Dreaming of a green Christmas

rnHE events of the last few months

I have been monumental, stimulating concerned thought and conversation about economic recovery, government changes, and the sacrifices we may all have to make in the coming year. However, I have to admit that my thoughts this time of year naturally turn to the cool stuff I want. In this case, the products on my wish list are both innovative and green.

First on my list is Element Four's WaterMill, which produces clean, fresh drinking water from the air. Fitted to the outside of a home, this nifty little device condenses the water vapor in the air by drawing it through an air filter and over a cooling element. The droplets of water collect, up to 13 quarts a day, then pass through a carbon block filter and an ultraviolet sterilizer, before going on to a dispensing point inside the home.

Performance will vary with local air conditions-very humid air yields more water and dry air less. Aside from an obvious appliance for any offthe-grid shelter, imagine the usefulness of the WaterMill in a drought or post-disaster situation. After a hurricane or earthquake, solar-powered WaterMill stations could provide some relief.

Continuing on the theme of selfreliance, the second product on my wish list provides free heat from the Sun. The SolarSheat from Your Solar Home is a thermal solar-heating solution for a single room. It's well designed, and simple, so that virtually anyone can perform the installation and get itright-a first, or near first, for a renewable energy product. In colder climates, space heating comprises a large part of a family's energy budget, which means that the SolarSheat can save money, too.

There's another product on my list that will also save on home heating bills. ThermaProof Windows from Serious Materials are super insulated and exceed EnergyStar requirements

By Jay Tompt

by 4OOVo. Energy efficiency will be a hot issue across a range ofproduct categories in the coming year, but these windows have already staked out a significant performance lead over their nearest competitors. It's a result of Silicon Valley innovation-the products are produced in Sunnyvale, Ca.getting together with green building know-how.

And they didn't stop with windows, as they also produce ThermaRock, an energy-saving alternative to drywall, and will soon launch EcoRock, another drywall alternative made with 85% recycled content and manufactured with 807o less energy.

Last on my list is a nifty little water-saving device that can turn virtually any residential toilet into a highefficiency dual flush. It's called Perfect Flush from Brondell, and it seems like a perfect solution for generating big water savings without having to tear apart the bathroom. The retail price is significantly less than buying and installing a new toilet, and there likely will be rebates available in the near future. It's well designed and easy for just about anyone to install correctly. Finally, it's customizable so the user can dial in the most appropriate water flow for each flush.

These innovations are cool and functional, and they represent some important new steps toward water and energy conservation. However, they are only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, because hundreds more cool, new innovations are in the pipeline. It promises to be an exciting new year.

* Jay Tompt is vice president of Sreen product development at Plan-lt Hardware, San Francisco, Ca., which distributes green products for hardware and home improvement stores throughout California, and a leading experr in sustainable business and supply chain issues. He can be reached at info@plan-ithardware.com or (415) 359-9914.