Home / Technology - Kill A Watt™ EZ Electricity Meter

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, we're incredibly thankful for all the support and enthusiasm from our wonderful readers. (Yes, we’re talking about you.)

We hope you get to eat your fill today of sustainable, local and organic food.

We're also thankful for gadgets that make it easier for us to live greener. For example, we're grateful for the Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Meter, which came to us courtesy of Current Energy.

The Kill A Watt is a nifty device that lets you measure how much energy your refrigerator, computer, microwave, lamp, stereo, TV and other appliances use.

You just plug the Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Meter into an outlet, then plug the appliance into the Kill A Watt. The LCD display can display power consumption in volts, amps, kilowatt hours (kWh) or watts.

If you know the rate your utility company charges for energy (usually expressed in kilowatt hours), the Kill A Watt will even tell you how much your appliance costs to run.

In our line of work, the Kill A Watt is invaluable for measuring the accuracy of manufacturer claims. In fact, we've been using the Kill A Watt to test the energy efficiency of appliances like the Sharp Air Purifier KC-C150U or the Blueair ECO10 (two of the air purifiers we'll be featuring during next week's special 1GreenProduct.com Air Purification Week!)

We plan on employing the Kill A Watt regularly as a way of verifying that the products we profile really do help you make your home more energy efficient.

Of course, we won't have a chance to test all the products you already own. Therefore, you might want your own Kill A Watt to determine which appliances use the most energy, giving you the ability to make decisions about which appliances to replace if you wanted to lower your energy bill (and shrink your eco footprint).

Although you can leave the Kill A Watt plugged in to measure average energy usage and costs over time, we suspect you'll often get a good idea of energy usage just by plugging your appliance into the Kill A Watt for a few minutes. So why not lend the Kill A Watt to your friends and neighbors? There's no reason why 3, 5 or 10 households couldn't all benefit from a single Kill A Watt device.

In terms of gripes, we did find the instruction pamphlet slightly confusing. We also wish the Kill A Watt were made in the USA, to reduce the pollution costs associated with shipping from its Chinese manufacturer. And wouldn't it make sense if a device intended to help people live greener lives could incorporate a bit of recycled plastic into the design of the device itself (as with the HP Deskjet D2545)?

Enough grumbling. What did we find in testing the 1GreenProduct.com household? Here's how our appliances stacked up according to the Kill A Watt:

• Fan = 36-43 watts (depending on fan speed. Interestingly, the top speed uses almost the same energy as the lowest speed...)
  
• 20-inch CRT TV = fluctuates around 70 watts
  
• DVD = 12-15 watts
  
• Treadmill = 107 watts (at 2 miles per hour)
  
• Lamp with 60-watt ncandescent bulb turned on = 61 watts
  
• Lamp with 13-watt CFL bulb turned on =14 watts
  
• Sharp air purifier (low setting) = 5 watts!
  
• Sharp air purifier (high setting) = 75 watts
  
• Blueair air purifier (low setting) = 6 watts
  
• Blueair air purifier (high setting) = just 10-11 watts!
  
• Toshiba 15-inch laptop = 27 watts
  
• Compaq desktop (Presario 6000) = 70-109 watts, depending on what the processor is doing
  
• 17-inch LCD monitor =32 watts
  

Incidentally, based on these tests, it seems that a laptop is a much more energy efficient choice than a desktop and monitor. Even taking into account the fact that we were testing an old desktop computer and that desktop efficiency has improved, we still ended up using a minimum of around 100 watts for the desktop and monitor combined versus 27 watts for the laptop. (Naturally the equation changes if you're using a desktop like the 11-watt  Zonbu Desktop Mini...)

Where to buy:

A Google search will reveal lots of places to buy the Kill A Watt. We obtained our sample unit thanks to the generosity of  Current Energy, a Dallas-based company that operates what it calls the world's first energy efficiency store™.

You can order the  Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Meter ($56)- along with lots of other nifty energy efficient products, through Current Energy's online store.

Natracare Feminine Hygiene Products

OK, we admit it. As a guy, we feel a bit...uncomfortable talking about feminine hygiene products.

But we also feel it's important that women know they have a Green hygiene option thanks to Natracare, a company that produces 100% certified organic cotton tampons, panty liners, baby wipes, nursing pads and more.

If you're already eating organic food and wearing organic cotton clothing, why not consider organic personal care products for you and/or your baby?

