UPDATE:  9.14.08 9:30p, (ET).

It’s official — The lucky winner selected in our Random Drawing is:  Jean Hepburn.  Congratulations, Jean!  Enjoy your new, Envirovac Vacuum.

The Eureka Envirovac is designed to consume about 33% less electricity than comparable upright vacuums without sacrificing power or efficiency. Eureka packages the Envirovac in 100% recycled packaging and its reusable, washable HEPA filter reduces the amount of waste you dump in your local landfill. Eureka is giving away one free Envirovac, providing free shipping to one of our readers, and donating to the Carbon Fund to offset shipping emissions.

Prize valued at approximately $75 (plus shipping).

Entering our random drawing for our Great Green Giveaway is as easy as 1-2-3:

Visit eureka.com. Then Comment on this post, telling us what else you’re doing to go ‘green.’  Add the following address to your email address book: m at AlternativeConsumer.com.  Winner will be selected in our Random Drawing, and notified by email on Friday, 9/12 at approximately 10pm (ET).  Winner has 24 hours to claim their prize, or offer is null and void.  Winner’s name will also be included on this post.

Thanks for reading The Alternative Consumer, and good luck!

Ever so gradually household appliances are getting greener as consumers weigh the environmental impact and energy consumption of new purchases.  Even an energy efficient, everyday appliance like a vacuum cleaner can help you significantly reduce your home’s unseemly carbon footprint.

This Eureka Envirovac has been designed to consume about 33% less electricity than comparable upright vacuums without sacrificing power or efficiency.  Eureka packages the Envirovac in 100% recycled packaging and its reusable, washable HEPA filter reduces the amount of waste you dump in your local landfill. Eureka is giving away 10 Envirovacs on their website and donating to the Carbon Fund to offset shipping emissions.

$72.22 at your local Wal-Mart or  @ walmart.com

This one’s for binge drinking campers in need of an off-grid cocktail, and/or health-fanatics who like to hike into the back country, pick their own blueberries, elderberries or the like and whip-up a refreshing, all natural, backwoods libation.

Coleman makes this beast capable (manufacturer’s hype) of mixing 20-30 pitchers on one charge.  It’s also said to be capable of chopping ice and other ingredients in a more than satisfactory manner.

in manly Coleman red for $59.99 @ coleman.com

Great colors, retro-50’s styling and Energy Star rated. This Northstar Model 1952 refrigerator from Elmira Stove Works has a lot to love. The “1952″ has a little brother called the “1950,” for that retro meets mod style.

29-5/8″w – 33″ d

dealer locator

Canadian Energy Star Rated appliance rebates

Here’s a great way to reduce the amount of food scraps tossed in the trash, and start making some food for your home-grown herbs and veggies. Feed vegetable scraps, coffee grinds, meat, fish and dairy into the hopper and within 2 weeks you’ve got fresh fertilizer — check out the Pro Composter by NatureMill.

Why I like it:

• It works indoors or outdoors, even in cold weather, rain, or snow
• Reduces food waste and compost is ready every 2 weeks
• A red light will tell you when to empty the machine
• Just open the door and remove the compost
• External housing: recycled + recyclable polyethylene (stamped with the “5″ triangle recycling symbol)
• Spare carbon filter included for years of hassle-free operation
• Uses 10 watts of power – about 50 cents a month
• 20″ h x 20″ deep x 12″ w (51×51x30cm), 17 lbs (8 kg)
• Available in 6 colors
• For a three year period after purchase: free replacement parts, repair by field technician, or replacement of entire unit.

find @ greenhome.com ($395)

for more info on composting checkout compostguide.com

Getting away from it all doesn’t have to mean leaving your frosty cold-ones behind. These SunDanzer energy efficient DC refrigerators can keep your vitals cold while maintaining the off-the-grid status of your mountaintop yoga studio.

The fridge will cost somewhere around $1,000 with ancillary electrical stuff and solar array estimated costing another $900 to $1,000.

(via: productdose.com)

Here’s an option for laundry doers who want to save some energy and are willing to add an extra step to the process. This clothes dryer uses centrifugal force to remove water from your laundry. The manufacturer claims that the Spin Dryer could potentially reduce total household energy (more) (more…)

Bottled water has got to go. Every day millions of status thirsty consumers gulp-down water shipped from far flung places like Mt. Fuji, France and the Poconos. The fossil fuel consumed in shipping and the bottle manufacturing process is almost criminal. Add to it, the fact that 8 out of 10 plastic bottles end up in the landfill and you can quickly see why bottled water has become a major ecological problem. (more) (more…)

A great place to commence your fight against global warming is by equipping your home with Energy Star rated appliances. Start with one of the biggest energy guzzlers in any abode, the refrigerator, which works 24/7 keeping all that tofu, yogurt and Red Bull cold and fresh.

Consumer Reports GreenerChoices.org provides a good list of refrigerators of all types and configurations with pricing and energy efficiency ratings.

Pictured at right is the economical, Amana 19 cu. ft. Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator
(ABB1921DEW), which retails for $749 @ amana.com rated a Best Buy by Greener Choices.

A lot of people are researching space heaters due to the massive ad campaign running nationwide by the marketers of the Heat Surge space heater. We thought we’d provide a couple of alternatives to those wishing to spend less, or those seeking a heater with good reviews and highly rated design.

If you’re dead-set on getting a flueless electric fireplace fireplacedirect.com has a lot of options.  Choices range from the very expensive (it’s all about the mantel), to Heat Surge comparable smaller, or movable units.  Remember, any 1,440 btu electric heater will give off the same amount of heat (they heat a 200 to 600 square ft. room).  Make sure you fully evaluate the range of settings, fan capability and if they have an adjustable thermostat to keep the temperature where you like it.

We find the site ConsumerSearch to be a good aggregator of product reviews. Here are a couple of more inexpensive space heaters that will get the job done if heat, not esthetics, is the primary issue. Their recommendations:

• DeLonghi SafeHeat Micathermic HHP1500 – if you have a modern decor and are looking for a convection heater, which is highly rated for its: slim profile, silent operation, reliable performance and light weight. Uses the mineral, mica, as its heating element, has two heat settings and can be wall mounted. $ 149.99 @ amazon.com
• If you’re looking for a less expensive option, the Holmes HQH319-U Quartz Tower Heater with 1-Touch Electronic Thermostat may be a good choice. This model is a radiant heater best designed for small spaces. Radiant heaters heat objects directly in-front of them in a room. It has two quartz heating elements and like most space heaters, 750 and 1,500-watt settings. $59.99 @ sears.com

When shopping for a space heater remember that almost all heaters provide a maximum of 1,500-watts and 5,120 btu’s. This is the maximum amount of wattage allowed through a typical household outlet. Remember to put your space heater safely away from drapes and flammable objects and fabrics. And place it under a window or other cold air or draft producing source to warm cold air as it enters the room. Unvented propane or kerosene heaters should never be used in the home.

Remember that space heaters are not an economical replacement for insulation — weather-stripping and thermostats that can give you control over the various zones / rooms of your home. The savings a space heater provides to the homeowner is only when you can augment the heat of the room you are in, while lowering the thermostats in the rest of the house. Electricity is still an expensive and inefficient way to heat a home.

previous post on Heat Surge