Looking toward 2012, we want to give our readers a preview of what’s new on the eco-friendly kitchen and home products scene. We’ll be presenting some of the innovation highlights we see on the market from now up until the 2012 International Builders Show in early February so stay tuned. We will be presenting several examples of sustainable and stylish eco-products each week, so please check back to view these that will transform your kitchen and home into a greener environment!

InkSinkErator Kitchen Food Disposer
Did you know that almost 19 million tons of food waste is deposited in landfills every year in the U.S.? Well, waste not, want not. That’s the motto when it comes to making our planet greener, especially for managing food waste.

If you don’t like throwing out food, one choice is to compost, but sometimes that’s not practical for a busy lifestyle or if you’re just overall lazy. Well, thanks to InkSinkErator, there is now an easy way to dispose of your food, all in an eco-friendly way.

Since food waste is already composed of 70 percent water, grinding it up and sending it down your sink drain doesn’t sound horrible, right? Then, you should try InkSinkErator’s food disposers. Here are its eco-benefits:

• Contributes to holistic waste management strategies
• Keeps food scraps out of landfills
• Averages less than 50 cents a year in electricity
• Accounts for 1 percent or less of a household’s total water consumption
• Helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Capable wastewater treatment plants can turn food waste into biosolids and fertilizers

InkSinkErator offers a variety of disposers to help transform your household into an eco-one and help you from sending food to landfills! Be sure to visit InkSinkErator in person at IBS in Booth W4543.

Photo Credit: InkSinkErator

Looking toward 2012, we want to give our readers a preview of what’s new on the eco-friendly kitchen and home products scene. We’ll be presenting some of the innovation highlights we see on the market from now up until the 2012 International Builders Show in early February so stay tuned. We will be presenting several examples of sustainable and stylish eco-products each week, so please check back to view these that will transform your kitchen and home into a greener environment!

Foremost Bathroom Cabinets
Is your bathroom looking for a makeover? Does it need new cabinets? Well, why not check out Foremost, which provides all your bathroom necessities. From vanities and cabinets to toilets to laundry collections your bath will be transformed into a room right out of a catalog.

A variety of cabinets are supplied with decorative hardware, a wide range of sizes, different stains and most come assembled. Less work the better, right?

The best part about Foremost is its green initiatives. Committed to recycling, some products are crafted from raw materials like saw dust and wood chips. Many of the products are also shipped and packaged with 100 percent recycled materials. Foremost also meets California Air Resource Board standards. To read about all its other sustainable endeavors, click here.

Foremost also offers eco-friendly indoor and outdoor furniture such as home and office décor, patio sets and food service products including refrigerators, griddles and fryers to name a few.

If you want to learn about Foremost in person visit them at IBS in Booth W105.

Photo Credit: Foremost

Looking toward 2012, we want to give our readers a preview of what’s new on the eco-friendly kitchen and home products scene. We’ll be presenting some of the innovation highlights we see on the market from now up until the 2012 International Builders Show in early February so stay tuned. We will be presenting several examples of sustainable and stylish eco-products each week, so please check back to view these that will transform your kitchen and home into a greener environment!

Schluter Systems Kitchen Counters
If you already have kitchen counters installed, but need that perfect finishing touch, then Schluter Systems probably has what you’re looking for, especially in sustainability.

To make sure your kitchen counters stay protected and look designer sheik, Schluter provides eco-friendly finishing and edge protection profiles for countertops. With at least 10 options provided, your counters will have the best protection possible.

For over 35 years, Schluter has integrated recycled materials into its products, along with recycling scrap and regrinding materials in production. Even its office space benefits the environment through using geothermal technology for heating and cooling systems, which in turn eliminate harmful emissions.

Schluter not only offers finishing’s for countertops, but also for walls. Other products you can purchase include shower systems, edge protection for floors, waterproofing membranes and finishing profiles and gutters for balconies and terraces.

To learn more visit Schluter Systems at IBS in Booth W721, or go to its website at www.schluter.com.

Photo Credit: Schluter Systems

Looking toward 2012, we want to give our readers a preview of what’s new on the eco-friendly kitchen and home products scene. We’ll be presenting some of the innovation highlights we see on the market from now up until the 2012 International Builders Show in early February so stay tuned. We will be presenting several examples of sustainable and stylish eco-products each week, so please check back to view these that will transform your kitchen and home into a greener environment!

Gerber Plumbing Fixtures
Looking for the perfect way to redecorate your bathroom, kitchen and home can be stressful, especially when you have to go store hopping. Well, to save you time and the running around, check out Gerber Plumbing Fixtures.

Gerber offers a range of fixtures including bath drains, bathtubs, showers, toilets and faucets. Basically, whatever you need in plumbing, they have it.

Now, you’re probably asking yourself “what’s so great about Gerber?” Well, let us tell you. First off, to see all of their green products, click here.

Not only is Gerber a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, but also an active partner with the EPA’s WaterSense program. They place a strong focus on green solutions for both commercial and residential.

For example, with the high-efficiency Gerber Ultra Flush 1.1gpf toilet, it uses 30 percent less water than the standard 1.6gpf toilet. Gerber faucets also use water-saving, low-flow aerators brining water flow down to 1.5 gallons per minute.

