Green Solutions Product Picks

By Madelyn Lipszyc

1. Glass Drinking Straws

A great alternative to the usual plastic, toxic-leaching straw, this reusable straw is even dishwasher safe. Available in simple elegance, decorative dots, and beautiful bends. GlassDharma will even repair or replace one for you if it's chipped, cracked or broken.

2. Freedom Dynamo Electric Shaver

No batteries required! This shaver gets its power from a built-in wind-up crank. One minute of cranking time is sufficient to shave your entire face. Great for travel and easy on energy! This green product also won't cost you an arm and a leg- available right now for only $49.99!

3. Sony Bravia KDL32je1 Energy Saving Television

This Television is the first supreme energy-efficient television. It is a lot to ask, for people to give up television, especially when our culture is so consumed with entertainment. Although, it is not a lot to ask for people to limit their television watching, or when it comes time, replace their old energy-wasting clunker, with a new high-tech LCD television made from recycled materials, that uses 43W less than a similar non-environmentally friendly model. You can only buy one in Japan right now, but the technology will eventually make its way overseas.

4. ECO-SOFT Recycled Toilet Seat Covers

Using public washrooms can often be unsanitary and uncomfortable. The solution to this problem should not necessarily be fixed with a ton of toilet paper per year per person. Eco-Soft offers 5,000 covers per carton, uses chlorine-free bleaching, is green-seal certified and is 100% recycled. Great for businesses!

5. LG Solar E-Book

E-books are taking the world by storm simply because they can contain thousands of books and waste none of the paper, production energy, or shipping emissions. In fact, this model is topped off with solar panels, and in just 4-5 short hours, your device is powered up for the day. It is not available just yet, as they are striving for the best energy consumption before commercialization, but look out for it!

6. Poofy Organics Shower & Shaving Gel

Have you noticed that little explosive warning on most shaving gels available at your local drugstores? They imply an unsafe chemical component. The search for safe shaving gel is over! Poofy Organics shower and shave gel was rated a 0 danger level, on cosmeticsdatabase.com, and is not related to cancer or toxicity like most shave gels around. Available in Lovely Lavender and Orange Sweetness.

7. Xero's Almost-Waterless Washing Machine

Xeros Ltd. will be selling washing machines next year that use only a cup of water per load. This machine will use less than 2 percent that the usual washers waste on water and energy consumption. Also, if the clothes are less wet, it is possible that no energy will be needed to dry the clothes. Little recyclable nylon beads will collect the dirt and stains. And, the minimal energy usage will definitely offset the use of the plastic beads. Xeros even claims that "if all US homes converted to the Xeros cleaning system, the reduction in carbon footprint is equivalent to taking 5 million cars off American roads." Although it's only in its research and development stage, it is definitely a step forward!

8. Occupancy Sensors

Automatic sensors, or the concept of automation and networking is the wiring of your home or business so that lighting is turned off as you leave a room, temperature is adjusted while you are away at work, and much more with the touch of a button or voice control. It can also help limit the energy usage of your televisions or computers. It is the ultimate pre-programmed energy-saving lifestyle; it is custom energy savings.

9. Clean Air Tree Kit

For every kit sold, WCAFI (World Clean Air Forest Initiative) will also plant a tree! 100% biodegradable packaging made from potato waste, this kit includes everything you need to plant and grow your own tree. The tree will produce one ton of clean air over its lifetime. Available online for shipping in Canada, the United States, Britain, and the rest of Europe.

10. Mini Dynamo Wind-Up LED Flashlight

This fit-in-your-pocket flashlight never needs batteries. By winding up the side bar, it gives you all the light you need. Affordable, and great for camping, or power outages, or any dark place that needs some light.