April 22nd marks the day the world celebrates the planet: Earth Day. It's a perfect opportunity to consider changing small habits in your life, whether it be switching to energy efficient bulbs, begin biking to work, or properly recycling household waste. In honor of a day marking the importance of the planet we all share, here are several apps related to earth-friendly habits...

Featuring new video today....

British inventor, James Dyson, has done it again. Embracing his trademark "there ought to be a better way" approach that spurred his most well-known high-end vacuum cleaners and blade-less fans, he has now revolutionized, or at the very least streamlined, the way we wash and dry our hands. We were lucky to get a recent sneak peek here in NYC of his latest creation, the Airblade Tap. More

The innovative minds over at Dyson announced three new Airblade technology hand dryers today in London, each powered by an upgraded Dyson digital motor V4. The most interesting and innovative of the trio was the Dyson Airblade Tap, equipped with infrared sensors to determine where a user's hands are located for touchless operation, then expel a high concentrated blast of air to "scrape water off" in 12 seconds flat! More

I recently installed under cabinet lights in the kitchen of my rental apartment, and for a relatively small investment, they have made a big impact: They provide lighting for such kitchen tasks as dish washing and food prep, and their ambient glow is a pleasant alternative to the harsh overhead lighting I relied on previously. Fluorescent, halogen and xenon are all popular choices, but if you are looking to go the energy saving route, check out these LED options below: More

We love the designer CFL bulbs from Hulga — we first reported on them back in 2007, when the sculptural bulbs were just a concept — and now, they've introduced a new member to their family. Meet Baby Plumen 001. More

Easy to install, these faucet aerators not only swivel, spray and stream, but they also feature a flip switch that lets you briefly turn the water on and off. This is great while washing dishes because it maintains the water at your perfect temperature, while allowing you to temporarily shut off the water when you're doing things like: (1) transferring big pots after rinsing, or (2) each time you lean over to fill a dish rack. Because you're not changing the entire faucet, just adding to the tip, they're great for apartments! More

If the idea of constantly heating your water in a big tank sitting in your basement sounds mighty inefficient and wasteful to you, then a tankless water heater may be the right option for you. I've researched some of the advantages of a tankless water heater system, alongside some of the compromises that come with the compact, more energy efficient option. More

Many people (though not enough) are willing to make considerable lifestyle adjustments to reduce their personal carbon footprint. But ask someone to change his or her showering habits in the name of the environment, and you will likely encounter some resistance. The fact is, there is something almost spiritual about a really good shower. The intensity of the water pressure, the reliable and consistent temperature, the wide coverage of the spray. Any mention of "water-saving" shower heads may conjure up images of standing under an anemic drizzle of lukewarm water.
More

Whether it's because of long commute times, the price of gas, or the thought of losing so much of your life to sitting in a car, train or bus, there are few people I know who would turn down the opportunity to work from home. But did you know that if just 53% of white collar workers telecommuted two days a week, the US could save 9.7 billion gallons of gas and $38.2 billion? More

It's gotten really easy to be green while updating a kitchen or bath. Not only are newer fixtures and appliances more energy efficient, more companies are producing recycled building materials so you can stay green from the studs out. From flooring to fixtures, here's a little roundup of our favorite resources for green kitchen and bath rehabs.
More