Favorite Products of 2008 - Sylvania micro-mini Twist CFL, Undergear Soy and Bamboo Collections, Caroma Sydney Smart and More!

It's hard to believe that we've nearly reached the end of 2008.

It seems like just yesterday that we started 1GreenProduct.com, even though that fateful event happened more than seven months ago (May 11, 2008 to be exact).

It just goes to show that like the dearly departed Douglas Adams once said, "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."

Christmas Eve is traditionally a time for gathering with friends and family. We'd like to take a moment to thank all the thousands of people who have visited 1GreenProduct.com this year. Thank you for caring about the planet and taking the time to learn about eco-friendly products and services.

And of course we'd just like to point out that Christmas must be a major eco-holiday. After all, the two representative colors of the season are red and green!

Now we'd like to inaugurate what we hope will be an annual tradition - the 1GreenProduct.com Top 10 favorite products of 2008:

1) Sylvania's micro-mini Twist CFL - Gives the same illumination as a regular CFL bulb, 30% smaller, 70% less mercury

2) Undergear Soy and Bamboo Collections - These durable, soft, quick-drying, stylish and made from eco-friendly fabrics provide men with some welcome options beyond the old boxers/briefs debate.

3) Caroma Sydney Smart Dual-Flush Toilet - Save an estimated 18,000 - 30,000 gallons of water per year at the push of a button.

4) HP Deskjet D2545 Printer - An ENERGY STAR-qualified printer made mostly out of recycled plastic. Why can't other electronics manufacturers do that?

5) Lightcap 200 - A super-clever idea (turn a water bottle into a lantern) and pretty much the only solar-powered product we tested that performed for us as advertised.

6) Eureka envirovac - All the cleaning power with 1/3 energy savings, plus a HEPA filter to really clear the air. Plus so easy to operate that it actually made vacuuming kinda fun.

7) Water-saving faucets by Moen and Grohe (tie) - How can we choose when both Moen and Grohe faucets and showerheads deliver 30% water savings and look great doing it?

8) EvoLux Earth LED - The future of light bulbs - uses just 13 watts of power to create the same light as a 100 watt incandescent bulb. Now if only we could get that price to come down...

9) Fire & Light Recycled Glass Dinnerware - These folks work magic transforming castaway broken glass into functional works of art.

10) earth creations - People spend so much time trying to get dirt out of clothes. earth creations figured out a way to use dirt (OK, clay) to dye organic cotton, hemp and bamboo clothing. Very smart.


We feel honored to have had the opportunity to share our thoughts on these and many other great eco-friendly products with you.

Thanks again for reading. Like many of you, we'll be taking a break over the holidays, but we'll be back on New Year's Day with a look at the year ahead in 2009.

For now, here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics

Ah, Christmas time is here.

Surely one of the nicest Christmas traditions for the romantically inclined is the traditional Christmas smooch under the mistletoe. (Although, apparently the mistletoe kiss has its roots in pagan tradition, specifically the Goddess Freya.)

In any case, before you pucker up beneath the mistletoe, you'd better consider the lipstick that the female kisser might be wearing. (Or the male kisser - hey, it's the 21st Century. You never know!)

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics issued a report in 2007 alleging that certain popular brands of lipstick contained unsafe levels of lead.

In September, an article in The Huffington Post noted (in the context of political satire) that some lipsticks may contain scads of potentially harmful synthetic dyes and/or be tested on animals.

What's a girl (or guy) who wants sultry and colorful yet cruelty-free and all-natural lips to do?

Thank goodness for companies like Afterglow Cosmetics and their line of Organic Lip Love lipsticks (MSRP $24).

Some shades of the all-natural, paraben-free, synthetic-free Lip Love lipsticks contain more than 82% certified organic ingredients.

We're talking about organic jojoba seed oil (to reduce inflammation and prevent flaking), organic aloe leaf gel (to nourish and moisturize), organic apricot kernel (to soften and soothe), organic vitamin E (for antioxidant purposes), organic pomegranate seed extract (more antioxidant power) and organic grape seed extract (you guessed it - another dose of antioxidants).

According to Afterglow Cosmetics, the only reason that the rest of its ingredients aren't certified organic is because they are inert minerals and thus ineligible for organic certification. These minerals include iron oxides and micas (for pigment) and titanium dioxide (for opacity). Afterglow says it uses 'pharmaceutical grade minerals' to ensure top quality and purity.

