Valuable Gadgets in the Kitchen!

It can be the little things in life, that make a major difference!

Starting with Thanksgiving, Christmas parties, to New Year's (and Bowl games!), there are lots of gatherings and people to prepare for, some include out of town guests. With all the extra activities and effort to make something special, does something stand out as a time saver? Do you have a clever gadget in your kitchen that makes what you do easier?

I've got one that is such a stress buster, because it is so fun to use! It reminds me of the carefree days of childhood in the midst of trying to assemble a meal. Anything that makes one pause and laugh is priceless! Everyone that sees my garlic cutter, wants one for themselves, so I want to share it with you.

Won't you share with us your favorite?

Being a remodeling business owner, time is precious, and I don't get to spend time preparing tasty dishes as I would like. I am very grateful that my Mother was able to get out of Nebraska to visit us this Christmas before the blizzard made travel impossible, and I wanted to make a special dinner for her. She likes to eat light at night, so the menu was salad, homemade vegetable soup and garlic sourdough toast lightly dusted with goat cheese, with a raw/live, antioxidant rich blueberry-raspberry pie for dessert (sweetened by dates/no sugar or flour/gluten), all organic. Now I can't very well chop garlic, get it on my fingers, then press an almond date pie crust into a pan! Who wants blueberry pie with the flavor of garlic! Using this handy-dandy gadget pictured above, you pop in the cloves, and play car on your counter! You zoom around and the garlic gets chopped into uniform pieces.

I negotiated a savings of $1.00 for all my readers for the Zoom Rolling Garlic Cutter-- lowering the price to $8.98! They also will give 20% off of the items in the giftbasket shop until January 12th. Just make sure to type in "cook remodeling" in the comment box for your savings! They are located in the U.S. garlic capital, Gilroy, California, and sell their own food and sauces.

Happy New Year!

A Unique Bathroom Product for Pampering

Whether it be Christmas, St. Valentines, Mother's or Father's Day, a birthday, or anniversary, what better than to give a loved one (which includes you!) something that reminds them how special they are? Have you found something that communicates your thoughtfulness of how to make their life better, that they are loved?

Its no fun to go to the mall and wander around hoping to find something that will be a unique and useful gift that will be greatly appreciated. After milling about with crowds, it doesn't take long for some motives to deteriorate to finding anything that may do.

I have spent time researching to find unique, innovative eco-friendly products that will transform the bathroom into a spa-like experience. They will not require remodeling, but installation by a licensed electriction is recommended. Here is a fabulous idea that will conserve energy and may conserve water--and how do they do that?

I love taking a shower, it is so relaxing, yet I am aware that every moment that I linger after I am rinsed, water is being wasted. Why do I delay? Because the water is so warm, and I know when I shut it off, I will be chilled and my muscles will tense back up. At the same time, I really don't want to add excess moisture to the air, which germs and mold love, nor hassle with fogged mirrors.

Pictured above is a product new to the United States, in fact, there isn't another one like it, a body dryer! You might be the first person in your city to have one! Over 15,000 have sold in Europe. It is a perfect gift for that someone who has everything. The unit has precision cut holes to provide a vortex of warm air surrounding the body to dry a person from top to bottom in a matter of minutes. It is an easy transition from being enveloped by warm water, to warm air. 


There are many green advantages: 

It reduces or eliminates the need for body towels, using about 70% less energy as compared to the laundering of towels. 
In the winter it can easily prewarm the shower area.
In the summer it helps eliminate the moisture in the air so the air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard.  
If you like long hot showers, by using the body dryer, you will take the excess moisture out of the air to reduce opportunities of mold and mildew growth. 
What I like best is it is truly a convenience and time saver. No longer does one have the additional step to fumble with a hair dryer--you have both hands free to shape and style your hair, so you are ready to get dressed and go when you step out of the shower! 
If you have strength or mobility issues, it could be the answer for safety and independence.


The retail price is $2590 for a custom color; $2350 for metallic, bronze, or pearl colors.  Shipping is additional.  Ask us how you can save up to $695!  Fill out a request for more information at Cook Remodeling.

Do you know of any other eco-friendly products for that spa experience?

The Best Products from the 2009 International Green Building Conference

Part 5 of 5

There were two products that were very exciting for me at the International Green Building Conference. The first uses 100% recycled materials, and the second provides a great environmental solution; both concepts that are important to Cook Remodeling.

Rubbersidewalks, Inc uses a patented, low energy technology to transform a vehicle tire into a square foot of paver. California alone discards 34 million car tires a year, nationally we dispose of 300 million tires, which have a long life in a landfill! The woman-owned business is doing so well, they are lowering their prices 5-10% in 2010! Terrewalks has many advantages over concrete. It provides more friction when wet, is 5% cooler (good patio and poolside surface), never cracks or chips, reduces heat island effect, and has no off gassing (concrete puts out 6% of CO2 emissions). It is tree friendly in that it accommodates root growth since water can travel through the seams into the ground, the material does not leach into soil, performs in all climates, and can be used for driveways. The material offers so many benefits over concrete--like being easier to clean, quieter, more comfortable to walk/jog on, provides easy access to utilities to name a few.

