Book Review: “Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things”

July 28, 2004 by 5 Comments

The ideas in this book are refreshing and optimistic. The authors, William McDonough and Michael Braungart, propose that factories, homes and consumer products can be redesigned so that they are actually beneficial to the world. This is in contrast … [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Book, cherry tree, consumer, cradle to cradle, damage, designing products, harm, plastic resin, review, william mcdonough

Swampy IceStrMystr 12-Volt Model IM-30

July 27, 2004 by 1 Comment

Notes from Manufacturer: The IceStrMystr IM30 combines ice induced Air Conditioning with the age-old art of evaporative cooling. The cold water rushes through a special Cooling Core to produce air-conditioned air instead of merely evaporative … [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Air Conditioning, Evaporative Cooling Tagged With: conditioned air, cube ice, cycle, deep cycle battery, evaporative cooling system, IceStrMystr, Packs, temperature drop, volt, water

Premier Peerless 36 " Natural Gas or LP Range – GAK

July 27, 2004 by Leave a Comment

Manufacturer Notes: Beware of new stoves with a 500 watt electric glow bar pilot in the oven that runs orange hot all the time the oven is in use, consuming power rapidly. Peerless Premier kitchen stoves offer convenient electronic spark to light the … [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Stoves and Ovens Tagged With: alternative energy store, clock timer, glow bar, inch, kitchen stoves, lifetime, Natural, range, stainless steel front, watt

Canon i560 Printer

July 27, 2004 by 1 Comment

We list this inexpensive printer because it is one of the most efficient in terms of ink consumption and ink price. Also, Canon has committed to eliminating lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and mercury from its printers by December 2004. Inkjet … [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Printers Tagged With: Canon, canon i560 printer, consumption, Inkjet, inkjet printers, lead, photo, photo enthusiasts, toyota prius, toyota prius hybrid

Panasonic Toughbook W2

July 27, 2004 by Leave a Comment

Most notebooks aren't really built tough enough. They get scratched and break if you drop them. The Toughbook W2 has a lot going for it. It's rugged (it has a magnesium alloy case & shock mounted hard drive), ultralight (2.8 lbs), thin (about … [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Notebook Computers Tagged With: alloy, battery life, fire retardants, grid power systems, magnesium, magnesium alloy case, panasonic toughbook w2, shock, Toughbook, ultralight

Producing Drinking Water from Rain Water

July 26, 2004 by 15 Comments

It is possible to produce pure drinking water from rain water using a combination of devices costing around $300 total. Here's how to do it: Install a roof washer and a rain barrel ($200). A roof washes diverts the first ten gallons or so of … [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Rain Water Harvesting, Water Filters Tagged With: drinking, drip filter, Producing, rain barrel, roof washer, taste of rain, use, washer, water, water faucet

Azumi Multifunctional Furniture

July 1, 2004 by Leave a Comment

  This chest of drawers by Azumi cantilevers with a simple action to become an occasional table. The Azumis, a husband and wife team of designers, say this reflects Japanese needs where rooms are often multipurpose and furniture and tatami mats … [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Furniture Tagged With: Azumis, cantilevers, chest, chest of drawers, furniture, multifunctional furniture, multipurpose, occasional table, tatami mats, Team

Chlorine Filter for Baths: Crystal Ball

May 16, 2004 by Leave a Comment

This bath filter removes 90% or more of free chlorine, improves lathering with quartz crystals. You swirl in the bath water for a few minutes, for filtration to occur. Available from: Natural Baby or Ebay … [Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Bathroom Products, Shower Filters Tagged With: Available, Baby, Baths, chlorine filter, ebay, Filter, free chlorine, natural baby, quartz crystals, water