One of the things i like about the Hemp fiber in bags is its sturdiness. Hemp bags tend to be stronger and more durable than cotton bags, and some canvas bags.

At OkoBox, they feature a reusable hemp grocery bag which apart from being sturdy is priced very reasonably at $8. The design it not bad either. The hemp grocer is perfect for trips to the local market or quick runs to the dry cleaner.

Reader Question

Which is your fave reusable bag fiber? Is it canvas, hemp, bamboo, jute, or other? Tell us below in the comments section. My personal fave fiber for re-usable bags is Jute. It seems to be the strongest. What do you think?

EcoGeek has just written an article on how one can now go to Walmart (and select) Sam’s Club stores to arrange for solar panel installation.

solar panels kiosk at sams club

Essentially this is done via a KIOSK system. You enter in your information and the self service kiosk will generate partners contracted with Walmart to sell and install solar panels in your home.

Some argue it is not feasible for the average American to add solar panels to their homes, as the price of install is still too high. When the prices come down abit more, widespread adaptation will be seen.

Will this increase use of solar energy in American homes?

I’m sure it will some, but i concur with those who argue the price is still not within the reach of many. Kiosk or no kiosk. It will create awareness and buzz though.

Via: [EcoGeek]

Soda water is apparently something familiar to us as a social drinking substance or something that can hit the spot in times of thirst. But you would be surprised at its other uses, mostly by being a solution towards cleaning certain items such as rugs, mugs or your usual room carpet.

We have seen a lot of common items in the world in the past and if you are looking for another item outside the known items for cleaning healthily like vinegar, try to use soda water this time around.

For stains on carpet or clothing, try pouring on a little soda water, then dab gently until the stain is gone. This works best when the stain is fresh. You can also add salt, if the stain is particularly stubborn

Use it to make an inexpensive, healthy fruit soda for children by mixing equal amounts of your favorite fruit juice with ice-cold soda.

Remove stains from coffee mugs with soda. Fill the cup with soda and let it sit for a while, then rub with any type of towel to remove stains.

soda also works well for removing stains from silver items.

(Source) Hippy Shopper

We talked about the NEW! eco friendly computer from Dell last week, and today i found a neat video with someone unboxing the Studio Hybrid PC.

Basically the video gives you a nice 360 degree view of the Studio Hybrid fresh from the box. Watch it below.

The kitchen area of our homes is the last thing we would think about when it comes to applying a green and eco-friendly touch. While we only identify a kitchen as a place where we cook our meals and storage for raw food resources such as meat, vegetables and canned goods, the other aspect of applying the following kitchen practices can be great for making an eco-friendly kitchen setup:

1. Water Conservation
2. Energy Conservation
3. Think Recycle
4. Eco-Friendly Appliances
5. Garbage Disposal

These tips may look familiar and you would normally say that you do them. But read more on them and determine the level of your eco-friendliness. Chances are your level of being green may be falling short of how eco-friendly standards are expected these days.

(Source) Jamaica Cleaner

A healthy home is made by healthy green products. For Pacific Dry Goods, it is more than just offering green products such as the EcoTowl and the EcoSponge. It is about donating a portion of products sold to the Save the Earth Foundation which is sure to go a long way.

The EcoTowl is made from viscose, a natural fabric made from harvested fibers for trees grown in sustainable forests. It is reusable and also made from bamboo and corn.

So if you want a good sponge or towel in your homes, check out these products which cost between $5 to $6 for a two pack. They are certain to be great additions for homes gearing up for an eco-friendly setting.

(Source) Baltimore Sun

Ikea already has a great image with the eco friendly people of the world, after all, they do sell some eco friendly goods. Furthermore,  everything is flat packed  in storage and the transportation is kept to a minimum.

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But, it seems that Ikea is going even further than that with a a $77 billion investment into its Green Tech Energy Fund. The idea being to develop a reasonably priced solar panel kit for use in the home. Sounds great, because if Ikea can do for eco tech what they have done with furniture,  then they will make it accessible to a broader base of people.

Source [Inhabitat]

If you sometimes like to get out  and do some PC work in your backyard or by the pool. Take a look at SunTable, an outdoor solar table.

The outdoor solar table lets you power up your laptop via the Suns rays. The table is rather long, allowing more items than a single PC. It is also water-resistant. The table is a neat idea, and would be great for those who spend a good deal of time on the internet.

