ECO-FRIENDLY NEWS YOU CAN USE

DIDJA KNOW?

DIDJA KNOW?
Planting deciduous trees on the south side of a building can reduce air-conditioning costs by up to 20 percent; and in winter, when leaves drop, the trees allow the sun’s rays to warm buildings.
—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency


CONCRETE EXAMPLES

You’ll be sitting pretty on this clean-lined sectional sofa from Bevara Design House. For both outdoor and indoor use, the three-piece unit and its complementary coffee table are part of the company’s SLAB Collection, a line that’s made of sustainable Eco Concrete.

A reinforced natural fiber cement, Eco Concrete is composed of cement, granite, stone, marble powder and natural fiber. Company literature notes that the product weighs approximately 40 percent less than regular concrete yet has concrete’s look of solidity.

The modular SLAB Collection includes right-, left- and no-arm-center sectional components; benches and stools; and multiple tabletop and base sizes and heights for mix-and-match convenience. Pieces are available in a variety of finishes.

Cushions for sectional units, which are included, are covered in indoor/outdoor fabric in a wide range of colors. For more details and buying information, visit bevaradesign.com, or call (510) 482-5750.



BURNING BEAUTIES
 
Made of solid granite, these Wabi Oil Lamps from Stone Forest add a sense of drama to outdoor settings. The small hand-carved lamps feature a removable top, a wick and a hollowed-out interior in which to place oil. To order, go online to stoneforest.com, or call (505) 986-8883. Oil can be obtained at specialty candle shops.











 
STEP LIGHTLY
 
Brighten up dark stairs with a new energy-saving lighting product—Color Changing LED Step Lights from Bulbrite Industries Inc. The lights, which range in color from white, yellow and red to light blue, blue and violet, can be set to change at slow, medium and fast rates, and also can be synchronized with music from your stereo system.

Each energy-efficient LED Step Light is said
to use just 0.02 watts and have an average life of 50,000 hours. The Color Changing LED Step Lights kit contains 10 lights (it can be expanded to 30 units), a hand-held remote control, and a 12-volt transformer.

The indoor/outdoor lights have built-in protection against water, dust and dirt. Find the kit at Valley Light Gallery, (480) 948-5030. For other sales outlets, check bulbrite.com on the Internet, or call (800) 528-5555.