Sometimes the best new ideas are reinventions of old ones. Take the waste cans, dish racks, and utensil holders that have been redesigned by the people at simplehuman, for example. Their trash cans have a pedal-activated flip-up lid that closes quietly and a pedal meant to last for over 50,000 uses (because isn’t that the first thing to go?). Their u-framed, two level dish-drying rack has a detachable second level that provides twice the storage room and features cool loops for hanging and drying wine glasses and cups. But their best product? A cabinet-mounted system broken into two parts—one to store up to 50 plastic grocery bags, and the other to hang a grocery bag for trash. Economical AND environmentally friendly. This is good thinking, folks. Their site deserves a visit.
My life as a New Englander has not granted me great exposure to the metal roof. Truth be told, it has never aesthetically appealed to me, even as I acknowledge its resilient properties. That said, I CAN appreciate a roofing product that claims to last up to 100 years without needing significant maintenance. Such is the case with the steel roofing that Follansbee markets. The secret to their roof’s longevity is a ZT alloy plating over steel. It’s a combination of zinc and tin, and according to the company it can resist the corrosive effects of salt spray for an indefinite amount of time. Why indefinite? The ASTM test to measure the length of time the material can resist salt spray before rusting was abandoned after 5,000+ hours, because the material showed no sign of rust. Sounds pretty resistant to me. Such a product would be worth looking into, especially for those lucky enough to reside near the coast. By the looks of things, they’ve also found ways to make the stuff look quite attractive! Who knows, they may even entice me…
I don't have a pool and I don't have kids, but if I did, I might give strong consideration to installing SonarGuard. This just HAS to be one of the coolest technologies available for families looking to make their pool a safer place. SonarGuard basically casts an invisible "sonar net" just below the surface of the pool water. Any disturbance to the "net" (be it a falling baby or a Russian submarine) results in the sounding of an alarm. Apparently the system is pretty smart—disturbances caused by wind, rain, and small toys are filtered out by SonarGuard, and a system deactivated for maintenance or pool use will automatically turn back on, ensuring 24/7 monitoring. A price tag of aroun $5,000 might seem a bit hefty, but no real price can be put on pool safety.
If given the choice between conventional energy sources and solar ones, I think most folks would feel morally compelled to go the green route and use that flaming hot orb for more than just a nice tan. Making the switch may seem like a daunting one, which is why homeowners should look to the good people at Find Solar for assistance in taking that first step. Find Solar is an online resource that connects homeowners with solar contractors in their area. It also has a "solar estimator" tool that allows you to determine (somewhat roughly) the cost and payback of installing a solar system in your home. It will also calculate the greenhouse gases (CO2) saved over the 25 year life-span of the system. It's worth a trip to their site just to use that nifty little tool. Come on, people. This planet isn't going to get healthy on its own...
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently informed of a recall to the Agio International's "Garden Treasures" Outdoor Steel Dome Fireplaces. About 34,000 were sold exclusively at Lowe’s for around $100. Apparently there have been instances of the exterior touch-up paint igniting. Fortunately no injuries have yet been reported, and anyone who has purchased one can return it to Lowe’s for a full refund. Go to the CPSC website to verify manufacturer's item code and to review specific instructions concerning the recall. These are pretty popular products—I just saw two such fireplaces outside a couple beach houses on the coast of NH. Let’s hope the owners read this blog…
I have given much thought to the notion of ditching my landline, as I make and take the majority of calls on my cell phone and don't like the idea of paying for two services. When I ran across the Dock-N-Talk by Phone Labs, I saw it as a sign. The Dock-N-Talk operates like a universal docking station for cell phones. Compatible with over 900 types of cell phones, the Dock-N-Talk allows you to charge your phone AND take cell phone calls in the house using your ordinary corded or cordless telephones. This means no more missed calls because of patchy cell reception, and no more cradling an impossibly small cell phone between ear and shoulder while doing dishes, cooking, etc. And best of all—no more cell phone radiation exposure during long calls and conversations. The only challenge might be training myself to dock the cell phone as soon as I am home. The docking station costs about $140, and the necessary corresponding cell phone cable that connects phone to station costs $20. An available Bluetooth Module for wireless interfacing between phone and station runs for $80. Available now.
We did an entry a couple months ago about a do-it-yourself solar panel that was created by the good people at The Sietch, an online community of green-thinking go-getters. Another of their clever creations—the Solar Oven—uses wood, a junkyard panel of glass, cardboard, mirrors, and duct tape to create a 14” x 26” x 17” box that catches the sun’s rays and can heat up to 275° F. They claim it can go from ambient temperature to 120° F in 10 minutes, and all you need is a day that stays sunny for 20 minutes of every hour. Sorry, Seattle… Check out their website to get the step-by-step how-to’s, and then go build one yourself! I don’t recommend leaving a cooking chicken unattended—especially if you live in a dog-friendly community.
