Create an Oasis with Greywater Choosing, Building and Using Greywater Systems By Art Ludwig 2006 $20.95 from Oasis Design

This great book, Create an Oasis, 5th Edition, on oasisdesign.net which has 145 pages including 53 diagrams and 130 photos which comprehensively explains how to dramatically reduce your water usage by reusing your laundry, shower, sink and dishwasher water for landscape irrigation instead letting it all go down the drain.

The book also discusses grey water sources, requirements for irrigation, plumbing and irrigation issues, which cleaning solutions are compatible, maintaining soil quality, and much more. Even if you don’t want to buy the book their website is a great resource with tons of info on greywater systems.

Make your own seltzer water and soda $89.00
Penguin Model from SodaClub

I’ve been a soda and sparkling water water addict for ages and despite always recycling I still feel guilt over using so much plastic or aluminum from my little vice. Now that I found from the EcoChick Blog out about how to indulge your fizzy jones without all the demon PET I feel even more guilty. One solution that seems promising is to join Sodastream, a Israeli company that makes home carbonation systems, 25 different flavored soda types, carbonating bottles and CO2 gas.

You just pour cold tap water into the device, press a button a few times to force the CO2 into the water (adjust for your taste in fizzyness) and you have a liter of seltzer water.

They offer various models, functionality and pricing of their fountain jet systems that are powered by proprietary carbonators filled with beverage-grade CO2 cartridges. When your cartridge is empty you arrange online to get a new replacement and send the empty to be refilled. The cheapest refill carbonator kit they offer is $25.00 (for 2 cartridges) - enough for 120 liters. Their pricing of other option on refill options are rather confusing on their website - be sure to check what your ultimate cost will be with the model you get and whether you want exchange cartridges or spare. You will also need to plan out when you’ll need a new refill as they don’t send it automatically.

The biggest advantage is in dramatically reducing the plastic in your life. Other perks are not having to lug heavy cases of soda and the reduced transportation costs of shipping ( do we really need to ship our sparkling water from France or Fiji?)

If you are a big soda drinker you could save some real money after awhile as their reusable 1-liter PET bottle goes for $0.20 per liter and flavored sodas for around $0.57 per liter. If you follow their instructions you can also save more money by flavoring your own water with juice or other flavoring of your own making. The flavorings cost $8.00 for a 100 ml bottle which makes about 40 liters of flavored seltzer.

If you want the classier designed Penguin model it will run you 249.99 for the model with all the perks and $199.99 for the “starter kit” version, it uses more elegent glass carafes rather than the PET liter bottles used with the less expensive Fountain Jet models. With the Penguin model you also get more soda mix.

If you are looking to save more money the Fountain Jet White Home Soda Maker seems a reasonable price at 159.99 which includes 3, 60-liter Carbonators makes about 180 liters of seltzer, 4 Carbonating Bottles, and you choose 8 Flavoring bottles (SodaMix) enough to make 96 Liters. Other models are also available.

Silent Symphony® Solar Spinning Crystal Aria Single Crystal Model $89.00 SunDance Solar

A great way to fill a sunny room with shimmering, spinning rainbows that will brighten your spirit. Enjoy the visual delights or perhaps channel your inner hippie with solar powered spinning crystals. Perhaps one of the last items you really don’t need that is still made in the USA! Made with Chandelier grade Swarovski crystal(s). One of three models whose price and features vary depending on the number of spinning crystals.

Sadly, the poor design of the rather cheap looking wooden support distracts from what could be a good idea and makes you think twice about the price tag. However, once hidden away on a window sill the mesmerizing effect of the spinning refractions might make it all worth it.

Silent Symphony® Solar Spinning Crystal Overture Triple Crystal Model $159.00 SunDance Solar

Urban Art Flower Pots $9.99 TerraCycle

A few more plastics from computer and electronic parts aren’t going to make it to the landfill this year due to TerraCycle’s Urban Art pots being made from 100% e-waste. These pots can either be plain or with colorful designs. The green-thumbed folks may be happy to plant even more greenery.
Presumably, any toxin’s from the e-waste have been safely removed but I probably would avoid growing anything I will eventually put in my mouth.

