Green Solutions Product Picks

1. GreenGlass Fiberglass-Faced Gypsum Sheathing

GreenGlass, made by Temple-Inland, is a moisture- and mold-resistant fiberglass-faced gypsum product that is suitable for commercial and residential applications. GreenGlass adds structural strength, fire resistance and a warranty for up to 12 months of exposure in normal weather conditions. GreenGlass sets a higher standard of recycled content for building. Made from a 100% recycled gypsum core, the product's 90% overall recycled content and high performance make it a great alternative to traditional glass sheeting. Available in 1/2 inch and 5/8 inch thickness from Temple-Inland. So if you're looking for a material that will give you valuable credits in environmental rating systems like LEED and the NAHB's Green Building Standard, GreenGlass is a perfect start.

2. Thermal Torch

Poor thermal insulation in buildings causes a massive waste of energy every day. Some poorly insulated areas and thermal bridges are quite obvious, but in most cases they are invisible to the human eye. The Thermal Torch uses thermal camera technology to reveal the areas that are poorly insulated. By panning the handsized device over a wall or a window frame, a thermal image is projected on the surface directly at the spot of detection, showing you areas that may need better insulation.

3. Sakku Solar Bags Made from Recycled Sails

Solar bags are a great way to charge all your gadgets while out and about, and Switzerland-based bag maker Sakku improves the green factor by making its bags out of recycled sails. Each Sakku Buddy comes stamped with a "story" listing the name of the lake or sea which the boat that used the sail is located. Each bag has a 2.5W solar panel and is big enough to contain a 17" notebook. Note, however, Sakku is still working on creating a bag with enough power to charge laptops.

4. Laundry Pod

This portable, hand-powered laundry machine uses salad-spinner technology that is perfect for those small loads without wasting energy or making a trip to the Laundromat. The spinning action washes gently, rinses and then extracts water to improve drying times for your delicates and hand-washables. The Laundry Pod is small enough for easy storage and can be used anywhere, and its gray water can be reused for watering plants.

5. Biometric Wall Safe Vault - Fingerprint Wall Safe

Biometric Wall Safe Vault - Fingerprint Wall Safe: Your fingerprint is one of a kind, so let its uniqueness work for you. The Biometric Wall Safe Vault from SecureLogic mounts in your home and allows access by reading your fingerprint. This biometric fingerprint wall safe is made of stainless steel and will mount into any wall of your home between two 16-inch on-center studs. Unlike most electronic wall vaults, this Biometric Wall Safe runs on a rechargeable battery, so no wiring is required. Up to five users can be added to the Biometric Wall Safes system. This Biometric Wall Safe is approved by the Department of Justice as a firearm safety device.

6. Ech2o Filter Water Bottle

Enjoy filtered tap water on the go instantly filtered as you drink through the ech2o sport top! This exclusive top removes up to 99.99% of pollutants for up to 100 gallons (~12 months of use) of filtered water. Each 25 oz. 304 food grade stainless steel water bottle is non-leaching, BPA-free, reusable, lightweight, and taste-neutral. The ech20 is vailable in seven colors: blue, red, stainless, purple, green, pink and stainless swirl.

7. Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium

The Celestron SkyScout is a revolutionary handheld device that uses advanced GPS technology with point and click convenience to identify thousands of stars, planets, constellations and more.

The SkyScout Identifies celestial objects with the click of a button and locates over 6,000 stars, planets and constellations from built-in celestial database and provides scientific information for each object. Provides comprehensive text and audio descriptions providing history, mythology and other entertaining information for the most popular objects.

8. Solar Powered Security Light

Now you can have as much light as you need for all your outdoor spaces, hassle-free. The Solar Powered Security Light provides light for your garage, walkway, patio, deck, shed, boat and other outdoor spaces. The Solar Security Light provides ample light without the cost of electricity, so it's economical, green and pocket friendly. Deter robbers and unwanted trespassers. Take advantage of great illumination that performs better than conventional electric floodlights.

9. Xpower Powerpack 1500 With Solar Charging Option

XPower Powerpack 1500 produces household electricity for products rated at 1500 watts or less. A clean and quiet alternative to a generator, XPower Powerpack 1500 integrates a 51 amp-hour AGM battery with a 1500-watt inverter and produces a 3000-watt surge. This system is built to run a range of appliances such as a standard size refrigerator and microwave oven, and office equipment such as a computer, monitor and fax machine.

10. Automatic Yard Watering System

You don't need to dig up your yard to install a fully automatic watering system. Control the sprinkling of up to four separate stations of your yard with the Automatic Yard Watering System. This system installs in just minutes and gives you the freedom of remote watering without the expense of professionally installed in-ground systems. Simply attach four garden hoses (sold separately) to the Automatic Yard Watering System and set the timer to turn the water on as often and for the duration of time you designate. The timer requires three AA batteries, sold separately.