Blog
Five Awesome Products That Make Going Green at Home Easy
2012 has been hailed as the year of energy management and green thinking and we at SolTherm couldn’t be happier. While the movement is gaining momentum in commercial areas, it’s yet to truly take off in the home markets. Here are five fun and smart products that are sure to get things moving:
Mac Mini
Apple is calling the Mac Mini the most energy efficient desktop computer. While that has yet to be tested, it does meet the energy efficiency requirements for Energy Star 5.2 and is EPEAT Gold rated. It is described as having a “recyclable aluminum enclosure, PVC-free components and cables, no brominated flame retardants and features material-efficient system and packaging designs.” According to Apple, the “power supply for Mac Mini has been reduced from 110W to 85W and is now up to 90% efficient… A built-in power supply means no plastic housing, less weight, and less cable clutter.” The device uses less than 10W of power when idle, 25W less than the previous generation.
The device is quite small, measuring 7.7-inches square and 1.4-inches thin. It comes complete with Mac OSX Lion and is configured with up to 8GBs of memory, a faster 7200 RPM hard drive and a 256GB solid state drive. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and four USB ports. Gone are the days of space grubbing hardware and jungles of cable– The Mac Mini is lean, green and easy on the eyes. Find out more from Apple
Bracketron GreenZero chargers
This amazing little charger detects when a connected device is fully charged or unplugged and automatically shuts itself off, consuming no idle power as a result. Leaving a device on its charger not only wastes energy, it can cause wear and tear on the battery. Say ‘goodbye’ to your energy-sucking vampire of a charger and ‘hello’ to GreenZero. Its small size and sleek design make it travel friendly and easy to use. Plug it in, press the green button, walk away. The charger includes an integrated cable and is available in three models that are compatible with different types of portable devices. These devices range in price from around $25 through $40. Find out more at Bracketron
Soak
Ever felt guilty about having to run a load of dishes when the dishwasher isn’t completely full? Single and don’t have many dishes to wash? The Soak in-sink dishwasher is your solution for those small loads that just have to be done. While this product is still in conceptual stages, it is a design that we can stand behind.
Simply load the fully portable washer, turn the hot water on to create steam, and select your wash size mode. An aerator inside the hose that connects your faucet to the soak channels water to the mechanism, which makes use of brushes that move in different directions, depending on the mode selected. Its aerator system is said to not only push water hard enough to wash all food scraps down the drain, but to also save large amounts of water — even over regular hand-washing. The convenient size and weight make it great for small apartments and dorms as well! See more at the Soak Design Page
Hidden Water Pools
This Bond-like pool is surely one of the coolest ways to go green in your home! “Imagine your friends and family enjoying a BBQ while sitting on your new custom tiled patio. The kids are playing, the adults are enjoying a beautiful afternoon and the party is in full swing. As all your land activities are concluding, it’s time to go swimming. You go to your control panel, insert the key, and enter your personal security code. Your friends and family watch in amazement as your patio begins to lower into the ground. Suddenly, pristine water begins to rush over the patio surface, and what was once your beautiful patio has now become the floor to your new Hidden Water Pool.”
This pool uses less energy for heating and cooling, less water evaporation and fewer chemicals – and is just plain awesome! The control panel allows you to adjust the depth of the pool from anywhere between six inches to six feet. The pools come in a variety of widths and also include an option for an endless stream. This dual personality pool also reduces risk of accidental injury in a home with young children. You have to check out the video - Hidden Water Pools!
H-racer 2.0
Kids can be green too!And it hasn’t been more fun than the H-racer 2.0. This new generation H-racer is just like any other remote-controlled toy car on the market, except for the fact that it runs on hydrogen. The solar-powered refueling station only requires water to create a chemical reaction that releases oxygen into the air and hydrogen into the gas take. Each charge takes only 60 seconds and returns an exciting 10 minutes of play.
The cars now also include a Renewable Energy Educational CD – perfect for the kid (or kid at heart) who thinks green! Find it at Horizon Fuel Cell