Not every Natracare product uses 100% organic cotton (some are simply labeled 'Natural'), but the company says its entire product line is totally free of plastics, chlorine and perfumes. Even the wrappers on its individually-wrapped products are made from TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) paper and plant starch, while the outer package is composed of 100% recycled cellulose.

More than 90% biodegradable, Natracare products aren't just good for the planet, but they may also be better for your skin. Natracare says gynecologists will often recommend Natracare to women who suffer from skin allergies or irritation when using other personal care brands.

Sold in more than 45 countries around the world, Natracare products have achieved a number of certifications from organizations including The Soil Association and The Nordic Ecolabel.

As near as we can tell, Natracare makes an admirable assortment of products. The new packaging does a good job of spelling out the Green benefits, but we do think that Natracare could make its website a bit more user-friendly. We'd love to see individual pages for each product with clearer explanations of the Natural and Organic product lines and the eco and health benefits of each.

Where to buy:

You can purchase Natracare products online at Drugstore.com, Amazon.com, Organic Pharmacy and HerbTrader.com.

The products range in price from MSRP $3.29 (30 Tanga Natural Panty Liners) to MSRP $7.49 (16 Regular or Super Certified Organic 100% Cotton Tampons), although you may be able to find discounts online or in stores.

Offline, you can find Natracare products at a range of natural food stores, supermarkets and pharmacies including Whole Foods, Shaw's, Fred Meyer, Publix and Wegman's.

You can browse a more complete list of online and offline stores on Natracare's website.

Grohe WaterCare Faucets

IOHO, simplicity is frequently an eco-virtue.

Scrap all the bells and whistles (except for the Jingle Bells) and just give us a product that does one thing and does it spectacularly well.

Maybe that's why we're so enamored with the Relexa showerhead (MSRP $40) by Grohe.

Relexa comes in one color - chrome.

It's non-adjustable, with an ultra simple easy-to-clean design. (A smaller showerhead means less space for dust to settle!)

Grohe uses something called DreamSpray(R) Technology to deliver an even spray from the showerhead. SpeedClean(R) nozzles made from silicone apparently make it easy to erase limescale buildup.

We haven't been testing the Relexa long enough to vouch for the SpeedClean claims, but we can verify that the DreamSpray does deliver a relaxing, steady washing experience.

Even better, you get clean while saving water. Relexa is part of Grohe's WaterCare collection of faucets and showerheads, which means that it uses up to 30% less water than a typical showerhead. Many of the faucets in the Grohe WaterCare collection also carry the EPA WaterSense label. (Apparently, WaterSense standards currently apply to bath faucets only at this point, which explains why the Relexa and other Grohe WaterCare showerheads don't use the EPA label...)

A quick look through the rest of Grohe's online WaterCare catalog shows that the company has an array of water-saving faucets capable of matching the style in any kitchen or bathroom. Depending on the faucet, you can also choose an array of finishes including chrome, SuperSteel, RealSteel, brushed nickel or oil-rubbed bronze.

Whether you prefer the traditional Seabury (MSRP $384+), modern Atrio (MSRP $604+) or sleek single-handle Talia (MSRP $361+), you'll know that you're helping with the crucial task of water conservation.

If you choose a Grohe WaterCare faucet, you'll also benefit from high-end technology like Grohe's SilkMove(R) teflon-coated cartridge that is designed to deliver friction-free and maintenance-free durability. Again, we didn't have our sample faucet long enough to vouch for longterm durability, but we can say that Grohe delivers on its ease of use marketing claims. We really were able to easily control the single-handle Talia faucet with just one finger.

FYI, the Grohe faucets and showerheads we tested were made in Germany and seem to have the high quality that one would normally associate with German consumer goods (cars, wind turbines, solar panels, sausages, etc.).


Where to buy:

Use the Showroom Locator to find the closest place where you can examine and select a Grohe WaterCare faucet or showerhead. Since Grohe products are not carried in big-box retail stores, your other option would be to place an order through a designer or plumbing contractor.

The Leakey Jewelry Collection

I spend many of my workdays at my desk, typing on the computer, staring into the thin screen for glimpses of the world beyond.

And today I write about women whose workdays take place under acacia trees in Kenya, where members of the Maasai community make jewelry out of Zulugrass and Zuluwood for The Leakey Collection.