(Frankly, we were unaware that minerals were used in pharmaceuticals, but presumably that's a whole 'nother ball of organic wax. In any case, according to this information from Medical College of Georgia, 'pharmaceutical grade' sounds pretty darn pure.)

If you're concerned about buying eco-friendly products, you're probably also interested in buying animal-friendly products. After all, animals are a big part of the ecosystem.

Thus you'll be pleased to know that both Leaping Bunny and PETA have apparently certified Afterglow as cruelty-free.

Our tester gave the Lip Love's Secret shade a big thumbs up from both an appearance and performance standpoint.

As far as we can see, the only drawback to Afterglow's Lip Love lipsticks would be their price. At $24 per stick, these are 2-3 times more expensive than many famous national brands.

On the other hand, if women really do eat 4 lbs. of lipstick in their lifetime simply by licking their lips (as reported all over the Internet and attributed to a 2002 Glamour Magazine article), then we think it's certainly worth spending the extra moola to paint your lips with something that's pretty and organic.

Your lips will thank you - and Santa Claus or whoever else you kiss beneath the mistletoe just might thank you as well.

Merry Christmas!

Where to buy:

You can order Organic Lip Love lipsticks directly through Afterglow's website ($24 each).

Prefer to check out the lipsticks in person before you buy? Just use the Store Locator to find a retailer near you.

Traditional Medicinals Teas

I've been a big fan of Traditional Medicinals teas for years ever since a box of Echinacea Throat Coat (R) took care of a stubborn sore throat.

I don't recall if Traditional Medicinals teas were organic back then, but many of them are certainly organic now.

For example, take the Organic Chamomile tea (recommended for its calmative and digestive properties) that contains 100% USDA-certified organic ingredients and 100% Fair Trade Certified ingredients by dry weight.

Organic Peppermint (recommended for healthy digestion) also contains 100% organic ingredients. Organic Smooth Move herbal laxative tea with Senna leaf is 98% organic. You get the picture.

But what really gets us excited is the fact that Traditional Medicinals has just installed a large solar power system at its California headquarters, prompting the company to claim the title of "largest sun-powered tea company in the world!" The system's 1,450 solar panels are designed to generate 430,000 kWh of electricity per year -- more than 75% of the Traditional Medicinals' needs.

If you're wondering about where Traditional Medicinals gets the rest of its electricity, the company apparently supplements its solar power by purchasing wind energy credits.

(Traditional Medicinals says that it also tries to bring the benefits of solar power to some of the communities that supply its tea. In Rajasthan, India, the company says it is providing solar training, solar ovens for cooking and solar lights for night school education to the Bishnoi farming community that provides Senna leaves for Traditional Medicinals teas.)

Where to buy:

You can order Traditional Medicinals teas online from the company's own website (usually $5.49 for a box of 18 teabags) or find the teas in stores at Whole Foods Markets, Vitamin Shoppes ($3.99-4.99) and numerous other natural products retailers. Use the Store Locator to find the most convenient retail location near you.

Cate and Levi

What did you wish for this holiday season? Peace on Earth and Happiness for All?

Sounds swell, but I'm guessing that many of the littler folks among us (and I'm not talking about leprechauns) would love to have a new toy for Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa or whatever other gift-giving holiday applies.

So what to get the special child in your life? Permit us to suggest a classic and eco-friendly stuffed animal from Cate and Levi ($100).

Every animal - frog, dog, rabbit, girafe, monkey or the ever-popular teddy bear - is handmade in Canada from reclaimed wool (i.e. thoroughly cleaned recycled post-consumer wool - mostly from sweaters). The animals are then stuffed with non-dyed wool on the inside.

As Cate & Levi says, choosing to use reclaimed wool "reduces the demand for new materials that require both water and oil for production. Our goal is that our animals leave the softest possible pawprint on the planet."

And speaking of soft, the animals (or at least the monkey we were privileged to test) are supremely soft and squishable. We didn't see any buttons or other hard pieces that might pose a choking risk.

It's true that the lovably mismatched Cate and Levi creatures aren't picture-perfect, but they are unique and special. We're guessing children will fall in love with them just as easily as a Boy could fall in love with a Velveteen Rabbit.

Where to buy:

Use the store finder on Cate and Levi's website to find a retail outlet in the U.S. or Canada near you. We were unable to find any online retailers at this time, but the company assured us that some online partners will start offering Cate and Levi animals for purchase over the Internet. Contact Cate andLevi directly for more information.

