Innovative, Reusable "Replenish" Spray Bottle Could Disrupt Home Cleaning Market - Environment - GOOD - StumbleUpon We love to tout sustainability in the consumer sector, but of the 60 billion pounds of plastic discarded annually, only 7 percent is recycled—meaning that billions of pounds end up in landfills. That said, recycling shouldn't be our only objective; the other Rs (reduce and reuse) should be our primary targets. That's where Replenish comes in. The company rightly describes its new spray bottle as a "disruptive" product: Its reusable spray bottle is made of a sturdy, durable PET-1 plastic, meaning you don't have to replace it (though every part of it is recyclable). At the bottom of the bottle is an interchangeable "twist-on concentrate pod." To use it, you simply attach the pod to the bottle, flip it upside down, squeeze the pod until the internal measurement cup is full, and add with water. "When you buy a spray bottle of normal household cleaner," says founder Jason Foster, "you're basically paying for water and plastic.
The Off-Grid Dilemma The prospect of having no bills to pay sounds exciting, does it not? How would one go about this, you may ask? Simple, all you need to do is generate your own electricity! The true definition of living green would be living off-grid. Unfortunately, for the typical university student, making any of the changes mentioned above, are close to impossible. Seeing as I am renting out my own townhouse for the up-coming school year, I will not be able to make any of the green lifestyle changes previously suggested, solely as I am not the property owner. I have found a couple of documented stories of people who have made drastic changes to their lives in order to be completely self-sufficient. Video:
Apple, China groups meet to discuss environmental concerns | TUAW - The... Environmental concerns continue to plague Apple and its suppliers in China. Earlier this year, Apple was singled out in an environmental report called "The Other Side of Apple," which detailed health, environment and safety issues at Chinese manufacturing facilities. Apple met with some of its green critics over the summer, but its practices are still under fire. Apple reportedly met this week again with nine representatives from five Chinese environmental groups to discuss pollution from its suppliers. According to Li Li, the director of EnviroFriends, Apple said "it had already spoken to 11 supply firms and asked them to reform, and they're in the process of initiating communications with the other four." Apple has not commented on this latest meeting, but did issue a statement to the Wall Street Journal through Spokesperson Carolyn Wu.
How much does it cost to go Off-Grid and to live on the Land? How much Money does it take to Go Off Grid? There are 10 things that you need to consider when going off grid and living on the land. 1. One of the most important items to find when preparing to go off grid is land with running water on it. 2. 3. Video: A Table That Turns Your Kitchen Into Mini Ecosystem [UPDATED] Convenience and efficiency are king when it comes to product design. What could be more efficient than a natural ecosystem? That's the insight behind a "living kitchen" designed by the brilliant young design studio Studio Gorm. They looked at what we have in our kitchens--fruits, vegetables, organic waste--and figured: That's actually enough to create a miniature system for watering fresh herbs, composting the waste, and generating new soil. None of the elements is brand new to this product, but their integration wins points for ergonomics and ease. Maybe what's most surprising is that Studio Gorm isn't based in the Netherlands or Scandinavia--but rather in Eugene, Oregon. Check out some of Studio Gorm's other designs, including a modular furniture system of pegs and boards; an elegant Egyptian-inspired chair; a handsome adjustable lamp; and an overhead light inspired by--of all things--a falafel container.
Do You Really Need A Job? 12 Things You NEED To Go Off Grid NOW! What do you need to go off grid NOW? Do you think you’re ready to live off grid? Where are you going to go without money? Unless you’re planning on bugging out to the wilderness in Alaska or some other wild frontier with just the clothes on your back and a way to hunt for game and live off the land, you’re going to need money to buy the things you need to live off the grid. The fact is, to do anything nowadays you need money, and usually lots of it. There’s a whole list of things you need besides money, that money will buy you as you prep for your move off grid. First and foremost, you’ll need a place to go. A place to go seems obvious at first glance, and people know this of course. Consider first, the fact you will be OFF GRID. So, when choosing the perfect location, you have to find a place which has good sun, moderate wind, and which is close enough to other resources to make living off the grid safe, comfortable and manageable for your family and yourself. Buy land which has WATER!
9 Strategies for Self-Sufficient Living When you grow your own food, generate your own energy, and work from a home office or farm for your livelihood, the so-called “costs of living” largely disappear. You become untethered to the work-earn-spend consumer economy and thrive, instead, in a more locally centered, self-sufficient economy in which monetary income is less essential for a rich life. Making this self-sufficiency dream a reality has been our goal since my wife, Lisa Kivirist, and I moved to our 5 1/2-acre farmstead in southwestern Wisconsin in 1996. Self-reliant living can take many forms. You can provide your own food and energy and be your own barber, repair person, home-school teacher, house cleaner, painter, and child care provider. By running a home-based business, you can generate the money needed to obtain essential products or services you’re unable to produce for yourself. Transitioning to self-sufficient living requires research and planning. The Journey to Self-Reliance Begins 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.