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The story behind these pencils will make you want to buy them! The wood of the pencil is made from reclaimed wood (100% recycled)...from old buildings, bridges, railroad ties, barns and mills. The lead is non-waxed and with a green, vinyl eraser.

Why is using reclaimed wood important? This eliminates the need for virgin wood, which builds roads in roadless areas, affecting indigeous people.

Updated Aug 11, 2008

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What's Your Solar Potential? - RoofRay

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Find out how much you could be saving with solar!

Enter your address and a satellite image of your house appears. Add solar panel spots and the angle of your roof and the program calculates how much you would save monthly, on your electric bill, if solar panels were added.

I couldn't get the right electric company to pop up, but I got an idea anyway. Perhaps if I signed up, it would be more accurate. (via Treehugger)

Updated Aug 12, 2008

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Biodegradable Plates, Cups & Utensils

5 people recommended this item

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These are probably some of the most attractive biodegradable disposables (made from sugarcane). They are unbleached and FDA-approved food-safe. Safe for microwave and freezer, are oil-resistant and good for hot or cold foods.

They can be composted, torn up in pieces and added to your garden to compost, or cleaned (with no oil residue) and recycled with paper.
Also available on Amazon.

"StalkMarket products are made from Bagasse, the natural cellouse fibers that remain after sugarcane has been processed to remove all the liquid "juice" from the sugarcane stalk. Natural fibers such as these will biodegrade in the presence of heat, moisture, oxygen and microorganisms that feed on the fibers as part of their normal diets." (via Treehugger)

Updated Aug 12, 2008

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Bedrock Industries Homepage

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They use 100% recycled glass to hand make tiles. They add nothing to it when it comes to them. Plus, they ship in 100% recycled materials.

The product is expensive, but absolutely stunning! (via Crib Candy)

Updated Aug 14, 2008

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Pulp Bulletin Board

7 people recommended this item

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Made from densely packed used magazines, this bulletin board screams cool, not recycled (though it is!)

Updated Aug 14, 2008

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Sustainable + Recycle = Conservation

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Slow Food International | good, clean and fair food

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2 people recommended this item

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Slow Food is a non-profit organization that promotes local food, knowledge of where our food comes from and how our choices affect the rest of the world.
I can't put it any better, so this is what they say. "Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

We consider ourselves co-producers, not consumers, because by being informed about how our food is produced and actively supporting those who produce it, we become a part of and a partner in the production process."

Updated Aug 17, 2008

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S116 Solar-Powered Phone

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The first solar-powered phone. Too bad it's over $500 and only available in Japan. Ok, I should mention that it is "slightly" larger than the one I use, also.

Updated Aug 17, 2008

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Sustainable + Recycle = Conservation

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Sony Ericsson - T650i

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This is considered the "greenest" cell phone. It exceeds the Energy Star Requirements by 24%, the components are free of PVC, phthalates and beryllium, and the main circuit board is free of brominated flame retardants.

Not sure I could give up my Blackberry at this point for that keyboard, but hopefully this is a step in the right direction.
The story of cell phones is one that makes a rational person whince, as if watching vegetarian, animal abuse videos. Close your eyes and you don't have to know.
Evidentally, coltan, an important part of our electronic lives is derived from Africa. Jungle is cut down, the land is dug up and dirt is washed in the river to reveal small pieces of coltan.
Other environmental impacts:
"Circuit boards are made from mined, rawmaterials including copper, gold, lead, nickel,zinc, beryllium, tantalum, coltan, and other metals. The manufacturing of these boards requires crude oil for plastic, and sand andlimestone for fiberglass. Many of thesematerials are known as “persistent toxins”and can stay in the environment for longperiods of time, even after disposal." (via MetaEFficient)

Updated Aug 17, 2008

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Sanyo Eneloop 8 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries

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These batteries are the newest of rechargable batteries. As a hybrid, they have the power for high-drain products (cameras) and for low-drain devices (remotes, flashlights) - and have a comparable shelf-life of a traditional alkaline.
The HUGE benefit, is that when not in use, they can retain their charge for a ridiculous amount of time. One reviewer said he experienced a 26% energy loss in 6 months! Are you kidding me? I'm used to rechargable batteries lasting about 26 hours!
Definately worth investing in; however, this would also require a quality charger, which goes for about $40 on amazon.

Updated Aug 17, 2008

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Solar Powered Air Conditioner

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What a step in the right direction! A solar-powered air conditioner, YEAH!! It can heat or cool a 600 square foot room. It is still being tested at a McDonalds and by the U.S. Navy, so let's hope we see this out on the market soon. The company, GreenCore Air, produces the units in the USA with environmentally-friendly materials (what this means, I'm not sure!)

Updated Aug 17, 2008