FYI, Cate and Levi says that 10% of the company's profits will be donated to charities. The company is developing an online method by which customers will be able to choose from among three designated charities.

PS - If you care about handmade children's toys, check out this post at Cool Mom Picks. Thanks to our reader Katie for alerting us to this issue.

Maggie's Organics & Hat Attack

Plenty of folks recognize the benefits of organic clothing now, but how about back in 1992?

In those beknighted dark ages, organic clothing was many years away from breaking into the mainstream.

But that didn't stop the folks behind Maggie's Organics from founding their company based on "the premise that all workers could be treated ethically and that clothing could be functional, beautiful and affordable and also constructed of environmentally sustainable materials."

16 years later, Maggie's Organics says that it is still using certified organically grown fibers (Certified Organic Cotton or Certified Organic Wool) in all its apparel and accessories.

Intellectually, we admire Maggie's Organics for its commitment to rely on suppliers (many of them locally based in the U.S.A.) who guarantee livable working conditions.

From a consumer & reviewer standpoint, we appreciate the fact that Maggie's Organics uses truly minimal packaging, and that the packaging it does use appears to be made largely or exclusively from recycled materials.

The unisex lounge pants (regularly $23, on sale for $12) that we tested were not only comfortable, soft and durable, but slipping them on seemed to promote a real sense of relaxation and ease. They won't replace tuxedo pants or a pantsuit, but they're certainly ideal for lounging around the house.

As for the Maggie's Organic textured tights ($20.80), they were impressively warm and simultaneously stylish, according to our tester.

And by the way, the Organic cotton crew socks in Natural color ($8) - those were primo too.

From the tips of your toes, we turn to the top of your head. If you're looking for something organic to keep your noggin safe from the winter wind, consider the organic stylish caps from Hat Attack. If your climate is relatively mild, we'd suggest the jaunty, somewhat bohemian $32 Organic Cotton Cap. For chillier climes, you'll get more mileage out of the Organic Cotton Trapper ($75), lined with faux fur. No word on whether that's organic faux fur. That trapper also comes in an adorable baby size ($58) so your little tyke can look Iditarod-ready.

Where to buy:

You can order Maggie's Organics products through the company's online outlet.

Pick up your Hat Attack head-topper through the company's Internet store.

Air Purification Week -- Blueair Eco10

Welcome to installment #2 of Air Purification Week here at 1GreenProduct.com!

On Monday, we explained that indoor air pollution can be a real health concern according to the EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Air purifiers can be help improve indoor air quality, but of course it's best from an eco standpoint to get one of the greenest and most energy-efficient air purifiers on the market.

Which brings us to today's featured air purifier - the Blueair ECO10.

Blueair promises that the Eco10 will get the job done (i.e. clean the air) while using up to 95% less energy than other air cleaners in its class.

Thanks to our trusty Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Meter (available from Current Energy), we're able to test just how much energy the Eco10 actually uses.

First, we have to admire the simplicity of the Eco10 purifier which has just three settings operated by one sturdy knob:

1) Off
2) Minimum HEPASilent(TM) speed
3) Maximum speed

On HEPASilent speed, the Eco10 draws just around 6 watts of power.

Even more impressively, on Maximum speed, it uses only between 10-11 watts of power. (This pretty much matches the literature on Blueair's website, which claims maximum 10 watt usage.)

According to Blueair, the 10 (or 11) watt power usage is "nearly 10 times more energy efficient than the minimum performance requirements for energy-efficient room air purifiers established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its ENERGY STAR program."

What else is there to like about the Blueair Eco10?

1) Excellent build quality. The Eco10 feels solid, which is probably because it's made in Sweden out of high-quality galvanized steel.

2) Great design. We like the fact that the Eco10 doesn't have any bells or whistles. There's just one knob that controls the on/off and fan speeds. The external parts are "powder coated for endurance and environmental protection (with no introduction of chemical outgassing)," according to Blueair. Translation - this machine should last and keep looking good in your home for many years.

3) Wheels! By U.S. standards, we have a relatively small home (600+ square feet), but there are still times you want to move the purifier from the bedroom to the living room, or from the office to the kitchen. Having smooth, easy-rolling wheels on the bottom of the Eco10 makes all the difference in the world.

