Here’s a device from Sabertec designed to reduce your car’s toxic emissions while simultaneously increasing your gas mileage. The Blade is a filter that when retro-fitted onto your exhaust pipe can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 12%, increase your gas mileage by as much as 6 mpg and significantly reduce the carcinogenic particulate material being burped out of your tailpipe.  It works better on cars built after 1996 that have catalytic converters.

You can see the amount of toxic crap the device removes from your exhaust by comparing the before-and-after pix of the filter (above). The company has the backing of the EPA and has done extensive testing to back up its claims.

Oh, the kit comes with a couple of years worth of filters. Under normal driving conditions you’ll have to replace the filter ($20) every 10k miles or so in newer cars and more often if you drive an old Studebaker or other pre-1996 era set of wheels.

Interesting.

in chrome or black for $199 @ bladeyourride.com

via: treehugger

• Scare Yourself Green this Halloween – altCon
• Illegal aliens. Wild Pigs Make Unwelcome Home on the Range – msnbc
• Global Warming is Killing Frogs and Salamanders in Yellowstone Park – science daily
• They probably can’t see the solution through all that smog… China Says Coal Addiction Makes Climate Change Fight Hard – yahoo! news
• Which way did they go? Tags Unlock Young Salmon Secrets – bbc
• Great title – but why do we need this? A Car That’s Faster Than a Speeding Bullet – cs monitor
• One-third of World’s Fish Catch Used for Animal Feed – reuters
• 35 Insane Halloween Costumes From Around the World – cracked.com

We previously posted on the Heat Surge space heater, a product marketed in a strikingly similar manner to the TropicAir Heater.  Created by an “engineering genius on the Chinese coast” (Taiwan) this 4,094 BTU (1,200 watt) space heater with humidifier presents the same marketing red flags as Heat Surge.

Respond to an ad within 24 hours, and get the opportunity to be in on their ‘buy one get one free’ (plus shipping on both) offer.  The newspaper advertisement says the heater can run on “as little as” 9¢’s in electricity an hour — key phrase “as little as.”  We advise you to do your own research and don’t be motivated by the ‘rush to call now’ special offer.  If this is anything like Heat Surge, this offer will be appearing in newspapers nationwide for quite some time.  Feel free to comment if you’ve purchased one of these heaters.

Consumer Reports overview on space heaters

A similar product (1,500 watts) without wheels and fake fire image goes for $67.88 @ walmart.com

As a new member of EcoChic Weekly, here’s a roundup of fashion and beauty finds from my ecolicious friends.

• Clean Beauty and Conscience with Yes to Carrots + EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY! Victoria E features, Yes to Carrots and a fab beauty giveaway – contest ends Thursday, 10/30 so click on over and enter now.
• Beware of Greenwashing:  Natural Beauty Products Flooding the Market Eco-chick cautions and advises on how to spot the good from the bad.
  
• Buy Vintage! Great tips on how to shop for stylish, eco friendly finds from the eco snob at Fashion, Evolved. (more) (more…)

Mitsubishi America has just announced the retail availability of the world’s first laser-based television.  Frank DeMartin, vice president marketing, at Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America: “With operating power at approximately 135w, LaserVue is environmentally friendly, consuming approximately one-third the power of today’s LCD TVs, and one-fourth of plasma TVs. Living in today’s green-conscious environment, consumers can enjoy this color-brilliant, ground-breaking home entertainment product while being mindful of energy consumption at the same time.”

Also from the press release: “LaserVue’s technology is unparalleled; laser beams provide an extensive range of rich, complex colors, along with truly distinct clarity and immersive depth of field. Precise and focused, the purity of laser light far surpasses current high-definition technologies. LaserVue has demonstrated a reproduction of color gamut in excess of 200 percent of BT.709, delivering two times the color of many of today’s HDTVs. Brightness has been demonstrated at approximately 500 nits. Additional features for LaserVue include Smooth 120Hz(TM), x.v. Color(TM) and 1080p with an Ultra Thin Frame. LaserVue is also equipped with 3D-ready (3) viewing capabilities, demonstrating Mitsubishi’s foray into bringing a true “Hollywood” entertainment experience to the consumer. At 10 inches thin, LaserVue TV has been designed for both floor stand and wall-mount applications and features a full stereo range of sound capabilities with integrated speakers.”

The other ‘green’ issue with this state-of-the-art home entertainment toy is the price, $6,999,  which will require a serious ‘redistribution of wealth’ before it becomes a practical option for most consumers. The fact that this uber-tv saves energy is mitigated by the reality that it will probably take over a decade for this TV to pay for itself on energy savings alone.  Coming soon to a high-end electronics store near you.

source: prnewswire.com

The transport sector is the one of the leading contributors of carbon dioxide emissions, second only to energy consumption.  As eco-conscious consumers, we try and do our part in keeping our carbon footprints low.  We opt for hybrids over SUV’s, we form carpools, and, if you’re like me, are frequent riders of public transportation.

Fuel efficiency is vital for a sustainable future, and UK automobile company Fiat has driven another step closer to fuel efficiency.  Their innovative system eco:Drive helps drivers monitor their driving patterns and provides insight into increasing fuel efficiency and reducing vehicle carbon emissions.  When the application is used effectively, drivers can save up to 15% of fuel consumption.

Here’s how it works: the application measures your driving patterns (more) (more…)

• Couple of things…it must be tough being a moth in Russia and…didn’t I just hear Governor Palin say “evolution, smevolution”? (there’s video) Vampire Moth Discovered – Evolution at Work – natgeo
• Companies get ‘greener’ from the inside out…Green Energy and IT? A Match Made in Heaven! – enn/triple pundit
• Henry David – it’s time to update those notes…(audio) Climate Changing Walden Pond’s Flowers – npr
• Does this help or hurt the green movement? Corey Feldman Releases New Green Song, Sustainable Album – ecorazzi
• Is your bambino’s attention span shrinking? Should You Let Your Toddler Watch TV? – cognitive daily
• I didn’t see him come in.  Did you?  Restaurant Closed After Dead Deer Found in Kitchen – myway

Decoupage, a cool word and a cooler art form.

These interchangeable pendants, from upcycled Scrabble tiles, are adorned with tiny art to create unique and affordable jewelry – designed and created by HomeStudio.

$6.95 @ etsy.com (free shipping thru 10.31.08)

Scottish company, Renewable Devices designs and distributes what they say is “the quietest rooftop wind turbine currently available.” The small footprint, Swift Wind Turbine, is designed for both commercial and residential use.

The 7′ diameter turbine produces 1.5kW @ 14 m/s, or roughly 2,000 kWh per year (roughly 20% of average home use) and requires about 2′ of roof clearance.

Commercial installations can consist of multiple units.  Wind energy is dispersed along the blades to outer ring which acts as a ‘diffuser’ creating less noise.  U.S. based, Cascade Engineering, will manufacture the turbines blades and assemble all the units sold in the U.S.

Installed, this turbine will run you $10,000 to $12,000.

find dealer locations in the U.K. and U.S. @ swiftwindturbine.com

via: earth2tech.com

Related:  previously on altCon -
Energy Ball – a new face on small windpower (10.16.08)
Inexpensive Residential Wind Turbine (3.14/08)