From the monthly archives:

January 2006

Most Efficient Food Storage Bags: BioBags

January 31, 2006

The most efficient food storage bag are BioBags. These bags are similar to plastic bags, but they are composed of corn-based bioplastic. Unlike conventional plastic, the bioplastic “breathes” without leaking, allowing heat and moisture to evaporate, which keeps food fresh longer. They are also GMO-free, 100% biodegradable and compostable. Note: The bags are labelled “Food [...]

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Most Efficient Burn Treatment: Fresh Aloe Vera Gel

January 30, 2006

The most efficient treatment for burns is: aloe vera gel. Nothing in the world heals burns faster and more effectively. There’s no reason why everyone can’t have access to at least one of these plants, since they are easy to grow indoors. To get best results, the gel must be fresh and undiluted.

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“Stick Screen” Room Dividers

January 27, 2006

These eye-catching room dividers, designed by Globalhaus, are made with hundreds of very thin pieces of timber. They are available under “Clearance” from CorporateCulture in Australia — the price is $905 AUD ($680 USD).
Found via Inhabitat.

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Self-Rejuvenating Prehistoric Plant

January 26, 2006

This plant, the Club Moss (Selaginella Lepidophylla), has been around for 290 million years. It pre-dates the dinosaurs, and survived through their destruction, it also made it through the ice age and continues to thrive to this day in the 21st century. It can dry up and hibernate for as long as 50 years at [...]

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Most Efficient Filtering Plant: Boston Fern

January 25, 2006

The Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) — it’s the plant that’s the most efficient at removing formaldehyde (the most common indoor air pollutant).
See our post on How To Grow Fresh Air for more information.

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An Intelligent Indoor Plant Light

January 25, 2006

It’s great to brighten up a cold winter day by growing plants under lights indoors. This device aims to make indoor growing easier. It has a grow light (a full-spectrum 9-watt fluorescent), and the lamp turns on and off every day, simulating the changing length of days with the passing seasons. The Intelligent Plant [...]

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Most Efficient Water Cleaner: Terra Cotta Gravity Water Filter and Cooler

January 24, 2006

Here is another efficient ceramic water filter. This gravity filter has a hand-made terra cotta base, which cools the water using natural convention.
We consider metaefficient because: its has excellent filtration, and a very long filter life (years). Also, the terra cotta doesn’t leach contaminants into the water, and it keeps the water cool without needing [...]

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Berkey Light Gravity-Flow Water Filter

January 23, 2006

Gravity filters are more effective than other types of water filter, because the water drips slowly through the ceramic elements, and this process removes almost all the contaminants in water. The filters can be cleaned with a toothbrush and last for up to 2,000 gallons. This Berkey Light filter uses Black Berkey elements, and they [...]

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Upside-Down Tomato Garden

January 21, 2006

This curious planter takes the toil out of tomatoes by elevating the planting bed so vines grow downward. The hanging vines need almost no attention as tomatoes ripen in the air (not on the ground) where they won’t rot.
Complementary plants like basil, parsley, rosemary, and peppers can be planted on top, which holds up to [...]

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The Mealbox: A Table That Packs Into a Box

January 21, 2006

From Norway, comes this “Mealbox” table — it’s a Japanese-style dining table with chairs that can all be packed in a box, because it is divided into parts that resemble jigsaw puzzle pieces. The table is made of birch plywood reinforced with carbon fiber.
Available from Igland Design.
Found via Better Living Through Design

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Bonsai Tree In A Can

January 17, 2006

From Japan comes this small but efficient plant. It’s a bonsai for an indoor garden on a desktop or a windowsill. The tree can be repotted in a larger pot or outdoors for growing larger. They are $12 each from Branch.
Found via Ecofriend

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Picopad: Wallet-Sized Pen and Pad

January 12, 2006

A Picopad consists of 15 sticky notes and one tiny pen, that are designed to fit into the credit card slot of your wallet. The pads themselves are made from a cardboard-like material and come in a variety of colors. They feature two small push-out tabs to make it easier for you to pull [...]

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How To Grow Fresh Air

January 12, 2006

Author B.C. Wolverton originally began his research to investigate creating a breathable environment for a NASA lunar habitat. What came of that research was the discovery that houseplants are the most efficient filters of common pollutants such as ammonia, formaldehyde and benzene. (See our list of the top plants for cleaning the air).

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SmartGardens: Automated Growing

January 9, 2006

SmartGardens are specially designed gardens that automatically water and feed plants without the need for pumps, timers and nutrient monitoring. They incorporate a watering system called a SmartValve, which enables the plants to be gravity fed, instead of through a pump. This means there is no need for a reservoir below the garden to [...]

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A Towel Made Out Beech Wood: The Millennium Towel

January 8, 2006

Bonjour of Switzerland has released a towel collection made from Micro Modal, a fiber made with 100% beech wood cellulose. Modal is softer than terry toweling and 50 percent more absorbent than cotton. It dries quicker too. Bonjour of Switzerland uses only environmentally friendly dyes in production. The towels range in price from $12 for [...]

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Zeolite: MetaEfficient Odor Absorber

January 5, 2006

Zeolite is a natural mineral which absorbs odors and excess moisture in the air. It can be used as a general deodorizer and to combat mildew or mould. When used in refrigerators and freezers, it can reduce electricity cost by up to 12% by maintaining optimum humidity, and it helps keep food fresher. Zeolite is [...]

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Unfolding Prefab: Holl House by Andrew Maynard

January 4, 2006

Andrew Maynard’s Holl House starts off as a vertical column, then unlocks into a horizontal network of hinged structures. “How can the housing industry make exciting, well designed and cheap housing?” Maynard asks. “Easy, mimic the car industry.”
“The dimensions of the basic module are dictated by the maximum dimensions available to be transported legally on [...]

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Better Basics For The Home: Less Toxic Living

January 3, 2006

You can make household and personal care products at home. The mixtures you create will be healthier and of a higher quality than those found in stores. Once you have the right ingredients, mixing them up is quite straightforward. The book, Better Basics for the Home, offers more than 800 simple alternatives to toxic household [...]

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The Solar House: Free Heating

January 2, 2006

People often think of using solar energy for producing electricity, but it is actually easier to harness the power of the sun to heat your home. It’s free heat that has been utilized since ancient times but few modern architects or builders really understand the principles involved. The Solar House, by Dan Chiras, explains architectural [...]

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Hemp Throw Blanket by Ecolution

January 1, 2006

It’s a throw blanket from Ecolution made of nothing but hemp. I kid you not — this blanket is woven out of 100% organic Romanian hemp using the latest hemp processing techniques. They have hackling (fibre separation) methods and air-finishing to create a soft hemp, without resorting to chemicals. This blanket outlast most others. It’s [...]

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