4) Quiet. The first page of the Blueair Eco10 manual cautions that you might not hear anything when you plug in and turn on the air purifier. If the cool blue power light is on, everything is probably OK. "Bueair is so quiet on min speed, you may not realize it's on," says the manual. Believe it or not, that's really true. But the fan is on and pulling air through the filters to help you breathe easier.

5) Great design #2. Many air purifiers have a filter on one side (usually the back). Put the air purifier next to a wall and you may end up blocking most of the air flow and thus purification power. The Eco10 has three intake filters - one on each side of the unit and one on the bottom. (The bottom filter is made possible since the unit is elevated on wheels - another reason we like the wheeled design.) Clean air returns to the room through the top of the unit and also on each side after passing through one of three Polypropylene HEPA-Silent Filters. We're not the only ones who like the Eco10's design -- it has won a design award in Sweden and is even featured in the permanent collection of Stockholm's National Museum!

6) Lifetime warranty. The Blueair website indicates that the Eco10 comes with a lifetime warranty against defects in material or workmanship, provided that you change the filters every six months. (Interestingly, the user's guide that came with our unit mentioned only a 10-year warranty, but perhaps Blueair has upgraded the warranty since then...)


Incidentally, the warranty brings up one of the few drawbacks we could find in the Blueair Eco10 -- there are three filters that need to be changed every six months. A set of three filters (available directly through Blueair) costs $139.95, which could add up over time.

(The small air intake inlets can simply be vacuumed with a brush attachment, according to the user's guide.)

You could call the price another drawback. The Blueair Eco10 retails for $929.95 through Blueair's website.

We'll finish on a high note by mentioning something else that could justify a Blueair investment. The user's guide notes that Blueair air purifiers are built for years of use and are designed to be disassembled so the components can be recycled after the product has eventually reached the end of its working life.

We're not sure how many buyers will actually go to the trouble fo figuring out how to recycle their Blueair instead of just discarding it. It would be nice if Blueair had some sort of program to pick up and recylce old units. But at least the company tries to build durable products and thinks about how parts of these products can be recycled years down the road. From our experience, that's pretty a pretty rare attitude for a manufacturer to have and one that wins significant kudos from 1GreenProduct.com

Where to buy:

You can order the Blueair Eco10 online directly through Blueair's website (second to last machine from the bottom of the list, $929.95), but you may be able to find it elsewhere at a significant discount.

When we checked, Amazon.com had the Eco10 for around $712. Through Shopping.com, we found another highly-rated online retailer called Air & Water selling the Eco10 for $699.95 including free shipping.

Air Purification Week -- Sharp Air Purifier KC-C150U

Sure, you've heard of Fall Fashion Week, maybe technology week or auto week. Heck, even the Discovery Channel (and the awesome Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson) celebrate Shark Week.

But now we inaugurate the first ever (to our knowledge) Air Purification Week!

That's right - one week, three posts, all devoted to some of the greenest, most eco-friendly air purifiers on the market.

And why should you care about air purification? Well perhaps because metaphorically, the air we breathe in our homes could be comparable to the dirty fish tank scene from Finding Nemo!

Put another way, indoor air pollution is a big problem. For a comprehensive look at the issue, check out The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Pollution from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Here's one excerpt from the guide's introduction -

In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.

The guide has many suggestions for ways to improve air quality. Some of the suggestions involve better ventilation or allergen-proof mattresses. But the guide also discusses the virtues of air cleaners, while also emphasizing the importance of 'source control'. (In other words, if you have moldy carpets, get rid of them.)

Which brings us to our round up of some of the most eco-friendly and energy-efficient air purifiers on the market. Thanks in advance to all three companies for giving us a chance to test their products.

We start with the Sharp Air Purifier KC-C150U.

Sharp says that unit uses a triple filtration system consisting of -

1) A permanent washable pre-filter that traps dust and other large airborne particles

2) A washable active carbon filter to absorb odors

3) A true HEPA filter with an antimicrobial coating to trap 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns. The HEPA filter should catch pollen, smoke, dust, dust mites, dander and mold spores.

Now the KC-C150U is a little pricey (MSRP $499.99), but it's worth noting that Sharp says maintenance costs should be low since the active carbon and True HEPA filters should last 5 years before replacement in average conditions. (Some other air purifiers require yearly filter replacement, which can quickly run into serious money.)

Sharp has also incorporated a proprietary air cleaning method called Plasmacluster ion technology into the KC-C150U. According to Sharp, Plasmacluster is "the leading air purification technology in Japan". What's more, the technology has supposedly been refined to the point that it is now on its 5th generation and therefore twice as efficient as the previous generation of the technology.