As some people like to say, “go green or go home,” and with Gerber you get to go home with a green product! Gerber Plumbing will be attending IBS and you can find them at Booth W4017, so be sure to stop by and say hi!

Photo Credit: Gerber Plumbing Fixtures

Looking toward 2012, we want to give our readers a preview of what’s new on the eco-friendly kitchen and home products scene. We’ll be presenting some of the innovation highlights we see on the market from now up until the 2012 International Builders Show in early February so stay tuned. We will be presenting several examples of sustainable and stylish eco-products each week, so please check back to view these that will transform your kitchen and home into a greener environment!

Eagle Roofing Products
If you’re looking for a new roof or an eco-friendly way to transform your home, then maybe the way to go is with products from Eagle Roofing.

You can choose from the Standard Weight Roof Tile, the Lightweight Roof Tile or if you want to stay committed to the environment the Eagle Solar Roof.

With the Eagle Solar Roof, not only will your home be up to date, it provides a way for you to produce your own power through a system that protects your home all while creating energy.

Here are just a few ways a solar roof impacts the environment:
• Prevent 300 lbs. of coal from being mined Prevent 600 lbs. of CO2 from entering the atmosphere
• Prevent 210 gallons of water from being consumed
• Prevents NO and SO2 from being released into the environment

Eagle Roofing doesn’t stop there when it comes to green building. They also offer Energy Saving Roofs and Cool Roof Tile that is Energy Star certified.

If the above doesn’t persuade you, then maybe the fact that Eagle Roofing was used in building a home on ABC’s hit “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” will!

Overall, your home will have a higher performance, with low energy costs. Can’t get much better than that! For more information, be sure to visit Eagle Roofing’s Booth, W300, at IBS and ask how you can transform your home into an eco-savvy atmosphere.

Photo Credit: Eagle Roofing

It’s that time of year again for the International Home + Housewares Show. This year the expo will be held in Chicago on the second weekend in March, where attendees can see firsthand consumer lifestyle and product trends for all areas of the home. To give you a preview as what to expect at the show, we will be highlighting some of the

IHH Spotlight: Oceanstar Bamboo Shoe Rack

Do you have so many shoes you just know what to do with them, and we don’t just mean when it comes to wearing those fabulous stilettos, comfy clogs or just plain old tennis shoes? We mean when it comes to storage.

Storage can be a pain. Either there is never enough closet space, you have to use another room in your home, or worse rent a storage unit!

Well, thanks to the Oceanstar Design Group, Inc. your worries are over. Not only has this company redefined the nightmare of storage, but has done it in a green manner. Yes, eco-friendliness can now become a part of your closet.

Oceanstar recently introduced its eco-friendly bamboo shoe rack that comes in two styles. You can choose from a 2-Tier or 3-Tier rack, where your shoes will nicely fit on each level and stay organized.

Each tier contains open slats, permitting air circulation, all while having an adjustable design allowing you to have your shoes on a flat or angled surface. The 2-Tier holds up to eight pairs of adult-sized sizes, while the 3-Tier holds up to 12. Both come in a natural color, which is sure to match your décor in any room of the home!

If you want to learn more or get up-close and personal with Oceanstar, be sure to attend the 2012 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago and visit their booth #N7042.

Photo Credit: Oceanstar

Lofty and complex New Year’s resolutions often remain unfulfilled frustrations.

According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology, about 50 percent of the population makes resolutions each New Year. Many fail because they are over ambitious, uninspired, or too time consuming to complete. With health and happiness always high on the priority list, this New Year instead set a few realistic goals that include specific steps to achieve family wellness.

Maid Brigade – the nation’s leading green cleaning service company – offers the following seven green cleaning and lifestyle tips to help you kick start (and keep up) a happy and healthy 2012.

1. Read labels! Household cleaning products often contain ingredients that can be harmful to humans and pets. Reading product labels is the best way to get information. Labels on hazardous products contain signal words, which explain how hazardous the product is to your health and can also give some indication of the potential problems it may cause the environment. Universally recognized, signal words include “Caution,” which is used to mark the least toxic ingredients, and “Warning” and “Danger!” which mark the more dangerous and most dangerous ingredients respectively.  Choose the mildest options under the kitchen sink.  Of course, the safest cleaning solutions are those made from natural ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, tea tree oil, and baking soda.

2. Ditch the fragrances. The strong odor of pine, citrus or floral products is what we’ve been conditioned to believe is the sign of a clean home. However, the fragrances in cleaning products can actually be very harmful to your health and have nothing to do with the effectiveness of the product.  Fragrances contain endocrine disruptors, which can seriously affect reproductive health and can also trigger asthma/allergy attacks, headaches, mood swings, disorientation and more.  Look for unscented products or use inexpensive natural products.

3. Prioritize the cleaning duties.  Aim for cleanliness where it counts by removing dirt and combating germs in critical areas like the bathroom and around food preparation centers. Strive for “dirt and germ removal” versus “perfectly spotless” to free up time for important family activities and take a “clean as you go” approach to organization and daily home messes.

