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AUSTIN, Texas — Oprah’s had her favorite things. Now EnviroMedia Social Marketing, which specializes in public education campaigns for environment and public health issues, is releasing its list of favorites. To celebrate 13 years of promoting a more sustainable society, EnviroMedia is endorsing 13 products that, in ways big and small, can help lessen climate change and promote a greener lifestyle.
This baker’s dozen of green goodies ranges from $21,000 (the Ford Escape hybrid) down to $5.99 (the Five-Minute Shower Timer). The products were chosen by EnviroMedia staffers, who own and love them. Some are low-tech, some are high-tech, some are newfangled, and some are old standbys, but they all can help people keep the planet in mind.
The Top 13 descriptions are below, and images of each featured item can be found at GreenDetectives.net.
1. The White Mountain Hand-Crank Ice Cream Freezer
Pre-burn some of those calories with a hand-crank ice cream freezer. It might not be low-calorie, but it is low-carbon. “I use a little Tom Sawyer psychology on my boys,” says EnviroMedian Avrel Seale, “and pretty soon, they’re lined up to take a turn. When I’m kicked back enjoying that first bowl, I feel doubly righteous, not only having gotten a little workout beforehand but having saved electricity too.”
2. The Kill-A-Watt Home Power Monitor
The U.S. Department of Energy says up to 10 percent of our household power is used by appliances that are left plugged in when they are not in use. “With the Kill-A-Watt, I can monitor the energy eaters or ‘vampires’ at home and decide which should come off the grid at night when I’m not using them,” says EnviroMedian Ted Burton.
3. The Scott’s Push Reel Lawn Mower
The Cleavers had it right. This beauty of a “push reel” mower from Scott’s will keep your air clean and your neighborhood quiet. Lawn mowers account for up to 5 percent of pollution in the United States and more in cities. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, operating a typical gasoline-powered lawn mower for one hour produces the same amount of smog-forming hydrocarbons as driving an average car almost 200 miles under typical driving conditions. Says EnviroMedian Talley Summerlin, “Grass isn’t the only thing you’ll be cutting. You’ll be cutting air pollution and noise pollution too.”
4. The Ford Escape Hybrid
A lot of us rely on sport utilities for our lifestyle. Here’s one that gives you around 30 mpg, in contrast to the 18 mpg that SUVs average, and far less pollution. EnviroMedia’s company car is the Ford Escape Hybrid, and the EnviroMedian who drives it most, runner Kamon Sams, says, “The hybrid is a pretty smooth ride, very quiet. What most people wouldn’t expect is its ‘get up and go.’ It can accelerate just as quickly as a non-hybrid car, and it holds a lot.”
5. Rocket Shower
Biking to work or working out during lunch no longer means grossing out your co-workers. Rocket Shower is a spray that uses witch hazel and a blend of essential oils to kill bacteria and cool you down without soap and water. You just spray it on and wipe it off with a damp cloth. Perfect for the lunch-hour workout before heading back to the desk. “This saves about 15 gallons per shower,” says EnviroMedia cofounder Valerie Davis, “and I haven’t had any complaints yet!”
6. The Five-Minute Shower Timer from New Resources Group
If you do need to take a real shower, you can use the Five-Minute Shower Timer. The average American spends 10 minutes in the shower. With this timer, you could cut that in half and could save between 15 and 25 gallons per shower, according to the EPA. Together, this could save 2.5 billion gallons a day.
7. Seymour Panniers from Axiom
People don’t need a lot of stuff, but they do need a little. And to make bicycling a way of life, you need a way to carry your stuff. Enter panniers, which are like saddlebags for your bike. EnviroMedian Talley Summerlin says, “These things are perfect for my change of clothes, toiletries, road tools, etc., which I need for my bicycle commute every day.”
8. Frigidaire Front-loading Washer
A front-loading washer uses one-third the water of a top-loader. Less power and less detergent too. Front-loading machines are typically more expensive, but the Frigidaire’s 3.1 Cu. Ft. washer now lists for about $650, putting it much more in line with top-loading water hogs. “I love my front-loading washing machine,” says EnviroMedian Melissa Anderson-Cramer. “Its capacity is much larger, so I can wash more clothes in a single load; and if I don’t have enough to fill a load, the water sensor fills the tub only as much as needed. Also, the washer’s spin cycle removes a great deal more water from the clothes, so drying takes a fraction of the time it did before.” Adds Jill Shoup, “They require much less detergent and quicker drying times. What’s not to like?” Ted Burton says his front-loader saves him $100 a year in electricity, and Matt Nelsen likes the fact that stacking his washer and drier frees up floor space.
9. Envirocycle Backyard Composter
You don’t have to die to start decomposing. Start today with this inventive Envirocycle Backyard Composter. “This composter is great for beginners,” says EnviroMedian Kevin Jung. “It is relatively compact compared to other composters, and the tumbling action makes for faster breakdown of organic material.”
10. Smart Solar 10-watt Halogen Motion Light
Sun by day. Sun-powered by night. EnviroMedia cofounder Kevin Tuerff installed a Smart Solar 10-Watt Halogen Motion Light five years ago and hasn’t touched it since.
11. Kor Water Bottle
Kor makes cool 25-oz water bottles from BPA-free Tritan, health-safe materials that give off no metallic or plastic taste. They have a hinged cap for easy opening and closing, and you can personalize the inside of the cap with a message or a picture. EnviroMedian and Kor bottle user Millie Salinas says, “The taste stays fresh, it’s super easy to handle, and your water stays cool for several hours.”
12. BioBags
BioBags are biodegradable bags that take some of the ickiness out of composting. Made from corn, they break down with the fruits and veggies you load inside them. And because BioBags “breathe,” heat and moisture can escape or evaporate, which reduces bacteria growth and the commensurate stench. Says EnviroMedian Cathy Levine, “BioBags make composting so easy! Just line your kitchen compost bin and collect scraps through the week until it’s time to throw them, bag and all, on the compost pile. They reduce your trips to the compost pile and reduce the time spent scrubbing out your compost bin.”
13. Low-impact Home
They’re not just for Hobbits anymore. Jovana Kamenko of EnviroMedia’s Portland office alerted us to this whimsical yet practical low-impact woodland house made largely of materials found around the site, so it gets the quirky No. 13 spot on the list. “On the outside it looks a bit like a Hobbit hole, but the inside is spectacular. Scroll through the photos and you’ll see how charming and innovative this place is,” says Kamenko. “It’s almost entirely made of recycled or found materials, and because of the way its built, it’s super sustainable.” Granted, it’s not for everybody, and certainly not something you can rush out and buy, but it does get you thinking about the ultimate in sustainable building practices.
About EnviroMedia Social Marketing
EnviroMedia formed in 1997 as the nation’s first full-service marketing firm focused solely on environmental and public health issues. Offices include headquarters in Austin, Texas, and a West Coast branch in Portland, Oregon. EnviroMedia creates authentic public education campaigns for environmental and public health clients. In 2009, preceding the United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen, EnviroMedia launched GreenDetectives.net to help consumers understand and decode complex climate change issues and terms. For more information, visit EnviroMedia.com.
