Our first entry into the MetaEfficient gallery is the Spun Chair by Heatherwick Studio. Is it an oversized toy? Is it a sculpture? Is it a piece of furniture? All three perhaps. I first spotted the Spun Chair while at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Everyone who took the chair for a spin seemed to be delighted. The chair gives …
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The Longest Mountain Bike Trail In The World
It could be said that the Great Divide Bike Trail is like the Mount Everest of cycling adventures. Not only is it the longest mountain bike trail in the world at 2,500 miles, but it has over 200,000 feet of elevation gain. Stretching from Canada to Mexico, the Great Divide bike trail travels through some of the most mountainous regions …
“Watch-Out” Roundabouts: More Efficient Than Stop Lights
The safety and efficiency of roundabouts has been hotly contested in countries that have been wary to embrace them, such as the United States. People have argued that roundabouts are more confusing than signal lights, and consequently lead to more frequent accidents. While it is true that roundabouts can be confusing for first-time users, officials argue that once people have …
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Top 5 Bike-Friendly Small Towns
Most lists of the top bike-friendly towns include major metropolitan areas, but small towns, those with a population under 100,000, actually pull in higher percentages of bike commuters. Small towns have the advantage of smaller road grids, easier commutes, and local government support. The most bike-friendly small towns are typically college towns where bicycling is considered by college students as …
Two Books That Examine The Causes Of Cancer, And Offer Practical Advice
There are many books on cancer, but there are surprisingly few books that examine the causes of cancer.
Glycerin: An Underrated Natural Moisturizer
Glycerin is perhaps the best natural humectant (moisturizing substance). It absorbs an amazing 50 percent of its weight in moisture from the air. This makes it an excellent aftershave — just a rub a little on your skin for the moisturizing effect. Glycerin is created when a vegetable oil like olive oil is mixed with an alakli. The result is …
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The Best Places To Trade-In Your Electronics, DVDs & Books
Recently, I tested trading-in some of my old books, electronics, DVDs and CDs that were gathering dust on my shelves. I was able to free up some shelf space, and in addition I received some cash and credit (about $600 total). All of these trades went smoothly, the most laborious part was packaging all the items in a box, and …
Bone Char: A Very Effective Filter
Bone char — the name is perhaps…uninspiring, but it’s one the most underrated water filtering substance I’ve encountered.
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Bidet Seats: More Efficient Than Toilet Paper
Bidets are those devices that spray water (and sometimes air) on your posterior. They are more hygienic than toilet paper, and save you money in the long run. In Japan, high-tech bidets called Washlets are now the most popular electronic equipment being sold — 60% of households have them installed. In Venezuela they are found in approximately 90% of households. …
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Alpaca Wool Blankets: Amazingly Warm And Inexpensive
Alpacas have been bred in South America for thousands of years. Their wool is a soft, durable, luxurious fibers. Alpaca wool is similar to sheep’s wool, but it is warmer and has no lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic. Here are some alpaca wool blankets I’ve personally tested: Alpaca Blanket Made In The US If you are looking for an alpaca …
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Efficient Products I Like
Here are some efficient products I like in 2013. I’ve tested all these products and found that they perform well. Generally, I like things that are ultralight and ultradurable. I also look for things that are sustainably made and come with lifetime warranties. For purchase things, I like Amazon and REI, due to their efficient return policies — I return …
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Fan Creates Tempest In Your Room Using Just 133 Watts
Lasko is a company that still makes its fans in the USA. I like their all-metal fans because they are very durable, and the parts can be replaced by Lasko. They also come with a two-year warranty. The fan featured here is the Lasko 20″ High Velocity Floor Fan, and it will move a huge amount of air in a …
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The Stealth Toilet Uses Only 0.8 Gallons Per Flush
In the U.S., toilets account for 30% of indoor water use, but this is mostly due to their inefficient design. So I was pleased to find the Stealth Ultra-High-Efficiency Toilet toilet by Niagara. This is probably the most water efficient flush toilet available for residential use. The Stealth uses only 0.8 gallons per flush (GPF). This is much less than the average …
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How To Remove Your Personal Information From Online Databases
Today, there are numerous databases and search engines being filled with our personal data, and more people are using online tools to do background checks on their neighbors, business associates and potential employees.
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How To Control Your Data Online
We’ve become accustomed to online companies hosting our data, but this practice is actually highly inefficient. This page explains the situation pretty simply. My advice is to use “unhosted” online services that support personal data control, or “zero-knowledge” services that encrypt your data before it leaves your computer. I’ve created a list of suitable services at the end of this …
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Efficient In 2012: Collaborative Consumption
The rise of collaborative consumption is perhaps the most efficient movement arising in society today. Basically, collaborative consumption is based on an economic model where products are shared or rented instead of owned. This model may become pervasive enough to replace the ownership-based model we have today. For good introduction to this movement, see the video above. It’s by Rachel …
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Mint: A Free, Easy-To-Use Operating System
I’ve converted my Apple computers to run Mint Linux in place of OS X. Mint Linux was built to be easy to install and a system that novice users could enjoy. Based on Ubuntu, Mint became the poplar desktop version of Linux this year. Linux is a free, open-source operating system that been around for 30 years. It’s not widely …
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The Best LED Reading Lamps
The small size and directional light output of LEDs make them ideal for personal reading lights, and they are energy efficient too. Here are some of the best LED reading lamps:
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The Best LED Camping Lanterns
LED Lanterns are perhaps the most useful portable lights — they can be used as camp lights, work lights, or emergency lights. The LEDs inside aren’t susceptible to shocks, and they burn for decades.
The Best Golf Cart Chargers
What do you want in a golf cart charger? Golf cart batteries are lead-acid batteries that operate at 36 or 48 volts. Like all lead-acid batteries, they must be charged at a specific voltage and amperage levels. They cannot be fast charged — a full charge requires 14 to 16 hours.