Forget the toxic plastic artificial trees and the pesticide laden live trees. Here is nn excellent way to remove some of the consumerism out of Christmas and make your holiday’s a tad greener is to make your own Christmas tree. This video (and the book they promote) shows how you can make a Christmas tree shaped plywood constructed and drilled holes to be a holder for live pine branches that you can gather from discards at nurseries, your own back yard or local woods. (just don’t take enough branches that might actually harm the tree) If you make it sturdy enough you can use this for many years.

Aroma Aeromatic Oven
Real Goods $129.00
Amazon $89.99

Wow, what’s up with the $40 price difference from Amazon to Real Goods? They seem to both be the same model. This convention oven is good for cooking healthy meals with low energy for a small household. It grills, broils, bakes, frys, toasts, steams, roasts and even crisp bacon while saving energy and without adding fat. Will cook food almost as speedy as a microwave by circulating hot air at fast speeds to uniformly cook food which seals in the natural juices. Includes a 58-page cookbook with instructions. Tempered glass bowl is dishwasher safe.

Solar Shoji Japanese Lantern $29 from Acacia

Hang these gorgeous Japanese solar-powered lanterns from porch, trees, or other outdoor fixtures. Doesn’t require wiring as the white LED light is powered by solar-charged AAA batteries one down side to these models is you’ll need to turn them on and off manually. The material is a teardrop shaped nylon shade that collapses for storage.

Nellie’s Dryer Balls
Gaiam.com $18.
Amazon.com $15.50

These dryer balls may lower your dryer’s energy use by reducing drying time by up to 25%. They also state it will soften many fabrics naturally by lifting and separating fabric to make it softer, and should decrease the amount of the dryer’s lint. Most reviewers at both Gaiam and Amazon raved about how well these balls worked, however a few reported problems with the balls falling apart after only a few uses and not working as well as expected.

Can’t afford a Prius or Solar system for you home? There is another, basically free, way you can do even more to do your part to help reduce greenhouse emissions and lower your carbon footprint in a big way - Stop eating beef.

The constant belching and flatulence from cattle produces enormous quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. This makes for more greenhouse gases than all the cars, trucks and ships combined. This UN news article discusses the many ways the rearing of cattle is playing a major role in contributing to global warming.

There are many people currently working on a variety of innovative approaches on ways to curtail bovine methane such as cow “beano” type medications or food additives like cashew oil, special grasses to be added to their feed, flatulence vaccine, and more. However cows wearing gas masks and fart-capture backpacks won’t be likely to go over too well with the cows or people.

One thing that is easy for us non-farmers and cattle-people to do right now is to dramatically reduce or stop eating beef. Going veggie will not only do as much for the planet as driving a Prius but will give you the added benefit of being healthier from eating less saturated fats, hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals. Factory farmed cattle are bad the planet in many ways, here is a excellent huffingtonpost article that discusses this at length.

It’s been a bummer for the bees lately with colony collapse disorder still a problem as this youtube PBS Nature video “Silence Of The Bees” explains,

While scientists, politicians, farmers, beekeepers and other concerned people try to figure this out, we can do our little bit to help by first trying to learn more about the issue and also perhaps increase your local population of bees right in your own backyard. This wiki on colony collapse disorder gives a great background picture of the problem. The bushfarms.com website is an excellent resource for all things related to bees and beekeeping.

The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden by Kim Flottum $20.00 at Gaiam.com

If you are looking for a great book to get you started with beekeeping in your backyard consider the The Backyard Beekeeper.

Bee Condo $32 Real Goods

One way you might help boost your local bee populations and enjoy the results of their labor is with this Bee condo is made for mason bees who pollinate in the spring and are great near orchards and your garden, the Mason Bees are reported to be mellow as bees go. These condos are made from reclaimed, untreated fir posts and comes with installation and bee ordering information. Sadly, the bee condo doesn’t seem to be available until March 2009 - but you wouldn’t need it before then except to put under your tree or Festivus pole where they wouldn’t bee welcome anyway!

Beginner Beekeeping Kit $299.00 from Real Goods
You might consider this starter Beekeeping Kit that has all the elements you’ll need to raise your own backyard bees - except the bees themselves. This Kit from Real Goods includes a complete hive, wax, smoker and fuel, helmet, veil, brush, and instructions. However, at least one beekeeper in this article doesn’t think starter kits are such a great idea - and caution against it. At 299.00 it would be a good idea to do your research closely.