If you have ever driven to Los Angeles on Hiway 10, you have seen the large propeller wind turbines –80 of them in 8000 acres of land. There has been a lot of controversy over the number of birds they kill and the amount of space it uses. Mariah Power has invented a superior alternative, a vertical axis wind turbine (in photo above). It is a pole-mounted column with 2 feet long slender horizontal stabilizers for three 20-30 feet high vertical blades that catch the wind and turn to generate electricity called, Windspire. I can’t even imagine how many of those 4 ft wide turbines you can fit in that 8000 acres! Barring any building code restrictions, one could place it in your backyard, for it is ultra quiet. It costs about $10,000 supplying an average of 2000 kWh of energy per year (depending on how windy it is your city). One homeowner interviewed said he recovered half the cost in rebates and tax credits, and it generates 25-50% of their home's electricity, which they can monitor via computer. You can see in that video link how easily they spin. That’s good news!

The Windspire offers the lowest price renewable energy product in a one-kilowatt range. It does depend on wind to move it, but unlike solar panels, it can work at night as well. So I asked, is it bird friendly? One of the representative said he saw a dove perched on a stabilizer while it slowly turned around and around. I also queried, What if you knew there was an impending high winds? They told me it is hinge mounted so you can lower it to the ground. It is very intelligently designed and is grid ready.

Solar Lighting and Solar Power

International Green Building Conference Review

Part 4 of 5

It is becoming more efficient, affordable and aesthetic to harness the power of the sun!

You can lower your need for electricity by channeling the sun’s light through Solatube. They have recently improved minimizing heat transfer, and it qualifies for the 30% tax credit (currently good through the end of 2010). Remember to check if there are other rebates or incentives in your area. This high performance product is energy star rated. It uses advanced optics to flood a space with natural light, without the accompanying heat, which is more beneficial than a skylight. Our family bathroom does not have an exterior wall and has attic space above, so there was no other way to enjoy daylight before. It was as dramatic as night and day to add the Solatube. Not only did it flood the room with natural light, it brightened the hallway, and one’s mood!

Another major savings for consumers is the significant drop in pricing for solar panels (customarily placed on the roof)—some 40% over the last year according to Chad Corwin, a market research specialist for Kyocera Solar. He told me that thin film is less efficient, to look at the products energy output, with a benchmark of 5.52 watt per hour. All states are establishing standards of how much of their energy will be generated from a renewable source. For example, Arizona is considered a progressive state, since we do not classify nuclear power as a renewable energy source, so there will the requirement for utility companies to cooperate with net metering—the selling of excess power back to the utility company. Chad pointed out to me, that homeowners generating their own power can be considered a competitor, loss of revenue for a utility company. I hadn't thought of that before. With the requirements of a percentage of energy that must be from renewable sources, utility companies need to cooperate with homeowners who harvest the power of the sun.

There are several companies that have developed solar roof tiles, an example is shown in the picture above. Time Magazine (Nov. 23, 2009) featured, The 50 Best Inventions of the Year, and coming in at # 13 was the Solar Shingle by the Dow Chemical Company. Their innovative solar shingle unveiled in October, is expected to cost 10-15% less than traditional solar panels, and is to be widely available in 2011. Solar shingles will be easier and less expensive to install than solar panels.

Kyocera was chosen to be the company to supply the Toyota Prius a solar ventilation system, an optional feature for the hybrid car, to cool a car's interior when it is parked. And for those of you who do not live in the desert you cannot appreciate the need for this! --I first moved to Arizona in July, soon after the record temperature of 122 degrees. I did not have tinted windows yet, and after the car was parked for several hours in the treeless parking lot, when I tried to drive it, the steering wheel burned my hands! Who knows, hopefully soon the technology will bring us affordable solar cars!

Stay tuned, I've saved the best for last!

Green Surfaces: Counters, Floors

International Green Building Conference

Part 3 of 5

Consentino provides the most natural colors in their maintenance free quartz surface countertop, Silestone. Quartz is valued for its density--being not porous, and uniformity of color. They have developed a new line, Eco, which is composed of 75% post-industrial and post-consumer waste—which includes mirrors that gives it bits of eyecatching sparkles. It comes in ten colors, and costs 10-15% more for this green product. One user cautioned that they had issues with scratches and divots as of August 2009, and he recommended to investigate if they have worked out those bugs in the processing.

