The Alternative Consumer

USBCELL - USB rechargeable batteries

rd — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:20:04 -0600

Here’s an idea whose time has really come. Plug a couple of these USBCELL AA batteries into your computer’s USB ports, charge them up and be on your way. Stop chucking out traditional Alkaline batteries and start recharging these while you doodle around the net. £10.99 or around $18 @ usbcell.com Europe, USA, Canada , [...]

a moment of ZENN

rd — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:25:27 -0600

ZENN Zero Emissions No Noise - great name for an electric car — and it hails from Toronto, Canada. With 250 of these babies on the road since its debut in 2006, ZENN’s top speed is 25 mph - great for driver ed classes, campus cruising, geezers or making the neighborhood rounds. With an electric re-charge [...]

Calendar of Climate Change 2009 — banned from London Museum

Carrie — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:58:14 -0600

What keeps track of time, promotes awareness of climate change, and was recently banned by the Natural History Museum in London? A calendar from Flipside Vision, that’s what. The environmental publisher’s annual Calendar of Climate Change contains two images the decision makers at the museum deem “possibly offensive.” One is a picture of hundreds of naked (gasp!) [...]

a mixed bag of green news

rd — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:38:49 -0600

Hopefully no one was killed in the scramble for the mouse…Cyber Monday Draws Millions Online for Holiday Shopping - usa today I don’t think the guys burning the Rain Forest are checking the net for updates…Palm Oil Offers No Green Solution - bbc The Energy Debates: Small Wind Power - livescience Every action movie needs a hot chick…Anti-Whaling [...]

Consumer Scams - do your homework

rd — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:10:52 -0600

The Internet can be a deceit-filled cauldron for on-line consumers. Though there are plenty of reputable and reliable e-tailers and manufacturers on the net, don’t ignore that little voice in your head when it questions the veracity of a product’s claims. One should always do a little research before leaping to buy that newfangled thingamajig. Here’s [...]

Win a Signed Copy of Eco-Friendly Families - Great Green Giveaway

Maureen — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:29:22 -0600

Printed on 100% recycled paper, here’s the perfect gift for you, your friends and your family. Author Helen Coronato is hosting a signed giveaway of her highly acclaimed book, Eco Friendly Families - a guide to green for toddlers to teens. To Enter - Simply enter a comment on this post telling us why you’d like [...]

gift wrap the eco way

Maureen — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:20:21 -0600

Step away from the tape dispenser and forget about tying the perfect bow. Just keep some of your favorite fabric and scissors on hand. Check out Furoshiki Japanese Wrapping for eco-friendly gift wrapping — what a cute video. The fabric wrapping of two books or wine bottles looks as lovely as a pas de deux. Thanks [...]

a mixed bag of green news

rd — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:45:01 -0600

I noticed this in the Catskills, too…Where’d All the Acorns Go? - msnbc Damn! I just slathered myself with all this cream…Antioxidants ‘Cannot Slow Ageing’ - bbc 150 Whales Die in Stranding Off Australia - reuters Be careful out there…People Wasting Billions of Dollars on ‘Quack’ Health Food and Weight Loss Products: Expert - sicencedaily San Francisco Wants Green [...]

Green Gift Guide for the Holidays - by, Carrie

Carrie — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:53:09 -0600

It’s that time of year. Each of our contributors will be posting their own Green Holiday Gift Guide. Here are some great ideas from our London-based writer, the fabulously green, Carrie. For Men The new MacBook Pro—More energy efficient and highly recyclable Sigg Water Bottle—the gift I gave to my brother last year. A safe, long-lasting aluminum water [...]

5 green gifts for an economic downturn

rd — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:35:41 -0600

Whittle hand-carved busts of your family and friends out of found lumber. Not only will the DIY works of art be an attractive addition to any living room or mantle, but when times get really tough, the sculptures can be thrown in the fireplace or wood stove to heat one’s home. Give both Mother Earth and [...]

