Wondering what to get your little Susie Homemaker for her birthday? How bout an eco-friendly appliance, like the Wonderworld Washing Machine Play Set or Kitchen Sink, $90 at Toys R Us?

Just think of the hours of fun loading the machine on a cold cycle with green detergent or scrubbing those vegan casserole pans by hand! “No dessert, Miss Susie, until that pile of organic cotton napkins is folded and put away!” Speaking as the mother of two chronically messy daughters (why hang up that dress when you can toss it into the hamper?), you can never begin the training too early. Otherwise, your darling little ones will grow into the kind of disorderly dorm mates wise co-eds try to avoid. One more incentive: They look absolutely adorable in the playroom.

Wonderworld describes itself as “a strong advocate of protecting the environment” and uses friendly rubberwood and only non-toxic color and laquer finishes for all of its products. “This not only contributes to the safety proposition for children but also demonstrates our determined commitment to mother earth,” says the toy company.

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Take Back The Filter has launched a campaign pushing Clorox (the owners of Brita) to either set up a filter recycling program or create a reusable filter with a permanent housing, in which you only have to replace the environmentally-safe carbon granules inside. No plastic to throw away. British company Aqua Select has already done this, but so far no American company has jumped on this eco bandwagon. Take Back The Filter is working to change that, and if you’re a filter-lover like me, you can help them do it.

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Bamboo cosmetic brushes are the fashion buzz, being touted in the December issue of InStyle as one of many new little ways to go green. As the magazine observes, “they’re making floors out of this prolific woody plant, so why not hair rollers and makeup brushes?”

The ECOtools, which we featured in a post several months ago, are only $10 for a 5-piece set at various drug stores,including Rite Aid.

You can also buy them online at Paris Presents. While these appear to be the only truly eco make-up brushes around, there are other cool bamboo tools out there, also available at Paris Presents. These include the  loofah face scrubs, a bath bristle brush, and a foot file.

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In the mad dash to go green, grow green and glow green, some  energetic gadget makers are marketing devices that are so darn friendly, we might as well ask them to move into our homes. Plug into these and see:

Philips Eco TV

A 42-inch, flat-panel LCD, this TV broadcasts power-saving features, such as a backlight dimmer the viewer controls for darker scenes. It also has a power-saving mode for capping peak light output. It retails for around $1,400 at Amazon and other electronics suppliers. (Shown above.)

Bamboo Laptop

How chic can a computer get? The green batteries in the Asus boast a 35 to 70% longer life. The bamboo exterior houses all the usual extras of a notebook. Check it out at Ecomoves.

The Studio Hybrid Eco-Friendly Small Desktop

Ideal for the little green home office that could, this engine has optional upgrades to include built-in Wi-Fi Blue Ray┞¢ and a wireless keyboard and mouse. This PC is Dell’s greenest and most powerful desktop to date, using 70 percent less energy while arriving 80 percent smaller than a typical desktop minitower.  Beginning at $499, it’s available in cool color options. It gets a 4.0 Energy Star rating with packing material made from 95 percent recyclable material.

Jonta LED Flashlight

Described as one of the best “human powered” flashlights, you can recharge this wind-up toy by cranking it to your heart’s content. Keep one handy in your nightstand drawer, the kitchen cabinet, in your kid’s room. Let it shine the new fashioned way. $49.99 at Green and More.

Solar Christmas Lights

If you are inclined to deck the halls and the roof, opt for these solar lights from Eco Geek Living, $39.97 for a set.

Spin-X Spindryer

This will cut down on drying time so much, it will make you dizzy. It costs $599.95 (plus shipping) but saves an estimaed $1,104 in three years. I believe it. The Spin-X can remove one quart of water from clothes taken out of your machine. The extracted water goes into a storage container. It also removes soap, detergents, perfumes and chemicals into the container. You can order one at Spin-X.

Helios Solar Grill

Invented by Sean McGreevy, this energy-efficient outdoor grill (great for that Thanksgiving turkey in Miami) has a coil inside that heats up like the hottest coal. The dish looks like it should be receiving your favorite show, Top Chef, but instead it collects the solar power while you cook away. Fire up your curiosity at Coolest Gadgets.

Eco Fan 800

No batteries, cords or chargers required for these blades of glory. The Eco Fan generates its own electricity using the heat of your wood burning stove. The thermo-electric module inside acts as the generator, letting you cut down on those insane power bills. $119 at Northline Express.

Barbar Ceramic ECO 8000 Blow Dryer


A hair greener than other styilng tools, the ceramic ECO Dryer is equipped with a low EMF heating output, negating radiation while keeping your locks soft and shiny. $109 at Beauty Choice.

Kill-A-Watt

It’s the favorite gismo of Alter Eco’s Darren Moore. This tool lets you test how much energy is being sucked out by your appliances, helping you to calculate and cut costs. $23.89 at Smart home.

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It’s bigger than a breadbox but just as adorable, and as quiet as a mouse.