According to The Leakey Collection, all materials used to make the jewelry are sustainable. The wood comes from fallen dead wood. The harvest of Zulugrass preserves wetlands that would otherwise be burned and drained to support cattle.

The hollow grass used in the Zulugrass jewelry is harvested by hand and then cut by hand into beads. These beeds are then dyed with textile dyes (hopefully using environmentally-friendly dyes) and mixed in with Czech and Japanese glass beads before being strung on elastic bands.

The result - beautiful and long-lasting bracelets, necklaces, earrings and other accessories. Prices are very reasonable with multi-strand necklaces going for $39.95 and bracelets for $29 on The Leakey Collection's retail site.

The Leakey Collection jewelry has a sort of timeless elegance to it. There is a simplicity, for example, in incorporating wood that has been hand tooled and burnished without the use of wax, lacquer or varnish.

The Leakey Collection says that more than 1,200 people are involved in the manufacture of its products, indirectly supporting over 10,000 individuals and helping to spread wealth and promote women's equality among the Maasai.

In our experience, The Leakey Collection's bracelets and necklaces are dressy enough to wear for a night out on the town, but bright and cheerful enough to complement even a day at the beach.

And speaking of the beach, the company says its Zulugrass is water proof and colorfast in both salt water and fresh water. So make a splash!

(PS - One of the founders Philip Leakey is the youngest son of famed paleo-anthropologists Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey.)

Where to buy:

Purchase items from The Leakey Collection online or use the Store Finder to find a retailer near you.

Natural Mat + LaLicious Sweepstakes Update

You're never too young to start living the green life!

That's why the eco-friendly baby bedding products from Natural Mat caught our eye.

Handmade in Devonshire, England, Natural Mat says it uses only the finest natural and organic raw materials in its crib mattresses and sheets.

One of these mattresses, the Coco Mat (MSRP $375) is actually filled with coir, a fiber extracted from the outer shell of a coconut. Natural Mat says its coir comes from the only certified organic coir plantation in the world.

(Personally, the thought of coconut-based products being made in England puts us in mind of the Monty Python Holy Grail migratory coconuts bit.)

Anyway, Natural Mat wraps its coir in lambwool bathed in the extracts of lavender, lemon and eucalyptus, which not only smells lovely but supposedly makes the mattress anathema to dust mites. The mattress is then covered with a removable and machine washable unbleached cotton cover.

Since England presumably has resident horses, we don't need Monty Python to figure out where Natural Mat got the horsetail hair for its Mohair Mat. The Mohair Mat features horsetail hair (which Natural Mat calls the longest and most durable natural fiber in the world) at its core, sandwiched between layers of organic coir. The whole bit apparently offers a firm, supportive base for baby.

Like some nocturnal layer cake, the coir is in turn wrapped with mohair fleece, which is then itself covered in that washable, removable unbleached cotton. The whole shebang will set you back $625 (MSRP), but we say that any natural product with the potential to help a baby sleep through the night is probably worth its weight in horsehair.



Love your baby, but don't have so many spare Benjamins sitting in the bank? You can still pick up that English organic cred with some 100% organic cotton sheets and mattress protectors. All the sheets are unbleached and undyed, and all bedding can be washed including the waterproof mattress protector. Prices on the bedding start at less than $50.

In addition to the eco-benefits outlined above, Natural Mat also claims that its products offer superior breathability (keeping baby cool and comfy), naturally fire retardant (passing fire regulations without the use of chemical fire retardants) and durability.

According to Natural Mat, a number of parental celebrities like Halle Berry, Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba and Laila Ali have Natural Mat products.

Where to buy:

Many online retailers carry Natural Mat products, including Barebabies.com.

Natural Mat has kindly provided a discount code for our readers. Enter code gp10offnm and you should be able to receive a 10% discount on any Natural Mat products ordered through the Barebabies.com website. UPDATE - Barebabies.com has apparently suddenly gone out of business. To get 10% off Natural Mat products, use the code "1gpnm" on the site Goores.com.

LaLicious Sweepstakes Update:

We have our first winner in the LaLicious Sweepstakes. Congratulations to Michele from Waterville, Maine!

Meanwhile, we're still waiting to hear from our second winner. He or she has until December 5th to respond and claim the prize. If he or she does not respond, we'll hold a second drawing to find an alternate winner.

Thanks to everyone who signed up to participate in the Sweepstakes. Stay tuned for more eco-friendly product discounts and sweepstakes in the near future!