Black Friday Becomes Green Weekend for $avings

Maureen — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:21:50 -0600

Buying stuff just because you can, or just because it’s on sale is not eco-friendly. That mindless practice oftentimes can be simply thoughtless and inane. But there are times when you really need to buy stuff, and when you do — be conscious about what you’re doing and why. If you’re in the market for any [...]

a mixed bag of green news

rd — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:20:55 -0600

U.N. Urges Climate Cash Boost to Poorest - reuters Nature’s finest…Zoo Creates Ornaments From Reindeer Droppings - myway (audio) Turkey Dinner’s Carbon Footprint - npr Green Taxes Need Explaining or Risk Backlash - enn/reuters Diet is important…Did Vegetarian Diet Kill Off Giant Cave Bears? - msnbc

2 Great Green Giveaways from Blue Avocado

Maureen — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:29:52 -0600

Make your move to eco chic reusable bags, or give them as wonderful holiday gifts. Compliments of Blue Avocado, two lucky readers will each receive a unique and innovative shopping bag kit, made from beautiful recycled materials. Available in three stylish colors; winners get to pick their favorite shade. First Prize: the Cool Kit replaces 13 [...]

eco friendlier cordless phone - motorola

rd — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:27:12 -0600

The ubiquitous cordless phone just got a teensy-bit greener. Motorola just announced the introduction of its new D10 and D11 cordless phones. The eco-friendly handsets are designed to look great and consume less energy. The phones’ ‘eco-mode’ (the variations of features with ‘eco’ in the name is getting ridiculous) reduces energy consumption while increasing talk [...]

Z-Pitcher from ZeroWater - it works

rd — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:45:32 -0600

We’ve run our New York City tap water through this filter and darned if it doesn’t work! The Z-Pitcher has a filter on top that that you pour your tap water through to clean it up. The filter features five different filtration stages to eliminate organic, inorganic and radiological contaminants–lead, chromium, mercury, hydrogen sulfide and [...]

recycled leather dog collar

seamus the eco dog — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:30:08 -0600

I was hanging around the Thanksgiving dinner table and the ensuing Tryptophan hangover I got as a result of my looking both cute and hungry has me wiped out, so I’ll keep this one short. Pictured above is a classy collar created out of the recycled leather scraps of designer handbags. For all you fancy [...]

a step by step Thanksgiving

Molly — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:15:29 -0600

Focus on all that we have, rather than that which we may not have. Gratitude to those who have been there for us in good times and bad. Replace fear with hope. Happy Thanksgiving! This post is from the archives, originally posted by Molly - Nov 19, 2007. 1) Invite your friends Send cards from Charity Cards, and [...]

a mixed bag of turkeyday news

rd — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:00:51 -0600

U.S. Ready to Climb into Hot Seat on Climate Change - yahoo! news Shocking! White House Turkey Pardoning Scandal? - abc news Insurance companies never have a problem not paying claims…Trees to Fight Warming? Insurers Ponder Risks - reuters President Obama Plans to Green the White House - ecorazzi 5 Most Insane Versions of Thanksgiving Around the World - [...]

Win a Climate Kit - Great Green Giveaway

Maureen — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:17:13 -0600

Looking for a smart and useful holiday gift? Compliments of Kathy, one lucky reader will receive a free Standard Climate Kit — a collection of tools and tips that will help you save money, energy and water. (valued at $44.95, plus free shipping to anywhere in the U.S.) STEP 1 & 2 - To enter: first, [...]

solar traffic safety cone - what’s up with that?

rd — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:01:20 -0600

Please don’t hurt yourself rushing to buy this piece of crappy Chinese solar technology. This collapsible traffic cone presumably fits in one’s trunk. The little built-in solar panel charges a rechargeable battery that powers red LED bulbs. Add some reflective ‘material’ and you have a supposedly green highway safety gadget. No info on how a it gets solar-charged [...]