UPDATE:  March 28, 2009 – Congratulations to our lucky First, Second and Third place winners:  Sally W., Christopher H. and Geoff K.!  Thanks to everyone for participating.  To enter our most recent Green Giveaway, check out our home page (right hand column, Green Giveaways).

ORIGINAL POST:
Just in time for spring cleaning…planet and people-friendly, this Great Green Giveaway is sponsored by Eco Mist Solutions.

These green cleaning products are formulated by using food-grade ingredients (corn, tree sap, processed coconut extract, sugarcane, grass, grains and potatoes) and colloidal chemistry, working at the molecular level to lift stains, emulsify grease and disinfect surfaces. Anti-fungal, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial — toxin and residue-free — safe enough to wash a baby bottle, but strong enough to clean an engine.

First Prize (approx. retail value $50.00):
All Purpose, Kitchen Plus, Tub & Tile, Furniture, Non-Streak Glass, Hardwood & Laminate, Basket; 7 items total

Second Prize (approx. retail value $30.00):
All Purpose, Kitchen Plus, Tub & Tile, Furniture, Basket; 5 items total

Third Prize (approx. retail value $15.00):
Kitchen Plus, Tub & Tile, Basket; 3 items total

To Enter This Drawing, Simply:
Visit Eco Mist Solutions. Then enter a comment on this post telling us what you like about the products, and how they’d fit into your green lifestyle.

Add the following address to your email address book:
m at AlternativeConsumer.com.  (*one entry per person)

Entries must be received by 6p, EST on Thursday, March 26, 2009. (free shipping, USA and Canada)

Three lucky winners will be selected in our Random Drawing, and notified by email on Thursday, March 26 at approximately 7p (ET).   Winners have 24 hours to claim their prize, or offer is null and void.  Winners’ names will also be included on this post.

*EXTRA CREDIT
If you have your own blog, you can post about the giveaway with a link back to this giveaway post. To make sure we know, you can come back and leave a comment with a link to your blog post.
If you Twitter, you can tweet about the giveaway, and leave a comment linking to the status.
Or you can also receive an additional entry by signing up to receive our RSS feed via email/Feedburner (see right side bar).

Time’s ticking, so start clicking — good luck!

• Let’s stay positive…Newsweek: Current Green Technology Won’t be Enough – msnbc
• These are the same guys that got yesterday’s forecast wrong.  Accuweather Sees Fewer U.S. Hurricanes in ’09 – reuters
• Engineer Devises Ways to Improve Gas Mileage – sciencedaily
• Chimps need a new pr firm…Armed Chimps go Wild for Honey – bbc

The market for solar power is continuously evolving as research and development advances. Here are some recent discoveries and innovations which may lead to higher efficiency and lower cost solar power.

Butterfly Inspired Solar Cells

Butterflies have natural scales that act like solar collectors, which scientists in China and Japan are using as a template for improved light harvesting on Gratzel cells.  Gratzel cells are dye-sensitized solar cells named after its inventor, Michael Gratzel.  Tests have shown that the butterfly inspired collector absorbs more light than conventional dye-sensitized cells.   And, the manufacturing process is easier and faster than traditional methods.   Researchers predict (more…)

It’s almost spring and about time to start thinking lawn care.  Maybe it’s also time to stop spilling gas on the lawn and spewing toxic fumes around the neighborhood.  Traditional gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers and weed wackers are some of the biggest polluters, pound for pound, of any consumer operated devices on the planet.   A cleaner, easier to operate, alternative is now on the market, the LEHR Eco Trimmer is the world’s first propane-powered lawn and garden tool.  The Eco Trimmer is the first product in LEHR’s Eco Series and has all the power and performance of a gasoline trimmer — minus the detrimental pollution and emissions associated with dirty gasoline engines.  The Eco Trimmer emits zero hydrocarbons, zero evaporative emissions, 96% fewer carcinogens and 97% fewer particulates than its gasoline counterpart and already exceeds the EPA’s 2011 regulations for home and garden equipment.

Fueled by a standard propane canister and its patented, “Twist ‘n’ Go” fueling system, the trimmer operates for 2 hours on a single propane canister, requires very little maintenance and starts at the push of a button.

It’s on-sale now at Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware and most Sears locations.  Other major home retailers to follow in June.  Learn more at www.golehr.com