PHOTO: ADAM ALBRIGHT
T h e
b e s t
t h in g
i t
h a s
is w h a t
ib
d o e s n ’t
h a v e ?
T h a t ’s
a
l o t
f o r
m e
t o
a b s o r b . ”
D o n ’t be confused. New Dawn® Pure Essentials™ has all the grease cleaning
power you expect from Dawn, w ithout the extra ingredients. It’s hypoallergenic.
And the fo rm ula contains no dyes. O n ly gentle, naturally inspired scents.
T h e reason to try Pure Essentials is as clear as the dish liquid itself.
Dawn does more, so it’s not a chore "
TREND #5
E N E R G Y U P G R A D E S
Anyone who has paid a utility bill
in the last year would likely agree
that energy-saving options should
lead all home improvement discus-
sions. Though not as splashy as an
outdoor kitchen or master suite addi-
tion, upgrades involving insulation,
roofing, water heaters, and heating
and cooling systems rank high in the
“you’ll be glad you did it” category.
In addition to long-term physical
comfort and reduced energy costs,
improving for efficiency now comes
with tax benefits. Federal tax credits
are back for
2009
, with solar as the
big winner
—30
percent of the cost of
qualified systems and available until
2016
(see
energystar.gov
for details).
O n b o a r d ? T r y t h is
Schedule a home
energy audit withyour local utility or hire a
home energy consultant. For a do-it-yourself
version, take the Alliance to Save Energy’s
Home Energy Checkup (
ase.org).
A S K D A N N Y S E O
GREEN LIST
“W hat are som e of the innovative
green products yo u ’re seeing?”
DANNY SAYS: Here are a few of my
favorite eco-friendly products.
T H E P R IU S O F D E S K T O P P C S
Yo u r
computer can be a real energy hog, so it
makes sense to get an energy-efficient one.
Not only does the Dell Studio Hybrid
(dell
.com/hybrid)
use
70
percent less power
than a traditional computer, it’s also
80
percent smaller— smaller carbon footprint
and compact, too. It even comes with a
prepaid mailer for recycling your old PC.
R E S O U R C E F U L C H IC
In
1992
, this South
African company
(greenglass.com)
moved
to the Wisconsin countryside to transform
glass bottles destined for the landfill into
stylish tumblers and goblets. The patented
process cuts, grinds, and polishes glass into
durable everyday tableware. I love the
Amber Pop Tumblers made from recycled
Boylan soda bottles.
B A T H IN G B E A U T Y
A damp bath towe l is a
notorious breeding ground for mildew, but
JCPenney
(jcp.com)
addresses that
problem with the new Linden Street
quick-drying towel. The low-twist cotton
yarn is absorbent and soft, and it needs less
time in the dryer (energy savings) or just
hanging on the rack after a shower.
O U T D O O R A S S E T S
Brothers Isaac and
Jaime Salm founded MIO to create home
products that are both environmentally
friendly and meet specific needs. This
spring, their designs come to Target
(target
. com)
with a gardening line. My favorite
introduction is an indoor/outdoor solar
light set.
HAVE A QUESTION?
Send it to [email protected], or
post it on Danny’s Simply Green Living blog
at
BHG. com/livinggre en,
where you’ll find
even more ideas. ®
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS APRIL2009 83
©2009 P&G