Just what is Plasmacluster technology? Here's how Sharp describes it -

Plasmacluster Technology splits water molecules into positively and negatively charged ions which spread through the room, surrounding airborne particles. This system effectively treats the air the way nature cleans the environment, just after a thunderstorm or near waterfalls, to help keep the air healthier and cleaner smelling.

To make it easier for the Plasmacluster to work as intended, Sharp has also incorporated a humidifier into the air purifier. So if you live in a desert environment or just need a bit of extra humidification in the dry winter months, the KC-C150U could solve two problems at once.

(Note that the humidifier has its own filter, which the KC-C150U manual indicates should be replaced every two years.)

So far so good, but what makes the KC-C150U a good Green choice?

Sharp says that the KC-C150U is 35 percent more energy efficient than standard models -- good enough to win an ENERGY STAR rating.

Thanks to our Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Meter (available from Current Energy), we can actually test these claims. Based on our tests, here is the sort of electricity consumption you can expect from the KC-C150U (with humidifier off) measured in watts.

On Maximum power - 75 watts
On Medium power - 14 watts
On Low power - 5 watts (!)

Note that using the Plasmacluster function (which can be turned on or off) didn't seem to affect energy usage much, although switching off the lights on the front of the unit did seem to save 1-2 watts.

I tend to leave the KC-C150U on auto, which seems use the low fan speed, but just a smidgen more power (7 watts). The auto setting really does seem able to detect whether it needs to ramp up the fan. One evening when a neighbor in an apartment down the hall was smoking, I used the KC-C150U to erase the smoke smell from my home. The unit worked on medium power until the smoke particles were trapped and then lowered itself to minimum power once the smell was gone.

Does it work as directed? Yes, the KC-C150U does seem to do a good job at trapping both particles and odors. It's easy to tell that the KC-C150U traps dust because the outer filter gets dusty fairly quickly, at which point you just snap it off and vacuum or rinse off the dust.

We were very impressed with the unit's quiet operation, which Sharp calls Library Quiet (TM) and compares to rustling leaves. We're not sure the unit sounds quite as nice as rustling leaves, but the KC-C150U does provide a soothing sort of white noise to have in the background when operating on the lowest power setting.

Things we're not crazy about -

1) The KC-C150U is made in China and feels/looks a bit plasticky. The design (particularly the integration of the humidifier) is very clever, but we still would have liked to see slightly higher quality materials for the nearly $500 MSRP.

2) Wheels! Another air purifier we tested had a set of wheels on the bottom. This wouldn't cost Sharp very much to add on the design and makes it ten times easier to shift the purifier around your apartment or house as needed.

Overall, we think the KC-C150U is certain
ly an excellent choice if you need a humidifier and an air purifier. After all, it's certainly eco-friendly to combine two separate machines into a single energy-efficient device.

Maintaining the humidifier (per the manual) and keeping it clean takes a bit of extra work, so if you already live in a humid environment, you may want to opt for a different purifier. Basic Sharp models can be much more cost-effective. If you don't need the Plasmacluster technology, for example, you could get the FP-P35CX - which still has a True HEPA filter - for just $229.99 (MSRP).

Where to buy:

You can purchase the Sharp KC-C150U for $499.99 directly from Sharp or at resellers such as Newegg.com (which offers the discount price of just $379.99). Abt.com also has the KC-C150U for $379.

The Sharp KC-C100U offers the same features for smaller spaces (254 square feet vs 347 square feet for the KC-C150U) and costs a bit less - $399.99 directly through Sharp or just $329.90 through Amazon.com.

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!

Fire & Light Recycled Glass Dinnerware & Giftware Review

Happy Halloween!

What's more appropriate on a holiday like today than to celebrate products that have been brought back from the dead and given a new life?

I'm speaking of course about Fire & Light, a company that makes beautiful, handcrafted dinnerware, giftware, candle holders, vases and more by recycling old glass bottles and jars.

Buying Fire & Light products supports a company that's turning "waste" into beautiful works of art. The company's website explains it this way:

Fire & Light hand-poured colored glass tableware has a way of drawing the eye, enchanting the viewer with the unique play of light that filters through its rich spectrum of colors and textures. This enchantment is not simply a quality of the glass or its pigmentation, but of the very way in which it is made, the very hands that pour and press it, the beliefs and spirit that drive the people who craft the product, and the community from which it originates.

