones.

The RBRC program provides an excellent opportunity for architects and builders to incorporate eco-practices into more than just their designs, but there are other ways that individuals can get rid of their old electronics and gadgets. Organizations like the FreeCycle Network (freecycle.org) connect individuals who want to exchange or donate old items. Community pages provide a list of items available from residents in individual towns, and what’s better, every item re-used, is one less item kept out of the landfills. Additionally, many manufacturers, including Dell, Hewlett Packard and Apple, offer recycling programs through their websites.

Recycling is just one small thing that architects and designers can do in their overall efforts to embrace green building. The hope is that with education, individuals will come to view rechargeable battery and electronics recycling as second nature and will embrace eco-practices in this small, but highly effective, way.