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 (51x51x30cm), 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.