Green products for the home

Author: Roberta Landman

Issue: December, 2010, Page 34

KITCHEN ART
Cooking up a storm for the holidays? Miele’s stainless steel Lumen ventilation hood will make fast work of food odors and vapors rising from steam and grease, according to the firm.

It also will shed new light on your culinary creations. That’s because in addition to halogen lighting, the product features an energy-efficient, multicolor LED light band in the unit’s canopy. Lighting colors can be set to change at intervals, or a single hue can be selected.

The Contemporary-style hood, which won a European design award, was manufactured with “a careful balance between air removal and energy efficiency,” company sources note. For details, call (480) 443-0045, or visit mieleusa.com.

CANDLE FLAIR An old spice pot commonly found in rural Indian kitchens has been reinvented as a candleholder by Himalayan Trading Post. The pot, with a swing-top lid, is hand-carved in India using sustainably harvested mango wood. The double-wicked candle contains a mix of beeswax and wax from U.S.-grown soy beans, and is made in the firm’s Georgia candle studio. Various scents are available, as are replacement candles. The product can be ordered from Himalayan Trading Post at himalayantradingpost.com.

’TIS THE SEASON
Looking like a constellation of stars on this Christmas tree are Bulbrite’s LED Chain Lights. Available in white or multicolor options, the lights are said to last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs and offer up to an 83-percent savings in energy. UL-approved, the strings of bulbs are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and are available through Lighting Unlimited in Scottsdale, (480) 483-1177, and Brasswinds Fan Doctor in Phoenix, (602) 482-1881. For other outlets, visit bulbrite.com.

Words of WisdomIn his latest home-related tome, Eco House Book (Conran Octopus), Terence Conran says he is optimistic about green home improvement and the abundance of eco-friendly choices that are available to consumers. A designer and entrepreneur as well as an author, Conran is well-known in Great Britain for his philosophy on residential design.

This edition examines consumption, fabrics, design, outdoor spaces and maintenance in relation to one’s house, with chapters offering numerous examples of ways to reduce energy consumption and provide savings. One example is the smart meter. In contrast to a utility bill that charges for previously used energy, the smart meter displays real-time usage and a cost read-out. With the right kind of meter, it is easy to discover which appliances are the most energy-consuming. Such a digital device enables immediate conservation, Conran says.

He suggests everyday alternatives for use in outdoor living areas, including solar-powered garden lights, homemade compost, and graywater for irrigating landscape plants. The book includes full-color photographs of the techniques and gadgets in action.

The final chapter, titled Case Studies, is dedicated to a showcase of existing homes that incorporate the green principles discussed. A resource of American vendors can be found in the Useful Addresses index at the back of the book.
—Lindsay Norman