Do the Brits know how to do green gadgets or what? The  freestanding DF6FABAZ Smeg dishwasher by John Lewis is inspired by classic 50s styling but boasts brilliant 21st century technology. It will probably cost you more than the 14 place settings it holds, setting you back around $1539. But this appliance will color you happy in pastel pink, blue, cherry red, dayglo green and other dynamic shades.

This appliance is not just smart looking. It scored a triple A-rating for energy, wash and drying performance, and offers five temperature settings and 10 versatile energy and time saving programs. It includes a quick wash, intensive wash and rinse and hold, and even uses a contra-action double spray arm with jets to ensure even water distributed with targeted precision.

Is it worth importing this great Smeg to your crib? When something this cool is so highly rated, I’d have to say go for it. Over fish and chips dinner you can delight guests with a detailed description of the orbital system which delivers an enhanced wash while maintaining low consumption of water and energy.

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Call me skeptical, but when an eco item claims to be the one and only or first ever, I start to wonder…is it an exaggeration or flat out green washing?

Journalism 101 taught me to fact-check. And for those of you not old enough to remember a time without the interwebs, fact-checking used to require hours of research and phone calls and trips to the library. Now it takes seconds.

So when we received an email from the Eco 8000 folks touting the first ever eco-conscious hair dryer (it’s not) and its amazing ability to protect hair and the environment, I had to ask myself…Just how legitimate does a product’s eco-originality need to be in order to warrant praise?

Don’t get me wrong, every little effort matters, but when companies make a big green claim, in my opinion, they should have the substance to back it up. And when it comes to hair dryers, well, who really needs them anyway? I just spent five weeks in Santa Fe and didn’t wear make-up or dry my hair the entire time. Do I need to tell you how healthy my hair and skin feels? Towel-drying is the most eco for both me and the planet.

But there are occasions that call for a blown-dry coiffure, so what’s next best?

The Barbar Ceramic ECO 8000 Blow Dryer has a ceramic heating element that allows it to dry hair faster using less energy (1000 watts versus 2000 watts for the average blow dryer). The ceramic also cuts down on the harmful effects of radiation – the average hair dryer emits 200-400 mG of harmful radiation while the Eco 8000 emits only 1.9 mG. You’ll find it for $150 at barbarartist.com or your local luxury beauty supply store.

Saving energy and avoiding radiation exposure is important, but the Eco 8000 is hardly the firstand definitely not the only ceramic or green gadget in its class:

The BaByliss Eco Dry hair dryer also halves the energy used (1000 watts) without sacrificing quick drying time. Its new motor focuses on increasing air flow rather than temperature, and it also uses ionic conditioning to reduce frizziness. Lightweight and great for travel, it’s sold in the U.K. or online at Argos for approximately $40.

BaByliss also sells the Pro TT Tourmaline 1000-Watt hair dryer. The ceramic mixed with tourmaline gem stones make for a faster drying time as well as no frizz and less hair damage. Sounds good to me, especially for $20 at Goodman’s or $23 at Cedina.

Brookstone has a 1,000-Watt Travel hair dryer for only $25.00, which you’d assume would blow on the weak side, but after perusing the raving user reviews, I’m ready to buy one for everyday use.

Image: mikalbisnovat

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Straight shooter, no-nonsense, sans hidden agenda – it’s refreshing to meet people and know exactly what you’re getting. The same can be said for stuff you buy that arrives in a box at your front door. If its assembly doesn’t require reading 5 pages of directions and 35 screws and it actually looks like what’s depicted on the website, I’m filled with joy. So imagine how I’d feel if the Lite2go All In One Eco-Friendly Lamp showed up with the UPS man?

The name may be long but this light is far from long in its complexity. The Lite2go arrives ready to use with an electric cord and 7 watt CFL bulb. The packaging itself is the shade, made of totally recyclable polypropylene plastic. It’s eco all the way around.

They say it can be put together in less than 5 minutes (by most people), and assembled it measures 10″ x 10″ x 11″ high. It will suit your fancy as either a hanging or table lamp.

Why not do something artsy & crafty to the shade before putting it together? Express your own personal style and hang three in a row above the dining table. Voila – instant statement.  At only $64.95 a piece, you can’t go wrong.

Eventually, of course, you’ll recycle the bulb and cord at your local e-waste recycler – or send it back to the company and they’ll do it for you. That kind of eco-team player attitude is a dark shade of green, if you ask me.

Order at greenfeet or call toll free (888) 562-8873.

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Once upon a time, sex was a word whispered rather than the topic of college courses and front page news. I’m comfortable with it, as you could surmise from my passionate case for saving the planet by having more sex. We could discuss the pros and cons of the sexing of our culture, ad infinitum. But the fact remains, sex isn’t going anywhere, so we might as well deal with it (or in my case, encourage it) in the greenest, safest way possible.

Which brings me to toys. Sex toys, that is. They’re everywhere and many of them are green, meaning free of toxins like phthalates and PVCs. Although the sex toy industry in the U.S. is not regulated, some manufacturers have taken it upon themselves to start phasing out the use of these toxic materials. Instead they’re making toys with hypo-allergenic thermoplastic elastomer. Say that three times fast. Other non-porous, eco-materials to look for are stainless steel, glass, ceramic and silicone – all friendly to you and the environment.

