Give the Old Swirley the Heave Ho!
By Lois Zendarski
December 3, 2007 – 3:28 pm
Ya say ya don’t like the shape of those darned compact fluorescent light bulbs? Ya say they stick out of the fixtures and don’t look nice? Ya wanna give that swirly the heave ho?? Well, I think they are starting to fix that for ya!
The designers from Hulger ,the same place that brought you the wind up lamp design, are here to entice you to take a look at some artistically created bulbs that are sure to please even the most finicky decorator! The electronics boutique think tank based in London is looking for a manufacturer to produce these sculpture-like bulbs.
The prototype is a reaction to the lack of imgination, diversity and personality seen in the conventional CFL. The old types can be used in the house or outhouse, but lack the panache they so need. (especially in fancy fixtures for the home)
The Plumen… consisting of plume type forms can come in many varieties and for all personalities. It will put the regular CFLs right next to the Victrola!
via: ecogeek.org & dezeen.com
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Snap Together Sustainable Chair is Easy to Assemble
By Lois Zendarski
November 29, 2007 – 1:25 pm
Four pieces, no hardware and birch plywood are the materials needed to put this funny but clever chair together! It snaps together, is suitable for outdoor use and is pretty easy to assemble. It has two shapes and four pieces total. Even I might be able to figure it out! (after putting the back on backwards only once!)
Made from sustainable material, the thoughtfully produced design is a treehugger’s delight!
My question: Is it comfortable? Let’s Martha Stewartize it a bit using some used bluejean fabric chair pads!
via: TreeHugger
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Educational & Fun, Too!
By Lois Zendarski
November 29, 2007 – 1:25 pm
Exciting and fun all in one! Let your imagination or that of your child soar with this solar powered carousel! This German made, well made carousel is sure to send giggles to anyone! Consider it for a table near the window or on the windowsill. The carousel spins around in the sunshine!
This adoreable toy is suitable for ages 3 and up. The play ‘people’ are not included. The base and post are made from Polish beech wood. (wow, never heard of that!) It does not require batteries as it is solar powered. It is excellent for demonstrating the effects of solar power. (in shade, it stops spinning)
size: 15 cm. diameter, 20 cm. high (approx. 6 inch x 8 inches)
via: ecogadgets.com
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By Lois Zendarski
November 29, 2007 – 1:23 pm
Everyone needs a robot. A solar powered robot would even be better! Outfitted with a solar panel on its back, this robot will provide hours of fun for that certain someone! (kids and adults alike)
This building kit is a teaching tool as well. The kid includes instructions for putting together a gearbox, how to set up an automatic motor and how to connect simple wiring circuits with a solar panel, battery, motor and switch!
The instructions are illustrated and all you’ll need to put this solar robot together are a screwdriver, needle nose pliers and an AA battery.
WARNING: this item contains over 100 parts and is NOT suitable for young children. Even for older children, adult help may be needed.
Measures 13 x 18 x 8 cm when assembled
via: ecocentric.com/uk
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Power by the People!
By Lois Zendarski
November 27, 2007 – 9:55 am
From our friends at Gaiam comes this great people powered blender. The Vortex Blender requires no electric nor batteries, just the energy that comes from human muscles! I can see this as being a great addition to your tailgating supplies as well as for picnics, camping or for those off-the-grid. At $88 it’s a bit pricey, but check out the price of electric ones…the good ones aren’t cheap either!
The 48 oz., (that would be 1.5 liter), pitcher is made from durable Lexan. It has an O-ring top that seals and a removable pour spout that is actually a 1 oz. shot glass! The outer finish is a brushed stainless steel. It has soft but stable rubber feet, ergonomic handle and c-clamp to attach to picnic table or counter top. The base fits handily into the pitcher for easy storage.
Now, the article tells us that high speed operation is noisy. (ok, come on, what blender ISN’T noisy at ANY speed???) It also says that your camping neighbors will know you are mixing up drinks. I say, invite ‘em over for a milkshake!
No data regarding calorie expenditure was available. 
via: gaiam.com
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Will There be Enough for All?
By Lois Zendarski
November 26, 2007 – 9:41 am
Food vs. Fuel
Politics vs. the Environment
The United Nations is looking at these debates with concern as increasing amounts of corn is being diverted from the food chain to be processed into ethanol. The extra production of corn for ethanol use is driving up its price. The higher prices are causing concern for farmers who need the corn to feed their animals. In turn, the price of meat and poultry goes up because of it. We all lose, or do we?
This boom in corn commodities market means more famines for the United Nations and the World bank to deal with, but investors are the ones who are finding a gold mine amidst human misery. Farmers are switching their production from wheat for human foods to corn for ethanol. Governments are having to make the choice of feeding their people or helping the environment. In countries where famines are not looming, politicians are making the choice.
Investors are searching for places to grow more and more of the gasoline-like producing crop. One problem they are finding is that infrastructures are not available in remote areas to transport the products. Add to the that, the fact that sprawling cities are gobbling up good farmland and the recipe spells disaster for the poorest of the world’s poor. Where will the needed crops be farmed? How will farmers be able to produce enough to satisfy hungry people and greedy gas guzzlers?