Approximate charge load is 4 hours, plenty of time for some good surfing.

Source: [Laptop Pimp]

Our yards need care and maintenance in order to continue to flash that great outdoor look. Among the needs, fertilizer is a necessity to make sure that they are nurtured in the proper way. We are all aware that fertilizer use may be dangerous, but if we look a little bit farther, we will see that organic fertilizer is a better, safer option. Among them include Terracycle, an organic lawn fertilizer that is safe and offered through recycled soda bottles.

“A natural product, it is made from organic manure, call it worm poop. It is lawn fertilizer and virtually has no environmental impact. Safe to use around kids and pets. Once you apply it, it is safe to walk on after that,” said Tabano.

Organic fertilizer is made up of natural animal byproducts and you will see a warning but that’s not because it’s toxic, just concentrated.

(Source) News 10

The air we breathe is essential to living healthy modern day lives. There are some places where you can find ionizers separately from the traditional fans and air conditioners and surely their use is to help sanitize the air in the room from germs and untoward pests roaming around unseen by the naked eye.

Proton is offering a portable air conditioner that not only aims to provide great ventilation but also a cleaner air and atmosphere to help keep healthy and sustainable lives.

Via Yanko Designs

These plastic bottles which can contain either milk or fruit juice are really a such a waste of a recyclable plastic container, but as with many of these items they are rarely recycled and nearly always end up in the landfill site.

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However, thanks to Frugal Dad, here is a list of some of the ways that these containers could be used for:

 1. Collect rainwater to irrigate gardens.

2. Cut milk jug in half and use top as a funnel for pouring motor oil.

3. Cut off handled section to use as dog food scooper.

4. Make powdered drinks and juices.

5. Use as a paint cup for trim work or small paint jobs.

6. Use milk jugs to store granulated yard products such as ant killer.

7. Homemade toilet brush holder.

8. Store foods.

9. Refrigerator organizer.

10. Portable freezer.

11. Industrial strength paperweight.

12. Plant starter containers.

Source [Hippy Shopper]

To be a designer of something that is eco friendly is one thing, but the design something that is so different too takes a lot of determination to keep going until the opportunity opens up for their products to get onto the market. This is exactly how Amy Hunting has made it to the top.

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As you can see from the designs how special these household items are, and it makes no difference what sort of style of furniture is already in your home, these will fit into your home with no problem at all.

Source [Eco Friendly]

Most great homes today make use of the fireplace to get a relaxing feel as well as warmth when it comes to homes located in cold climate regions. However, the problem of some homes is the matter of pollution produced by burning wood and of course the supply of wood, a resource that is undoubtedly dilapidating by the day.

Fire crystals have been introduced these days as a better alternative. They make use of natural gas and are a lot less polluting substance.

FireCrystals(R) fireplace glass is a more healthful, environmentally friendly alternative to wood for fireplaces and fire pits, according to a recent rating by Degree Of Green(TM), a program that helps consumers determine the green and healthy aspects of home and building products.

(Source) The Earth Times

Just found a great NEW! green resource for home related products. Lets Go Green is an online retailer that carries water conservation products, recycled paper goods, green home starter kits, and corn based picnic ware.

The eco friendly picnic ware is comprised of bowls, knives, plates, and cups. The plates are made using sugar cane fibers instead of plastic, the knives are made using (PSM) a plastic starch material, and the cups are made using corn.

Bonus: Right now you can win a sampler pack of the eco friendly utensils, at Alternative Consumer. But hurry the giveaway ends Wednesday.

I suppose that the humble toothbrush is not likely to get much attention, after all, they are mainly made from plastic, and therefore they should be hidden away in the bathroom well out of sight from any visitors.

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However, not you are able to use your toothbrush with pride as these ones are made mainly from recycled yoghurt pots, which is a good use for them.

Features:

Soft, virgin nylon bristles placed in a tri-level configuration with softer outer rows to protect your gums and tooth enamel

Available in Medium, Soft, and Ultrasoft

Curved, easy to grip handle makes it easy to reach every part of your teeth and gums

Handle is made from 100% recycled plastic, including Stonyfield Farm® yogurt cups

Priced at $4

Source [Hippy Shopper]