Here are the best green sex toys that will help”¦the planet.

There’s the Laya Spot, which should hit all the right spots with its 3 buzz levels. Waterproof and made of elastomer, you can’t help but appreciate the Laya Spot’s ergonomic design and quiet hummmm. Plus it’s travel-friendly at 4 ¼” x 1 ½”. Find it at Babeland for $48. You’ll need two AAA batteries so why not invest in a solar powered battery re-charger?

For the sleek and sophisticated eco-goddess, try the Little Steel Vibrator with the not-so-little agenda. This slim stainless steel toy (5″ long, 5/8″ diameter) is phthalate free, waterproof and comes with a fabric traveling sleeve. Settings go from mild vibrations along the wand to a more intense vibration at the tip. Available for $195 at Good Vibrations.

The name says it all. Sinful Intensity is the rechargeable silicone vibrator with a min-joystick that controls speed and pulsing patterns. It comes with a docking station – charge it right next to your iPhone – and is available at Good Vibrations for $149.

Anyone opposed to a little Afternoon Delight? A best-seller at Babeland, the Delight vibrator hones in on all your points of pleasure. Its 32 speeds should keep you busy from afternoon well into evening, and if you accidentally leave it out, its sleek design could pass for a piece of sculpture. Re-chargeable, water-resistant and phthalate-free, find it in black/white at Babeland for $130.

Form 6 could be a programming code or a next generation of software, but never fear, we’re still talking toys. The Form 6 vibrating massager is versatile and very advanced with “digital vibration modes from gentle to exhilarating“. Made of body and environmentally safe materials, it’s quiet, travel-ready, water-resistant and easy to operate. It comes with a cordless recharging lithium-ion battery and is available at Jimmyjane for $175.

And now for something completely decadent. The Little Platinum everlasting vibrator runs on Jimmyjane’s patented, replaceable motor system ($35) and is made of yes, platinum. Further proof that going green doesn’t mean going cheap or chintzy”¦in bed. If $395 is out of your sex-toy budget, try the Little Gold at $325 – both are “sleek, silent and waterproof” at Jimmyjane.

It’s official – there are sexy situations where we’d prefer not to cut corners on the way to green. Let’s thank the eco-angels above we won’t have to.

Image: DownTown Pictures

The post Looking for the Best Green Sex Toys? You’ve Hit the Spot! appeared first on EcoSalon.

The average American will consume an average of 43,371 cans of soda over an average of 77 years. That’s a lot of chemicals in your belly and a lot of waste in the landfill.

Keep this penguin on your countertop and you’ll be doing your part to reduce the carbon imprint from bottle transportation, reduce the number of cans that end up in landfills, and eliminate your intake of artificial sweeteners. The kit comes with everything you need to make your own soft drinks. You’ll also save some cash as the cost per liter starts at 18 cents compared to 42 cents per liter at the supermarket. Learn more at The Nibble and purchase here.

Healthy tip: Boost your antioxidant intake by adding juices like pomegranate and acacia, and if you’re a control freak, you can even regulate how fizzy your soda water will be.

Image: flattop341

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"Warmer and more organic" is how Kohler describes its new Saile┞¢Toilet, a dual-flush model introduced this year to further the company’s green initiative.   

I think it’s funny to describe a toilet as warmer (unless the seat is actually heated). Perhaps a crocheted seat cover might do the trick, or an ivy wall framing the tank. But while this toilet isn’t that much fuzzier on the outside, it’s easy to see this highly successful, upscale manufacturer is moving in the right direction in terms of water-saving performance.

"When you think about Kohler and green, it’s all about saving water," says the company’s Eric Moldenhauer. "We want to spread the message that saving water in the home or workplace benefits both the environment and the pocketbook."

Reinforcing the commitment to new green machines are the new 1.75-gpm shower sprays and aerated faucets. When combined with the toilets, they can save the average family nearly 20,000 gallons of water a year. The company adds: "We do it without compromising on performance or design."

Kohler is meeting the strict performance guidelines of the EPA’s Watersense┞¢ program, which ensures consumers are purchasing a product that conserves on our threatened natural resource. (To be eligible, a toilet must flush 20% less water than the standard 1.6 gpf toilets.)

Helping to raise awareness about just how precious water is, Kohler is sponsoring the creation of a 3D/2D giant screen film: Grand Canyon Adventure, River at Risk. It’s intended to raise global awareness of world water issues and will include water-saving tips to show viewers how they can make a difference.

Since few us are ready for composting plumbing systems, Kohler gives us great options for doing our part.

Sara’s shameless plug: Hi, it’s your editor. De-lurk, dear reader, and leave this fabulous writer a comment. (We love chatting.) You can also share this post with friends – just click your favorite social bookmark listed below. New reader? Be sure to sign up for the weekly newsletter to win free eco goodies! You can also subscribe to any RSS feed your heart desires.

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