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Ultrametaefficient: Cork Chaise Lounge by Daniel Michalik
This cork chaise lounge, designed by Daniel Michalik, qualifies as being ultrametaefficient because it is: made with a renewable material, light, aesthetic, waterproof and impervious to rot and mold....
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Lacquered Bamboo Dishes
These dishes are made of lacquered, wound bamboo, which comes from Cat Dang, Vietnam. The soaked bamboo is cut into very fine strips and pressed into a curve. The strips are then coiled outward from...
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The Best Low-Flow Toilets
Early on, low-flow toilets got a bad rap — and justifiably so — their flushing ability left a lot to be desired. But today there are many low-flow toilets on the market that work well. Terry Love is a...
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Hoky Carpet Sweeper by Oreck
Carpet Sweepers are a great non-electric way to clean carpets quickly. So a recent review of a Hoky Sweeper on Cool Tools, caught our eye: You’ve probably seen Hoky Sweepers used in restaurants and...
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Philips’ New “Simplicity” LED Bulbs
The new LED light bulbs from Philips will change color and brightness with one touch, squeeze, or turn. They are also energy efficient and last 10-20 years. Good work. Expect to see these in coming...
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Solar Evacuated Tubes: Free Hot Water
For solar water heating in your home, there are basically two types of solar collectors: conventional flat-plate collectors and evacuated tube collectors. Evacuated tubes have a number of advantages:...
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The Solar House: Free Heating
People often think of using solar energy for producing electricity, but it is actually easier to harness the power of the sun to heat your home. It’s free heat that has been utilized since ancient...
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La Mancha Experiments With Solar Concentrators
The land of La Mancha, made famous by Quixote and his windmills, is a sun-drenched, windy part of Spain. Fittingly, the region is a veritable experimental hot-house for solar concentrator...
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Hyperefficient Transportation: Utility Bikes and Bike Trailers
Utility bikes or “work bikes” are very efficient vehicles for transporting cargo (and children too). They are quite popular in bike-friendly places like Amsterdam, Copenhagen and China. Bikes can tow...
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The Tri-L: A Portable LED Work Light
I’ve been testing the battery-powered Tri-L LED work light by Altus Lumen. I have to admit that this light has become one of my favorite gadgets. The design of the Tri-L shows great attention to...
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