Lowe's: Three green steps forward, one step back

In September, number two home improvement giant Lowe's announced it was rolling out its Energy Center concept nationwide, and putting recycling centers in every store as well. The Energy Centers are an  in-store gathering of energy-efficient products, while the recylcing centers let customers bring in rechargeable batteries, cell phones, compact fluorescent lights, and plastic bags. 

And this month, the EPA named Lowe's its WaterSense Partner of the Year for the second year in a row; Lowe's is the first retailer to be tapped two years running.

But in Salem, Mass., environmentalists are attacking the company's plans for a new store.

Silver linings in green pools

After a long cool damp June (at least here in the northeastern United States), at last we're getting some hot summery weather. Time for ball games, picnics, and swimming pools! And you can enjoy the beautiful blue water in your green pool, too.

The big problems with pools, eco-wise, are water loss, electricity used to run pumps, and chemicals. But each has a solution. Pool covers stop evaporation and are a good safety feature. Energy efficient pumps are now on the market. And there are alternatives to traditional chemical treatments as well. For a good round-up, check out these two articles. And here are five more eco-friendly solutions.

And for those seeking a recycled above-ground option, check out these swimming pools made from big recycled garbage dumpsters! That's them in the photo above.

Water-saving faucets to Moen for

Fixture maker Moen has launched a Web page focussing on water conservation, sustainability, and presenting a green face to the world. The site boasts of the company's green efforts, lists earth-friendly products, and includes industry associations and company policies.

There's also a video, but seeing as this is a family-friendly blog, I won't comment on its porno-style soundtrack or the sexy shower scenes. :-)

New safe-for-drinking hose saves water

Teknor Apex has two new hoses: the Healthy Habitat and the AquaPure Neverkink. The basic idea of both is that they are lead-free, so you can use them safely for drinking water. Also, both feature a reduced flow rate, which the company claims leads to water conservation -- presumably because less water spills out on the ground. Course, when I was a kid we drank from any old hose we could get. Lead, asbestos, Bosco -- that stuff was salt and pepper to us. And we liked it!

Sshhh! I can't hear the dishwasher!

KitchenAid has released a new line of dishwashers, the EQ Wash System. The "E" and the "Q" are for "Extra Quiet," as the company is really pushing the unit's low sound volume -- 48 decibels while operating, below that of a moderate rainstorm (60 decibels).

But the product is good for both your auditory environment and your ecological environment. "Alternating wash zones focus the washing action, using less water and energy for high performance cleaning," according to a company press release. KitchenAid also says that the dishwasher is 58 percent more efficient than Energy Star standards require, and it also has an efficiency designation from the Consortium for Energy Efficiency.

Moen pushes array of environmental initiatives

Moen, the plumbing fixture maker, is really making a polished push to promote its environmental position. Of course, there are water-saving new products, but the PR program includes videos and a sustainability brochure.

To the company's credit, there is substance behind the glitz, too. Last month Moen joined the EPA's WaterSense program and the U.S. Green Building Council.

Full disclosure: Moen sometimes sends candies in its press releases, and I eat them. Except for the atomic fireballs; those things are nasty!

Grohe debuts water-conserving line of plumbing fixtures

Grohe's new WaterCare line claims to use up to 30 percent less water than traditional fixtures. There are 60 faucets (for both kitchen and bath) and low-flow shower products in the line. GROHE recently became an EPA WaterSense partner, according to the company's news release.

New line of water-saving toilets

If you hate flushing too much water down the toilet, but you're not quite ready for in-home composting, you might want to look at Briggs' new line of water-saving toilets. The first in the series -- a dual-flush model -- has been released, and two more will be coming in future months, according to the company. The upcoming toilets will be single-flush, 1.28 gallons per flush models.

Plumbing show to feature green seminar track

ISH North America 2008 is a trade show for kitchen, bath, plumbing, and HVAC professionals, coming up Oct. 1 to 3 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The event will include several green-centered seminars:

• “The Research Required for Successful Implementation of New Water Efficient Technologies” -- upgrading plumbing systems for improved efficiency.
• “Water Reuse and Water Reclamation” -- moving toward a “greener” plumbing design.
• “An Introduction to the GreenPlumbers Program” -- helping plumbers use green strategies in their work.
• “Why Hydronic Distribution Systems are a Deep Shade of Green Technology” -- on the use of hydronic heating.

Here's a list of all the seminars being held at the event.

Ace Hardware, Home Depot, now carry composting toilet

Biolet, a Swedish manufacturer, just announced that Ace and Home Depot are now stocking its composting toilet. The eco-friendly system uses no water and needs to be emptied every two months under normal daily usage. According to the maker, the toilet can be self-installed in two hours and does not require access to a septic tank or sewer system.

Home Depot is selling the toilets online from $1,399 (for a nonelectric model, shown in this post) to $1,999 (electric).

Sprinkler system uses water "intelligently"

Cyber-Rain's eponymous sprinkler control system has just gotten certified under SWAT -- that is, Smart Water Application Technologies, a standard issued by the Center for Irrigation Technology.

This means that in many communities, you can get a rebate if you install the system -- a rebate which may even pay for the product and installation, according to the company.

The Cyber-Rain system lets you tailor your water use based on weather and seasonal conditions. It works wirelessly through your personal computer, using information from the Internet.