From the monthly archives:

September 2005

Dynamo 3-LED Flashlight

September 27, 2005
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Best Book Deal

September 23, 2005

If you want find out where to buy a particular book at the lowest cost, try out Best Book Deal. This service will search 100 bookstores, and show you how the prices compare. A very handy feature of this site is the inclusion of the shipping costs to calculate a total price. So, at a [...]

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Top Rated, Energy Efficient Refrigerators

September 20, 2005

In terms of quality, cost and energy efficiency, Kenmore refrigerators get high ratings from Good Housekeeping and Consumer Reports. They make many “no-frills” refrigerators which are Energy Star compliant. Kenmore fridges have factory-installed ice makers, which are less prone to break down than those built into the door. For example, a reasonably priced, mid-sized Kenmore [...]

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Eco Decking Tiles That Snap Together

September 19, 2005

These
decking tiles snap together without the need for screws, nails or glue, to create a deck or walkway. The tiles are made with Bolivian Ipe wood, which is suited to outdoors use, naturally resisting mold and decay. The Ipe wood is harvested according to strict environmental standards, according the manufacturer, Eco Wood International. They say [...]

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Hoky Carpet Sweeper by Oreck

September 19, 2005

Carpet Sweepers are a great non-electric way to clean carpets quickly. So a recent review of a Hoky Sweeper on Cool Tools, caught our eye:
You’ve probably seen Hoky Sweepers used in restaurants and hotels. They just plain work. No electric, no plugs, no noise & lightweight. So convenient to grab for a few second cleanup. [...]

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Quick Pick: Top Rated HD Television

September 17, 2005

Reviewers at CNET rate Sony’s model KD-34XBR960 at the top of the current HDTV market. They say: “If you can deal with the bulk and don’t need a huge screen, this is the perfect home-theater TV.” Their user’s reviews give it similar high marks. It is priced at $1900. Available from: Amazon.

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Review: Low Rolling Resistance Tires

September 17, 2005

Green Seal has released another of their well-researched reports, this time covering “Low Rolling Resistance Tires“.
The reports presents previously unpublished data on leading tires that
have low rolling resistance. But what is rolling resistance exactly? It’s a measurement of how easily the tire rolls down the road —
minimizing the energy wasted as heat between the [...]

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Spas for the Home: Reviews and Buying Guides

September 17, 2005

There is a veritable multitude of companies making spas today. They are usually manufactured in acrylic for a deck or a specially constructed area inside the house. Often spas are sold a lot like cars — there is lot of upselling and steering buyers towards a particular brand. The Pool and Spa Living Magazine has [...]

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Wooden Hot Tubs

September 16, 2005

Wooden hot tubs are an attractive alternative to the plastic tubs that have come to dominate the marketplace today. These traditionally styled tubs are built with wood that contains natural anti-bacterial oils. SeaOtter Woodworks build their tubs by hand with Western Red Cedar. They are one of the few companies in the U.S. making wooden [...]

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Flip-Top Dishrack by Simplehumans

September 16, 2005

If you really appreciate a well-designed dishrack this may be up your alley. It’s designed by simplehumans and is priced at $63. Aaron Ebata explains why he thinks it’s worth the money, on the review site Cool Tools. The manufacturer says:
The flip-top dishrack adjusts to hold the different tools you use throughout the day. A [...]

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Wolf Induction Cooktop

September 15, 2005

This new cooktop from Wolf uses induction to cook food efficiently, while the cooking surface stays cool to the touch. You must use a pan made of a magnetic material like stainless steel or cast iron. Induction stovetops are about 85-90% energy efficient, compared electric elements which are only 65-85% efficient. The manufacturer also [...]

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Soymilk Maker Reviews

September 15, 2005

Do you spend a lot of money on soymilk? You may want to try out a soymilk making machine — these devices allow to make fresh soymilk in your kitchen. We found a good review of the different soymilk machines out there by Vickilynn Haycraft on her site Real Food Living. Apparently the SoyaPower machine [...]

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The Best Push Reel Mowers

September 15, 2005

Modern reel mowers are quite efficient at cutting grass using nothing but your own push power.
There’s a good overview of manual reel mowers at Reel Mower Guide. They cover the advantages and disadvantages of manual mowers,  and offer some tips for using the mowers.
Here are the top rated reel mowers:
Scotts 20″ Classic Reel Mower

Reviewers [...]

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An Iron With Legs: Oliso Touch & Glide

September 14, 2005

The Touch & Glide iron automatically stands up on built-in legs as soon as it senses your hand releasing its handle. Grasp the arm again and digital sensors feel the pressure and command a micro-motor to pull the iron back down onto the ironing board. An auto shut-off feature turns the device off if it’s [...]

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The 12 Drawer Bed

September 13, 2005

The designer of this bed wants you to turn the “wasted” space under your bed into a convenient, dust-proof storage with this organizing system. This 12-drawer bed features four drawers on each side, as well as four drawers at the foot of the bed that extend the full length of the bed’s frame. The frame [...]

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Effective Masonry Heaters

September 9, 2005
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The “iO-X 750″ Electric Bicycle

September 8, 2005

The iO-X is a cruiser-style electric bike. It uses the power and torque of the WaveCrest adaptive motor, which harnesses regenerative braking power. It has two power modes. In economy mode, it runs at a 20 mph speed limit and full regenerative capabilities. A quick switch to X TURBO provides speeds of up to 25 [...]

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Efficient “Canister” Vacuum: Hoover S3765 WindTunnel

September 5, 2005

Canisters vacuums normally have stronger suction than upright vacuums. Canisters can fill a dual role of a full-sized upright and a smaller machine (like a stick or handheld vac) for smaller jobs. Also the compact nature of these machines allows cleaning under furniture (usually a problem area for uprights).

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Best Manual Juicers

September 1, 2005

Manual juicers are handy to have in the kitchen — they don’t require electricity and are relatively inexpensive. They can juice a surprisingly large variety of fruits and vegetables. Best of all, they are usually easier to clean than their electric counterparts. Many people use manual juicers to squeeze wheatgrass into a nutritious drink.
Most reviewers [...]

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