http://www.househacker.com/ househacker/tags/utility
* Saves water consumption by one third
* Highly energy-saving
* User-friendly in every way
* Minor extra costs compared to standard toilet units


Ecoplay estimates that the unit will pay for itself in 6 years. Perhaps if this catches on, Ecoplay will be able to afford to have people other than their children* drawing diagrams of the unit.

*Update: Looks like they've updated their site with really nice diagrams now.

via City Hippy]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Ecoplay-Reroutes-Shower-Water-for-Toilet-Use Mike Matas posted a howto on making a life poster. It was a great idea that caught on in a hurry. What was somewhat surprising was that the big online photo shops didn't latch on to the trend and offer an easy web app to capitalize on the poster's popularity. Well, Kodak now offers a product for making life posters (Kodak calls them collages) with their online photo printing service. The app allows you to adjust the whitespace between pictures as well as having a random tilt widget. For people who don't have the software or patience to do it themselves, this is a decent alternative.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Kodak-Now-Offering-Life-Poster-Service

Behr's ColorSmart
Probably the best paint selector. Paint simulation looks the most realistic. Behr allows searches by paint name or number and automatically coordinates colors to match. Program enables users to paint individual walls. Includes a nice 'Inspiration library'.

Benjamin Moore's Personal Color Viewer
Benjamin Moore's app presents the user with multiple rooms to choose from, as well as the unique selectable specialty finishes. Has a standard color slider selector, and is pre-loaded with some color combinations. Not bad, but not great.

Sherwin-Williams
Chose between interior and exterior paint jobs. Multiple room or home types to chose from. The automatic coordinating of color types is nice. Some drag and drop action.

Sico Not that dynamic. Allows the change of one entire wall (only) and trim. Gives a good idea of how a room's feel is altered with different paint colors, but could be more functional.

Debbie Travis
Multiple rooms to chose from, but clicking a color changes the one and only dynamic wall in the picture (i.e. user is not able to select individual walls). Very straightforward and too basic.

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Roundup-of-Online-Paint-Selector-Apps Quooker sells a nice looking product that produces instant boiling water, straight from the tap. The faucet draws the boiling water from an insulated tank mounted underneath the counter, where water is heated to 110°C. As the water flows from the faucet, it cools to 100°C. Quooker says that the unit's energy consumption is "next to nothing" in standby mode. I wonder if it would melt one of these.

Caution! The boiling water you are about to enjoy is hot...]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Instant-Boiling-Tap-Water sturdy co-polymer'. Sturdy is definitely the word you want to hear when sitting on something like this.

via Treehugger
]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Handy-Dandy-Gardening-Chair