4. Let it sit for proper disinfection. Three out of four consumers disinfect home surfaces incorrectly by spraying and immediately wiping the surface, according to the 2011 Maid Brigade Work/Life Balance Survey. Disinfectants require a soak or “dwell” time (up to 10 minutes in most cases, sometimes longer) to be effective. Also remember that proper disinfection occurs on a surface that has been pre-cleaned.

5. Avoid de-clutter disaster.  Use a 360-degree approach by starting at one point in the room and working in one direction around the room. When purging and cleaning closets, tackle one closet per weekend.  Set all donation items aside and make a single trip to each charity location.  For attics, basements, and larger home areas, break it down into smaller and more manageable projects by focusing on stored items like kids toys or unused sports equipment.

6. Buy fresh, local, and organic. Fresh produce from local farmers markets or natural food markets is one way to know what you are putting on the dinner table. Even most grocery chains now have extensive organic produce sections. If you don’t have farmers markets in your area, start a container garden or a small vegetable plot, participate in a community garden, or sign up for community supported agriculture. This can even be an educational family activity!

7. Call for help. Getting the house in order can be a daunting task that may seem impossible while juggling work and family responsibilities. Even those of us who want to think we can do it all can benefit from some help on a seasonal basis. Many companies offer home organization and seasonal cleaning help even if you don’t use them on a regular basis. If time is at a premium, this can be a very practical solution.  Look for a professional service that uses employees rather than sub-contractors, is insured, and that uses green cleaning practices and products to protect your family’s health.

Maid Brigade cares about the health of today’s families. With more than 25 years of experience, the company is the national leader in green cleaning practices and has a longstanding legacy of offering the latest in house cleaning services and technologies. Maid Brigade is the first and only Green Clean Certified® housekeeping services franchise that implements a certification program for green house cleaning so customers know that they’re getting a green cleaning that is safe and truly green. For more information on Maid Brigade or for healthy living cleaning tips visit maidbrigade.com or http://blog.maidbrigade.com.

Photo Credit: Graff

GRAFF^® – Where Faucets Meet Eco-Elegance

When decorating your kitchen or bathroom, faucets matter and not only for design, but for water conservation. Well, thanks to GRAFF now you can unite style with saving the environment.

If you’re looking to replace your faucets, then check out the Corsica faucet. A more traditional choice, it comes in a variety of colors like Polished Nickel and Steelnox^® Satin Nickel. In addition to its design, the Corsica is available with a G-9300 water-saving aerator spout reducing the water output from 2.2 to 1.5 gpm.

Now you can save water and look good doing it!

Creative Systems Lighting – Bringing Brightness in a Green Way

A Longer lamp life, energy-efficiency and saving money are three things CSL^® or Creative Systems Lighting offers when it comes to lighting systems.

One particular product by CSL is the LED ECO-Downlight Mini. It features a 1-3/8-inch aperture, one of the smallest aperture recessed products on the market today. In addition, it contains an integral proprietary 120V LED driver, meaning it is 90 percent efficient with an average lamp life of 50,000 hours. It also has ENERGY STAR fixtures, ensuring cooling, which in turn reduces HVAC expenses giving a longer lamp life and reducing maintenance costs! 

Energy-efficient and a money saver? Sounds like the way to go when installing a new lighting system!

Maid Brigade Shares Ways to Limit Flu Exposure

More than 200,000 people, including an average of 20,000 children under the age of five, are hospitalized each year because of flu-related complications – according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Children, the elderly, and people with long-term health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease are at an even greater risk.

Maid Brigade – the leading green cleaning services company – offers seven green cleaning and lifestyle tips to help protect you and your family from this potentially life-threatening illness.

1.     Thoroughly wipe down and disinfect doorknobs, desks, bedside tables, bathroom surfaces, kitchen counters, and children’s toys, as these are the most germ-contaminated areas of the home. According to the CDC, flu viruses (including H1N1) can survive between eight and 12 hours on paper or cloth and 24 to 48 hours on non-porous surfaces like doorknobs or desks.

2.     Use natural products such as vinegar and water when cleaning and disinfecting to limit exposure to toxic chemicals found in commercial cleaners.

3.     Wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 15 seconds. When washing hands in public places, use a paper towel to shut off the faucet and to open the bathroom door on the way out to limit contact with flu germs.

4.     Drink a lot of fluids including water, hot tea, and soup to stay hydrated. Peppermint flavor teas clear nasal congestion and open up your airways. Healthy soup options can provide a full serving of phytochemical-rich root vegetables and protein-rich meats or beans.

5.     Take vitamins every day like Vitamin C and Zinc. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant proven to shorten the duration of the flu. Zinc is an herb that has been used for centuries to help bolster the immune system.

6.     Exercise daily to maintain a healthy body weight and reduce stress.  Taking a brisk walk for just 30 minutes a day is a great way to elevate your heart rate and escape the stressors of the day.

7.     Limit contact with others who have flu symptoms. If you or your children contract the flu, stay home from work or keep children out of school.

For more tips to protect your family from the flu visit www.cdc.gov/flu or http://blog.maidbrigade.com.