The Best Shower Filters Of 2011

Sonaki Vitamin C Showerhead Filter

I just replaced my shower filters, so I thought I’d update my best shower filter review from earlier this year. Each update to the review generates a lot of useful comments. So I’m incorporating what I’ve learned from those comments into this latest review.

The Best Reverse Osmosis Water Filters 2010

Watts

Reverse osmosis for the home is a water purifying method in which tap water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane that prevents bacteria and minerals from passing through to produce a more pure form of drinking water. The choice of a water filtration system depends on if you’re looking to rid of a specific contaminant… [Continue Reading]

The Most Efficient Public Swimming Pool In The U.S.

richmond-plunge-chlorine-free-solar-heated-swimming-pool

A community swimming pool called the Richmond Plunge has just opened in Richmond, California, and it may be the most efficient swimming pool in the country. The Richmond Plunge has many efficient features: it’s heated by solar collectors, it’s entirely chlorine-free, and the building is powered by solar panels on the roof. The Plunge is… [Continue Reading]

Chlorine Alternatives For Efficient Swimming Pools

Chlorine Is An Effective Pool Sanitizer, But It Has Drawbacks

Cannonball! Jumping into a swimming pool is a classic way to beat the heat on a hot summer day. But clean pool water requires a combination of filtration, circulation, and sanitization. Chlorine has long been the most common tool for keeping pools free of bacteria and algae – but it has its drawbacks, and there… [Continue Reading]

Green Roofs – Efficient Design Starts At The Top

vancouver olympic village green roof

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… [Continue Reading]

The Rainwater Pillow – Rain Barrel Meets Cistern

The Rainwater Pillow

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… [Continue Reading]

Updates From The MetaEfficient Kitchen Labs

csa-vegetables

This summer I’ve been working on food-related optimization projects, here are some updates: I now have subscriptions with two local farmers (through a CSA or Community Support Agriculture). One farmer provides me with raw milk, raw butter and eggs, the other farmer provides vegetables and fruit. They both happen to deliver to same street in my neighborhood,… [Continue Reading]

Three Of The Most Efficient Things I’ve Tested

Sennheiser PX 100 Portable Headphones

I’ve tested many products over the past year. Here are three that have particularly impressed me with their efficiency:

AeroGarden: Easy, Efficient Indoor Gardening

Aerogarden: Aeroponics Kit

In 2004, MetaEfficient.com pre-reviewed the AeroGrow aeroponics growing system. That was before the system was released. A couple of years ago, you couldn’t cut on your TV without seeing an ad for AeroGrow indoor gardening systems. It isn’t as ubiquitously advertised now, but it hasn’t disappeared from the market. In fact, five years after its… [Continue Reading]

The Best Shower Filter

Vitashower: A Vitamin C Shower Filter with Ceramic Filter

Note: Please stop read this article, and read our updated shower filter article instead I wanted to post an update on my quest for the best shower filter. I received a lot of useful comments on my last shower filter post, and I’ve also tested a couple of new shower filters.