Akeena Solar’s Andalay AC Panels
Akeena Solar’s Andalay AC panel system was one of ten products honored at the fifth annual Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award ceremony this past fall, and the only solar product recognized by the magazine. Currently hitting the shelves at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores throughout California, the panels snap together like Lego bricks on the roof with nothing more than the tools you’d find in a regular toolbox. (www.akeena.com)
SDG&E Smart Meter
SDG&E is installing 1.4 million electric smart meters, as well as 900,000 gas smart meters, by the end of 2011 (at a rate of 6,000 smart meters a day), allowing customers to save energy, thus saving natural resources. Smart meters can send clients a notification when their bill reaches a certain amount, and also allows them to control smart appliances through the Internet. Through Google PowerMeter, customers can obtain their daily electricity usage information online. Visit SDG&E’s Web site to find out when you’ll receive your smart meter by entering in your home address. (www.sdge.com/smartmeter)
LauraBirnsDesign Eco-Furnishings, LLC
Named One of the Top Ten Green Gurus by Innovative Home Magazine, Del Mar-based Laura Birns is committed to sustainable practices via standards and procedures using LEED guidelines. FSC-certified solid woods are used in her sleek designs, and all glues, adhesives, and finishes are water-based low/no-VOC finishes. Aside from wood/veneers, various countertop materials include engineered stone, metal with post consumer content, recycled glass in an aggregate, or low fly ash concrete. The upholstered line uses renewable, soy-based foam made with 20 percent soybean oil, reducing the amount of petroleum-based products. Cushioning meets California Fire Resistance code, without the use of harmful chemicals, and a full line of Green Guard fabrics is offered. (www.laurabirnsdesign.com)
Watermark Designs
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person uses approximately 100 gallons of water per day. By installing water-efficient fixtures, the average household can reduce its water use by 30 percent. Watermark Designs’ contemporary faucets feature an innovative water-reduction aerator that allows the user to control the water’s flow-rate by simply turning the integrated device at the end of the spout. Available in the brand’s cutting-edge contemporary collections including Napa, Titanium, Touch 27 by Clodagh, and Prêt-a-vive, the fixtures allow the user to effectively conserve water by keeping the aerator at the lowest flow-rate setting, and if they require a higher rate, they can simply turn the device up. (www.watermark-designs.com)
