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The Toto Aquia one-piece toilet.
Courtesy Toto
Eco-friendly bathroom fixtures
If you’re searching for water-saving bathroom appliances, look for the WaterSense label. Eco-friendly toilets and showerheads can be found at Worly Plumbing Supply, located at 400 Greenlawn Ave., and other local retail stores.
Most toilets meet a standard of 1.6 gallons per flush, but WaterSense models have a standard of 1.28. Check out the Cadet 3 FloWise series by American Standard.
With different styles and colors available, a bathroom’s décor should be considered. Two models that are rated high by American Standard include the one-piece round front and one-piece elongated front.
Another option for water-saving toilets is a dual-flush system that changes the gallons per flush for liquids and solids. The Toto Aquia one-piece high-efficiency toilet also can be found at Worly’s (approximately $611, pricing varies).
When it comes to showerheads, the latest models strive to balance water pressure and efficiency. American Standard’s FloWise 3 Function Showerheads come in square, traditional and modern ($62 to $131) at Worly’s. Each style has three distinct settings that change the amount of water pressure, with an auto-return feature that reverts back to a lower pressure when the shower is turned off.
New models on the market include air injection eco showerhead styles from Hansgrohe, which use less water without reducing pressure. Try the Raindance S 100 AIR Green 3-Jet showerhead ($300) or Raindance C 100 AIR Green hand shower ($140), both available in chrome.
—Jillian Span
Re-imagining the kitchen
Think bamboo and acacia. As rapidly renewable resources, they are sustainable and have natural style.
In today’s world, there’s a special commitment to sustainable products—and kitchen gadgets are included. Almost any retailer now offers practical and stylish kitchen pieces made with eco-friendly materials. Following are some that have recently hit the market.
—Jillian Span
A. For a greener way of preparing vegetables and seafood, try the Chinese-inspired Bamboo Steamer ($16.95) from Crate & Barrel.
B. To add more bamboo to the kitchen, Crate & Barrel also offers a sleek Bamboo Bread Box ($49.95) with a stainless steel handle.
C. Another new bamboo option is the Lipper International Tea Box with a glass lid ($30), available from Macy’s. It’s ideal for organizing and selecting herbal teas.
D. Acacia is another raw material trending in kitchen gadgets and décor. Check out Crate & Barrel’s Acacia and Glass Salad Bowl ($59.95), perfect for making greens look a little greener.
E. Interested in adding convenience to sustainable efforts in the kitchen? Rethink the way herbs are preserved. Try the Prepara Herb Containers ($29.99), found at macys.com. This is a set of three mini-herb savers that attach to the refrigerator and increase the freshness of herbs for up to three weeks.
F. Recycling at home now is easier. Consider the InnRoom Recycler ($49.99) from bedbathandbeyond.com. Built from recycled heavy gauge steel, this container comes with removable liners and convenient decals to label different recycling categories.
Check out the gallery below for photos of these products.