It all sounds a little dramatic, but when you hold a Fire & Light glass up to the light, you really do feel like you've brought a bit of art into your daily experience of eating and drinking.

Ladling out some food onto one of Fire & Light's Moonstone plates gave our humble chicken dinners a bit more pizzazz.

And the chunky Tumbler instantly become one of our favorite glasses for iced tea and other cold drinks.

Made in California, Fire & Light's products are dishwasher-safe, but they are not recommended for use in the microwave.

Eco-consumers take note - Fire & Light products come in a wide array of colors, but not all of the colors have the same percentage of recycled content. Most colors have more than 91% recycled glass content, but due to color sensitivity, the Lavender and Citrus colored pieces can use only a small percentage of recycled content.

Where to buy:

Use Fire & Light's Retail Locator to find a store near you that carries Fire & Light products.

Can't find a convenient retailer nearby? You can call 800-844-2223 or email the company to place a direct order.

Looking for a treat?

Why not enter our ongoing LaLicious bath and body products Sweepstakes? Lots of sweet all-natural products like the Vanilla Body Butter ($24) and the Peppermint Sugar Souffle Scrub ($34) - and all with zero calories since they're for external use only!

Fall Fashion Week - earth creations(R)

Most of the time, we wash clothing to get rid of dirt.

But Martin Ledvina and Joy Maples, the founders of earth creations (R), discovered that dirt - particularly red clay - could actually be added to clothing to create beautiful designs.

Martin and Joy have built a business out of creating comfy and eco-friendly clothes for men, women and children using natural clay dyes.

We don't want to pigeonhole earth creations, but we think the style could be described as modern hippy chic. In other words, you'll find lots of earth tones (not surprising, really, since the colors come from the earth) and plenty of loose-fitting clothing that drapes and hangs to flattering effect.

The clothes are built from earth-friendly, sustainable fibers such as industrial hemp, organic cotton and bamboo. Most garments are sewn inside earth creations' own factory in Alabama, where the company says employees are paid a fair wage and enjoy a clean, safe working environment.

According to this history of dyeing, modern synthetic dyes date only to 1856. Before that, humanity made art and fashion using dyes and paints made from natural materials - clays, berries, pounded mollusk shells, indigo plants, charcoal and so forth.

By returning to the artistic traditions at the roots of mankind, earth creations has given us beautiful clothing that is both natural and biodegradable, meaning that the clothes will not have any harmful impact on the world we leave for human generations to come.

Where to buy:

You can buy earth creations clothing through the company's own online store (where you can sometimes find sales like the hemp and organic cotton Criss Cross Top marked down from $49 to $15) or at other Internet retailers.

Want to see which shade of clay looks best against your skin before you buy? Use the Store Finder to find a local retailer near you.

EvoLux EarthLED

We love Green products that let you maintain or improve your quality of life while reducing the quantity of energy, water or other resources that you consume.

That's why we have long advocated the switch from incandescent bulbs to CFL bulbs like the Sylvania micro-mini Twist. It's also why we're thrilled to find that the latest generation of water-saving showerheads (like the one from Moen that we reviewed last month) do such a great job of giving you a satisfying shower experience while potentially reducing your water use by 30%.

One of the nice things about technology and competition is that companies are always looking for the next big improvement in efficiency that will make their products stand out from the pack.

In terms of lighting technology, the next Green frontier is clearly LED light bulbs.

We had a chance to test the new EarthLED EvoLux™ bulb. Billed by its manufacturer Advanced Lumonics as "The World's Most Advanced Light Bulb", the EvoLux bulb apparently uses just 13 watts of power to create the same light output as a 100-watt incandescent bulb.

For comparison sake, let's note that Sylvania recommends using the 23-watt version of its micro-mini Twist in order to replace an old-fashioned 100-watt incandescent bulb.

According to these figures, switching all your bulbs from incandescent to CFL would deliver more than 75% energy savings, while switching from CFL to LED would yield more than 40% additional energy savings (or better than 85% energy savings in comparison to the original incandescent bulbs).

Furthermore, LED bulbs have a couple other benefits over CFLs:

- CFL bulbs contain mercury. LED bulbs like the EvoLux are mercury-free. (It should be noted that CFL bulbs don't contain very mercury as explained in our post on the micro-mini Twist, but of course zero mercury is better than a little mercury in a household product.)

