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October 2005

Pure Aluminum Bottles by SIGG

October 29, 2005

If you are looking for a drink container which has a completely inert lining, you might try SIGG Bottles from Switzerland. These bottles are extruded from a single piece of pure (99.5%) aluminum. They are strong, lightweight, and do not contaminate their contents with phthalates, Bisphenol-A or other potential toxins. The liner is a food [...]

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A Modern, Green Modular Cabin: BlueSky Mod

October 26, 2005

This modern prefab cabin, called the BlueSky MOD, is one of a few examples of affordable green modular homes currently available today (see these books for more examples). It was designed by Todd Saunders, an architect born and trained in Canada and currently working in Norway. The company that sells the homes, also called [...]

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2006 Honda Civic Hybrid Update

October 25, 2005

Honda has increased the efficiency of their new Hybrid Civic for 2006, which went on sale recently with a price tag of $21,850.
Honda has improved the fuel economy by about five percent, to get 50 mpg on both EPA city and highway ratings. It looks like the Civic Hybrid and the Prius will get [...]

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Hot Electric Scooters

October 25, 2005

What are the hottest electric scooters out there? Today, one of the most popular models currently is the eGO-2 Cycle which combines the best features of a bike and an electric scooter. The eGO can be used as a bicycle but has all the equipment of a scooter, including headlights, turn signals, brakes and throttle. [...]

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High Intensity (Low Impact) Lamps

October 24, 2005

Attractive, portable fluorescent lamps are metaefficient — they allow you to light a room using as little as 10W. See our reviews of the latest compact fluorescent bulbs. Pictured here is a lamp by Foscarini. Available from YLighting. See also Ambient Direct.

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Energy Star Washer: Ecosmart GWL11 by Fisher & Paykel

October 23, 2005

This washer is no longer recommended, due to the lack of service and support.
This washer from Fisher and Paykel is very efficient in terms of water use and electricity consumed, costing only about $21 annually in power, and using only 26 gallons per laundry load. The CEE (Consortium ForEnergy Efficiency) rates this washer as [...]

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Efficient: Wool Carpets by Nature’s Carpet

October 23, 2005

Wool carpeting is excellent: it’s durable, stain resistant, and completely biodegradable. It has a high initial cost, but the quality of the material justifies the investment.
Nature’s Carpet offers all wool carpets. They only buy wool clipped from sheep raised where no herbicides or pesticides are used. The fiber is tested regularly for purity. The wool [...]

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Efficient Japanese Beds

October 23, 2005

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This bed, constructed in Japan, is made in the style of the Edo period, which was known for its simplicity and restrained elegance. It’s constructed out of sustainably-farmed solid mahogany. The bed can support a futon or a traditional style mattress. One benefit of this type of design is that no box springs are needed. [...]

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Efficient Prototype: Washman Washer and Dryer

October 21, 2005

This washer, created by Jan Čapek and Kryštof Nosál, was designed to look attractive anywhere in your home. It’s called the Washman, and it finished second in the Elektrolux Designer Competition. The washer is targeted at younger users who don’t have space, or only need to do small loads of laundry. It features low [...]

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Efficient Folding Beds

October 17, 2005

Folding beds have been around at least since the 1920s. The original Murphy Bed Company still exists and is selling beds today. Other companies making contemporary folding beds are: Modern Wall Beds, whose birch bed is pictured here (prices start at $1795). Bonbon in the U.K. makes elegant folding beds, but they are pricey. Others [...]

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Marko Travel Toothbrush by Ohso

October 17, 2005

This Marko toothbrush by Ohso holds toothpaste in its handle, and dispenses it within its own bristles, making it a self-contained device for travelers. Last year we reviewed the “Clever Toothbrush” which was similar, but it was made out of plastic, and was not very durable. This toothbrush looks better — it’s composed of [...]

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HybridCenter: A Buyer’s Guide

October 14, 2005

HybridCenter is a good site to get the latest information on hybrid cars. The site features a Buyer’s Guide where you can compare cars based on your driving needs and price of gas in your state. They also have a Comparison Chart, where you can see how each car will perform, based on your driving [...]

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Corn Stoves Are Hot Too

October 13, 2005

Corn burning stoves are similar to pellets stoves but use corn kernels as fuel instead. Most corn suppliers are located in the interior states, so these stoves are most useful in those areas. Corn is a fuel that burns clean and does not require a conventional chimney. You can vent corn stoves outdoors by using [...]

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Radiant Flooring Is Sexy

October 13, 2005

Radiant flooring has been in use since the days of the Roman Empire when they channeled hot air under the floors of their villas. Basically, radiant systems heat an entire room evenly — not just in localized spots. It is more efficient than baseboard heating and usually more efficient than forced-air heating because no energy [...]

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Efficient Pasta Cooker: Zevro Perfetto

October 13, 2005

Here’s a promising product that will be introduced soon — the Zevro Perfetto is a pasta cooker said to save up to 70% of energy and up to 50% of water compared to cooking pasta in a traditional pot. Only about 32 fluid ounces (1 liter) of water is needed and there’s no need [...]

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Real-World Hybrid Mileage Reports

October 12, 2005

GreenHybrid.Com has a database of real-world mileage reports from hybrid car drivers. It now has statistics from over 1000 different cars in the database. The site also has an active discussion forum and a learning section where you can read about the basics of hybrid car technology.

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Top Rated Chef’s Knives

October 12, 2005

If you are going to be doing any kind of cutting in a kitchen, it is definitely worthwhile to invest in a quality chef’s knife. Experts say you don’t necessarily need to buy a lot of knives — a single quality chef’s knife can handle most cutting tasks. It’s generally agreed that the best [...]

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Renewable: The “Square” Bamboo Bowl

October 12, 2005

This attractive bamboo bowl is made using the “vertical grain” or the side of the split bamboo pole. The dark border color is achieved by a steaming process that brings out the natural sugars in the bamboo, carmelizing it to a permanent stain. It’s priced at $40 and available from IKH

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Strange Design: 360 Degree Island Sink

October 12, 2005

This curious sink from Elkay has its faucet positioned on an “island” in the center of the sink. Interesting idea — but it seems like the faucet would get in the way of washing. The only advantage we can think of is the 360° access to the faucet. Trendir reviews other curious fixtures for the [...]

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Intriguing Designs: Get Sticks by Extremis

October 12, 2005

Recently featured on MoCo Loco, “Get Sticks” are space dividers for indoor or outdoors. Designed by Hsu-Li Teo and Stefan Kaiser, the dividers come in separate modules that you arrange as you wish. The base is available in wood or recycled rubber with cork. The sticks are 6 feet (180 cm) high and are [...]

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