Who WILL the winners of the new gas wars be?
Will our governments be there to save us all or just be there for those with the largest campaign contributions or lobbyists? Or will it end up being people vs. commodities and money?
via: forbes.com
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(As Much as I REALLY Hate To!)
By Lois Zendarski
November 26, 2007 – 9:38 am
Yes, a lot has been said about the retail superstore, but some personal experience always helps in the journalistic mix.
I had my oil changed at Walmart last week. At the same time, my daughter decided to purchase an outfit. (both of Chinese polyester–I am cringing, waiting for eco-friends to hit me with a US grown tomato) (Honest, she couldn’t find anything any place else!) Given that I’ve not been smacked yet, I will continue.
I always ask for the hangers because Walmart has, in the past always thrown them out. I reuse them for years.
The cashier would not allow me to take it! Why? BECAUSE, he said, “Walmart recycles them. In fact, we recycle EVERYthing now.”
Imagine that! Walmart? Green?
Much to my pleasant amazement and surprise, I also found out that oil cans are recycled as well as cardboard. Upon leaving the store, I actually SAW bales upon bales of cardboard behind the store, ready for pickup!
Hurray to Wally World! Now, let’s get some USA made products back in the store!
via: personal experience
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Crankin' the Tunes
By Lois Zendarski
November 25, 2007 – 8:19 pm
Although the iPod has been duplicated and reinvented, a new version has hit the market, however, probably not for main stream America. The eco-iPod comes with all the enviro-bells & whistles that us greenies would love.
The eco prefix is applied because it does all of this without need of batteries. It is human-powered by winding the fold out handle located at the back of the product! You can, however, charge it via the USB cable of your computer.
From the article:
An on-board lithium ion battery has a maximum playtime of 20 hours. Audio will play back in mp3, wma, asf, wav, ogg formats (no mention of aac, the iPod default). The 1.8″ colour screen shows videos in asv (and wmv, avi, mpeg, after conversion) and photos as jpeg, bmp, gif images. With 2GB of built-in memory the media reader supports SD cards to increase this. Microsoft Windows seems to be the supported operated system when connected to computers with no indication of compatibility with Macs. Sells for £1media player unit is a video player, music player, fm radio, LED torch, photo viewer, hi-fi recorder, memo recorder, data storage device and a mobile phone charger.
Trevor Baylis is the British inventor that created the original wind-up radio, as a way of getting information on HIV/AIDS to remote villagers in Africa. The success of that project brought about the brand Freeplay, which has been dominating the human powered gadget market for about ten years.
via: TreeHugger
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Post #23 of the 2007 Green Blogathon
By Lois Zendarski
November 17, 2007 – 10:56 am
Ok, the first thing that came to mind when I saw this product was John Travolta. Come on, you know the guy in Saturday Night Fever with the three piece white suit that could dance like no one else? Wow, I have digressed.
Well, think of him, then think of light up dance floors and DISCO balls. This Sun Dancer laser light show is a high tech coupling of solar power, an efficient DC motor and laser etched diffraction grating. It boils down into one dandy laser light show! (see where I was going with this?)
The sunlight spins the disc, (solar), diffracting the light into a myriad of colors and patterns that vary with the speed and viewing angle.
The best part??? NO batteries or electric required! It’s SOLAR! Woo HOO!
Eco-disco balls… up my alley for sure! A big ol’ THUMBS up from this former disco queen! Top it off with the fact that 15% of this purhase helps to send inner-city kids to the annaul Earth Day for Kids which is a hands-on education program at the Solar Living Institute and you have a match made in Eco-Heaven!
via: gaiam.com
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Post #21 for the 2007 Green Blogathon
By Lois Zendarski
November 17, 2007 – 10:25 am
Here’s a nifty little toy car that will give kids, (and older grown up kids), fun for hours! Using kinetic energy that you provide by pulling the car towards you, it will take off across the room! This little whiz-banger stores energy in its flywheel that gives it its ‘rocket power’. Set up a ‘track’ of pillows for it to go through, pretend it is a Nascar wannabe, let your imagination FLY!
Witness kids, parents and grandpa being entertained with this non-electric, off-the-grid based educational toy. (although ya might not wanna tell ‘em how educational it actually is–you know, talking about kinetic energy which will lead into a talk about potential energy, nuclear and chemical!) (ok, maybe that is just in MY HOUSE??) What can I say?? Some home school parents are just into Physics!
And, another benefit of getting this super toy is that the royalties are given to Projeto Mil Folhas, which is over 1.5M square foot Amazon reforestation project. So, you are not only giving a toy that teaches, but a toy that helps others! Zecar’s maker matches these funds to create a double donation that literally rides to the rescue of the rainforest. 2.5″ H x 2.5″ W x 3.5″ L. China.
And, according to the article:
“15% of your purchase helps send inner-city kids to the annual Earth Day for Kids hands-on education program at the Solar Living Institute”
via: gaiam.com
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