- Drop an incandescent bulbs and it will shatter. The same thing will happen with a CFL. By contrast, Advanced Lumonics says its LED bulbs will not shatter. Less shattering is a good thing in our book.

- LED bulbs should last longer than CFL bulbs, which themselves last longer than incandescent bulbs. I couldn't find an authoritative average lifetime figure for a 100-watt incandescent, but apparently such bulbs are so inefficient that they've actually been banned by the U.S. Congress. Still, the ban has not apparently taken place quite yet since Lowe's still carries 100-watt incandescent bulbs with a rated lifetime of 750 hours. The 23-watt CFL has an advertised lifetime of 12,000 hours. The LED does even better - Advanced Lumonics claims its EvolLux bulb will provide more than 50,000 hours of illumination!

- LEDs are cool. Literally. Incandescent bulbs use most of their energy making heat, not light. As a result, a 60-watt incandescent in a metal lamp creates a serious burn hazard. By contrast, the same fixture is cool to the touch when housing the 13-watt EvoLux bulb.

So why isn't everyone rushing to the store pell-mell to switch over to LED bulbs? Why aren't we all slashing our lighting energy bills by more than 85%?

In a word: Cost.

You can buy a two-pack of those pretty much disposable (and thanks to Congress, endangered) 100-watt incandescent bulbs for $2.38. That's $1.19 per bulb.

CFL bulbs have come down in price nicely over the past few years, but a two-pack of the 23-watt micro-mini Twist bulbs from Amazon will still set you back $13.75 or about $6.88 per bulb.

Are you sitting down? Good, because we don't want you to fall over when you hear that the 13-watt EvoLux S bulb will set you back $79.99 (and that's on sale from its previous price of $99.99)!

Now, you'll certainly make some of your upfront cost back in lower energy costs. Advanced Lumonics claims that the EvoLux S will cost you less than $6 per year (though we're not sure how many hours of illumination that assumes...). But even knowing that your LED bulb will last practically forever and that your energy costs will be miniscule, it's still challenging to plunk down so many Yuppie Food Stamps for a light bulb.

If I were a rich man, I'd not only "biddy biddy bum" all day long, I'd also go out and buy some EarthLED EvoLux bulbs for every room in my chateau.

But since I haven't come into money just yet, for now I'll have to settle for a single LED bulb that lets me see just how bright the future might be.

("How bright is the future?" you ask. Why, of course it's so bright that I've gotta wear shades.)

Where to buy:

You can order the EvoLux bulb (with or without dimmer capability) directly through the EarthLED website or through ThinkGeek.

European Eco-Hotels in Bruges, Paris, Prague and Vienna

Hotel Heritage, Bruges, Belgium

Last week, we shared some thoughts about bike-sharing and bio (i.e. organic) food from our recent European trip.

During our 4-country jaunt, we also made a point of trying to stay as often as possible at eco-hotels.

Before we get into specifics, here are two general thoughts on the European eco-hotel scene:

1) When researching the trip, we were surprised to find that the U.S. hotel industry may actually have somewhat of a head start over its European counterparts. Here, chains like Element and NYLO are popping up based strongly on an eco mindset. We didn't find anything similar overseas. We also didn't find anyplace as emphatically green as say, the Gaia Napa Valley hotel with its Solatube skylights, recycled carpeting, low VOC paints, solar panels, recycling bins, chemical-free landscaping, etc...

2) On the other hand, some hotels that don't necessarily advertise themselves as "eco" still incorporate smart ideas that U.S. hotels could copy to reduce their eco footprint. Most of the hotels where we stayed had a master room switch by the door so that guests could conveniently turn off all the lights in the room on their way out. Several hotels that use key cards also had a slot on the wall just inside the door into which the card had to be inserted in order for lights and TV to function. As a result, guests taking their keys with them when they left for the day (or to check out) would inevitably turn off all the lights simply by lifting their key card from the slot. Both ideas - one convenient, the other a bit more draconian - could help U.S. hotels save energy.

Now here are our top eco-hotel picks and reviews for the cities we visited:

Bruges, Belgium - The Hotel Heritage does not specifically bill itself as an "eco hotel", but several elements of its recent renovations should win points for an eco sensibility. For one thing, the hotel has made a point of trying to install energy-efficient LED lights. The Hotel Heritage also cleverly rigged their A/C system so that if a guest opens the window the A/C shuts off rather than trying to cool the outdoors. Incidentally, Bruges itself (or "Brugge" as it is officially known) is just as charming and romantic as everyone says. The Hotel Heritage amps up this romance factor with a tiny rooftop deck perfect for moongazing.

