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Efficient LED Light Bulbs For The Home

by benjamin on March 16, 2010

in Home Decor, LEDs, Lighting

C. Crane Geobulb 3 LED Light Bulb

C. Crane Geobulb 3 LED Home Light Bulb

LED light bulbs have some huge advantages over incandescent and compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. But they perform differently, so here’s your guide to understanding LED bulbs so you can enjoy their benefits and play to their strengths.

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Non-Toxic Indoor/Outdoor Lounge Chairs

by Justin on March 12, 2010

in Uncategorized

Bubble Club Chair

These polymer-based chairs can be used both indoors and outdoors. The Bubble Club Chair by Kartell (shown above), is made of non-toxic materials, and it has all its plastic parts printed with an identification mark to determine the correct recycling classification. It sells for $680. The Heller Mario Bellini MB1 Armchair (below) is constructed of one piece roto molded polymer, it sells for $450. It would also be good to see these chairs made with biopolymers.

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Efficient Urban Bikes: Felt X-City 1 & Dahon Jack

by Justin on March 12, 2010

in Bicycles

Felt Bike X-City 2

Versatile urban travel: the Felt X-City 1 bike, and the folding Dahon Jack bike for under $600.

Dahon Jack Bike

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An Efficient Spring 2010 Icebreaker Polo

March 11, 2010
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How soon the warm weather is here. Icebreaker has released a new line merino clothing for spring. Available from Moosejaw.

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Ultrafine Yak Wool Clothing: Efficient

March 11, 2010
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Khunu is a start-up company that aims to be the first to bring yak wool clothing to the global market. They offer a range of athletic clothing that is made with 100% Himalayan yak wool. What are the advantages of yak wool? Khunu says that independent lab tests have shown yak wool to be 10-15% [...]

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Three New Electric Bikes For 2010

March 10, 2010
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Now that the e-bike market is maturing in the U.S., I think we’ll be seeing some sophisticated electric bikes released this year. Here are three intriguing e-bikes that have become available so far:

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Looptworks: Products Made Of 100% “Excess” Material

March 8, 2010
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I’ve been testing some Looptwork products, and they are amazing. Here’s why: the company makes all their products from 100% industrial “excess” materials. That means every zipper, button and thread used in their designs was about to be thrown out. For example, the Hoptu Laptop Sleeve shown above is made with 100% upcycled nylon neoprene [...]

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Ovopur: The Art Of The Water Filter

March 6, 2010
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I’ve been testing an Ovopur water filter from Aquaovo, a company based in Montreal. This filter is certainly the most attractive I’ve come across. My eye is often drawn to its porcelain ovoid shape sitting in my ktichen. I’ve come to think of it as a piece of art that also happens to filter water.

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A Metaefficient Bathroom – Environmentally Friendly And Functional

February 27, 2010
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A bathroom may be one of the smallest rooms of a home, but make no mistake – it’s a vital one. Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one, integrating efficient components into a bathroom will add convenience and improve functionality, and also minimize the environmental impact of energy and water [...]

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The Best Water Filters Of 2010

February 17, 2010
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There are a lot of misleading claims about water filters. Many filters are marketed with general statements like “improves taste and odor”. But filter manufacturers don’t mention the specific amount of pesticides or chloramines removed, for example.

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The Most Efficient Snack: Pure Organic Bar

February 16, 2010
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A MetaEfficient snack bar. Unlike other nutrient bars I’ve tasted, this one’s delicious. My topic pick is the Orange Cranberry Bar. It’s made by a company called PURE, based in Holland, Michigan. 

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Green Roofs – Efficient Design Starts At The Top

February 15, 2010
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Green roofs have seen a surge in popularity recently as sustainable building designs become more mainstream. Soil and plantings on a building’s rooftop can help manage water runoff, improve air quality, and reduce energy use by moderating indoor temperatures. They can also prolong the life of a building’s roof by protecting it from the wear [...]

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MetaEfficient Keyring Tools For 2010

February 15, 2010
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Here’s a MetaEfficient Keyring. It’s a collection of lightweight, mini-tools suitable for carrying on a keyring.

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A MetaEfficient Men’s Winter Outfit For 2010: Continued

February 15, 2010
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I neglected to mention a few more items for the MetaEfficient Winter 2010 Outfit: a belt, a pair of shoes, and some snow pants.

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A MetaEfficient Men’s Winter Outfit For 2010

February 11, 2010
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In this new series of posts, I will be reviewing the top MetaEfficient Products of 2010. For a product to be considered MetaEfficient it must be: green, functional, durable and reasonably priced. Where possible, the product should be made by a company with high environmental standards and good manufacturing ethics.
Our featured Men’s Winter Outfit is [...]

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The Rainwater Pillow – Rain Barrel Meets Cistern

February 8, 2010
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Utilizing rainwater runoff is a double bonus for homeowners, both in environmental and financial terms.  It reduces the amount of water consumed from the municipal system, and it lessens the strain on wastewater treatment facilities that must process water after it flows down the drain.  A rain barrel is great for small-scale applications like a [...]

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TED 5000 Household Power Meter – Improve Home Energy Efficiency

February 5, 2010
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It’s no secret that cutting your household energy consumption is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. It’s also a great way to save money on your utility bills. But to pinpoint the best places to reduce power use, you need to know exactly where your power is going – no small [...]

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Nutrients Are Efficient

January 30, 2010
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Enzymes are metaefficient. My top picks are raw pistachios and raw cacao. Both have optimal enzyme levels when unadulterated.

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Southface Energy Institute – A Resource For Sustainable Design

November 30, 2009

Energy efficient building designs and technologies are everywhere these days. In fact, the sheer number of options can seem a little overwhelming for those interested in sustainable construction techniques. But Southface Energy Institute, headquartered in Atlanta, can be a valuable resource for homeowners, commercial or residential builders, or individuals who simply want to [...]

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The Best Rated Headphones Under $100

November 25, 2009

I’ve tested a lot of headphones in the Reactual Labs. I’ve discovered that there are, in fact, great quality headphones priced under $100. The three of the best rated headphones are: Sennheiser, Grado Labs and AKG. Other popular brands found in electronics stores tend to have inferior sound at this price level. Here are the [...]

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