Fluid Needs

Make your water cooler

At first glance, the office water cooler looks innocuous, especially if you forego the dumpster-bound plastic cup and refill your (Philadelphia Phillies, 2008 World Champions) glass instead. However, there’s one key wasteful component unaccounted for: energy consumption. Yup, those heavy jugs need to be manufactured and then carted around town by big trucks—and they aren’t running on hydrogen. That’s where a bottleless water filtration system, which taps into your existing water line, comes in. The water is purified on the spot, and you might be surprised to learn that tap water quality is regulated, unlike bottled water. For over 22 years, our neighbors in Mount Laurel, NJ Arctic Coolers (www.arcticcoolers.com) have offered this service. Oh, and it seems to save money, too.


Barrel Fever

Save cash and plastic by refilling your detergent bottles

My dad tells stories about going down to the corner store when he was a kid and buying black olives or pickles from a barrel. Well, down at the Big Green Earth Store on 2nd and Market, they have something almost as fun as a barrel of pickles: a refillable detergent station. Bring in your empty bottles of all purpose cleanser, or laundry or dish detergent, and you can refill them for less than the cost of a new bottle. No need to worry about the safety of the cleanser; it’s all non-toxic, and produced by Sun & Earth from King of Prussia.

Cowboy Up

Be a man of steel and ditch the shaving can

Tired of tossing stainless steel shaving cream cans into the trash? I was, so I went over to Whole Foods and discovered an old-fashioned bar of shaving soap by a company called Herban Cowboy. The shave is different, and a little rougher, but you’ll quickly grow accustomed to it, and before long the chemical fragrances from a can will seem alien. The company was started by a Pennsylvania couple, but they’ve since relocated to Minnesota. Boo! Any local soap makers have a competing product to offer?

 

1 Comment

  1. Category: Events/Talks, Lectures
    Event: Philadelphia Earthship Lecture
    About this Event: EARTHSHIP BIOTECTURE MULTIMEDIA SEMINAR AND Q&A MARCH 9, 2011 ETHICAL SOCIETY BUILDING PHILADELPHIA http://earthship.com/philly/ Earthships: Sustainable "Off-Grid" Homes Made of Recycled Materials What: The acclaimed Earthship Biotecture Multimedia Seminar and Q&A will be in Philadelphia on March 9, 2011. It will cover all aspects of Earthship Biotecture, the international sustainable "off-grid" housing concept that incorporates recycled materials into "groundbreaking" housing structures. When: Wednesday, March 9, 2011 5:00pm – 8:00pm (15 minute break) Where: Ethical Society Building 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia, PA 19103 Tickets: Register now (form at right): $10 at the Seminar on March 9. No registration: $15 at the Seminar on March 9. Agenda: The three hour Earthship Seminar covers all aspects of Earthship Biotecture, providing attendees an opportunity to understand and experience Earthships, ample time for questions and answer, with 15 minute break. Note: Each attendee will receive a complimentary Earthship logo sticker and Earthship floor-plan on 8.5" x 11" paper.

    Date: 03/09/2011
    Times: 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

    Ticket prices: $10 with registration $15 at the door
    Ticket information: http://earthship.com/philly/

    Venue: The Ethical Society Building
    Street address: 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square
    Zip Code – Neighborhood: 19103 Logan Square
    State/County: PA – Philadelphia

    Additional notes / contact information: The lecture will be led by Jonah Reynolds, the son of the inventor and architect Michael Reynolds. Jonah will be coming from Taos, New Mexico to discuss the world renowned home and plans of building here in Philadelphia

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