Paris - How eco-friendly is the Hotel Gavarni? This little property is so determined to stake out an eco stance that it's even developed a website called Green Hotel Paris.

What does this mean in practice? Starting this month, the hotel says it is installing new trash bins that will make it easier for guests to separate recyclables. On the breakfast buffet, Gavarni says that it makes a point of offering fair trade food, while using biodegradable and environmentally-friendly cleaning and maintenance products.

A member of the Hotels and Preference group, Gavarni also tries to offset pollution generated by its business by making contributions to GoodPlanet.org, a foundation created by photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand to promote sustainable development and offset global warming.

Prague - The Residence Belgicka by MaMaison carries the European Ecolabel, signaling the hotel's commitment to green policies. Getting the Ecolabel certification isn't easy. (I believe there are only four hotels in the entire Czech Republic that have qualified thus far.) Properties have to submit a long application detailing their performance in at least 20 product categories encompassing everything from light bulbs to tissue paper, from mattresses to cleaners, from office PCs to refrigerators and more. The overall goal is to reduce energy consumption, reducing consumption of chemical substances contained in detergents and disinfectants, and reduce unsorted waste production.

Apart from its eco qualities, Residence Belgicka was certainly one of the nicest places we stayed during several weeks of European travel. Designed to handle long-term business travelers, the Residence feels like an exclusive apartment building. Our room had both sleeping and living areas with a full kitchen including stovetop and microwave.

In the hotel's basement, there was a self-service laundry room, which proved to be worth its weight in gold after two weeks of living out of a suitcase. The basement also contained a fitness room and even a billards room, both of which seemed empty throughout the weekend that we stayed.

The breakfast is basic, but the hotel's manager did say that she hopes to add some bio/organic food items soon as soon as suppliers can accommodate her. Rates start around 115 Euros per night (for a studio apartment) in October, which seems like very good value.

If you don't mind traveling a bit further by tram from the center of Prague, another good eco option is the Hotel Adalbert, located at Brevnov Monastery, the oldest Monastery in the Czech Republic. According to the hotel literature, monks have been living at Brevnov for more than 1,000 years.

Named after the monastery's founder (St. Adalbert) and located inside the former convent, Hotel Adalbert was the first Czech Republic hotel to receive EU Ecolabel certification. You'll notice that the hotel has reduced waste by eliminating little bottles of soap and shampoo in favor of wall-based dispensers. 

Hotel Adalbert was the only we stayed in Europe that has already placed special trash containers in the rooms so that guests can separate paper and plastic from other garbage. You can read all about the hotel's eco initiatives here. (Note that the hotel lists the absence of air conditioning as an eco point. While it is certainly true that eliminating A/C can save energy, you may want to keep this in mind if planning a trip to Prague in the middle of July...)

One tip - the on-site restaurant Klasterni Senk appears to be very popular (at least on the weekends). We would suggest booking in advance if you'd like to have the convenience of eating within the monastery and having a short walk back to your room after dinner.

(Oh and it's not particularly eco, but we have to give a strong recommendation to Pizzeria Groseto, where the pizza was so good, the prices so reasonable and the service so friendly that we ate there 4 out of the 5 nights we were in town!)

Vienna - Definitely the swankest eco hotel we experienced in Europe, the Hotel Altstadt feels like a private home. (A very expensive private home furnished with a sexy modern art collection.) We were lucky enough to stay one of the rooms recently restyled by designer Matteo Thun. If you've got a special romantic occasion to celebrate, the Felix suite will certainly help set the right mood.

What's more, you can feel good about staying at a property that's been awarded the Austrian equivalent of the EU Ecolabel. (If you read German, here's a link to the Umweltzeichen program in which Altstadt participates.)

In practical terms, this means that the Altstadt uses lots of recycled paper supplies, buys food from local suppliers for its tasty buffet, choose the safest biodegradable cleaning products and gives its employees a subsidy toward the use of public transportation. 

The hotel has also installed energy-saving lighting systems -- many of the hallway lights use motion detectors so that they only turn on when necessary. If you're sensitive to cigarette smoke, you'll be relieved to know that all rooms are non-smoking. The hotel has even taken the energy-saving step of agreeing not to illuminate any outdoor signage. The effect is to make the hotel seem even more like a private and exclusive Viennese hideaway.