PaperStone products are composed of 100% recyclable post consumer waste. It can withstand 350 degree heat, one can sand out any scratches, and can be used in applications just as quartz. It can be specified for sinks, countertops, even wall paneling. Of course I asked, how does it hold up to water? The product is produced in the state of Washington, and a couple hundred Starbucks uses the material for their drive-thru shelves—which is exposed to frequent rain—and years later, there have been no problems. You can specify integral sinks in a different color if you would like. They come in earth tone colors, have a matte, leather look. I was surprised how heavy the samples were!

For more information on different types of countertop materials available, their benefits and drawbacks, check out the matrix at CookRemodeling.com.

Amtico International offers resilient, customizable flooring that is slip resistant with the look of ceramic stone, slate, marble or wood that is FloorScore certified for being a low voc* product and adhesive (*low chemical offgassing) for homeowners. Being a member of the SEN Design Group for select Kitchen & Bath Professionals, we were introduced to this company who is better known in the United Kingdom. Their original brand for residential is Amtico and they added a lower priced line, Spacia. It is recyclable, with 95% of their products made in the U.S.A., and is comprised of 20-36% recycled material. Not only is their product easier on the body’s joints, it is easy to maintain. One does not have to worry about grout lines darkening and needing to be sealed, or cleaning them after a spill or pet accident. It also offers ease of installation, it does not require use of a noisy, dusty saw, and you can walk on it the same day. Not only can you order the “tiles or planks” in the size you want, you can mix and match the looks for a custom design. They also offer templates for motifs and borders for that finishing touch.

Good News on Conserving Water from the International Green Building Conference

Part 2 of 5

WaterSense is the new Energy Star!

It would be more accurate to say: electricity is to Energy Star as water is to WaterSense (remember those statements from SATs and ACTs?)

Most people are aware that “Energy Star” rated appliances have met strict guidelines to be energy efficient. Now be on the lookout for the “WaterSense” conservation rating for toilets, shower and bath faucets, and irrigation systems. According to Kohler's research, WaterSense faucet can reduce water use by 30%, saving a typical family 11,800 gallons of water a year.

I had the opportunity to interview representatives from Delta and Moen at the International Green Building Conference (IGBC), and they told me that within a year, ALL of their bathroom faucets will be WaterSense certified. I had the opportunity to tour Delta's headquarters in Indianapolis in 2008, and I was very impressed with the company culture. They have what I call a drop-in synergy center for facilitate getting in the creative zone for design. They have developed Diamond Seal technology so faucets are built to last, which is also very green, keeping things out of the landfill!

There has been a great challenge for determine the rating guidelines for efficient showerheads—what good would it do to lower gallons per minute if it took twice as long to rinse out shampoo? Or if the aeration cools the water so much that you end up using more hot water? If you have a bath shower combination, a good way to test your shower head is if the water running out of the tub spigot feels to be the right temperature, and when you channel the water to the shower and you have to turn up the hot water, the aeration is significantly cooling the water. Delta has solved this by developing a technology to make the water droplets larger, so they retain their temperature, and you still get a drenched feeling with the lower gallons per minute flow. Moen put a toggle switch in their rain shower, so the user can get a concentrated stream to rinse out shampoo. Their showerhead has a spoke design with stream channels so there is better coverage over the body. A WaterSense showerhead will save a typical family an equivalent of 385 bottles of water in a week! Kohler was also present in the exhibit hall, and have earned the recognition of being WaterSense Manufacturing Partner of the Year for 2008 and 2009.

Do you use a water softener? It typically uses salt, electricity, and a lot of water to backwash—typically 120-150 gallons a week to take out the minerals of calcium and magnesium to avoid scaling and deposits. Because of the significant waste of water, and that it dumps a lot of sodium into the water system, California is banning salt-based water softeners. How can one protect pipes, hardware, appliances, and surfaces from hard water damage? You can get a water conditioner that does not use electricity or salt. One type of water conditioner uses magnets to change the surface structure so they do not deposit, and can help descale buildup. I learned this interviewing a representative of Superior Water Conditioners at IGBC. A salt free water conditioner uses nanotechnology filtering to change the ion structure so the minerals will not cling to surfaces, but will not descale deposits. Know that one will not get that slick feel that salt “softened” water gives.

Product offerings are always changing. Ask your remodeling professional what products they’ve researched and recommend that are eco-friendly or "green." You can see a list of some companies we use and are very happy with their product and customer service here (at the bottom of the page).

Light Rail Travel to the International Green Building Conference

My commitment to ongoing professional education usually requires long distance travel several times a year. How great for me that year’s International Green Building Conference was held in Phoenix!

It was my first time to use the light rail, and I am grateful that to have that transportation option. I had lived in Boston before moving to Phoenix, and was used to using the subway system to get about. It is very challenging to develop subway lines in a large, densely populated city, and I thought that since Phoenix didn't have that challenge, they would have a great transportation system worked out. Well, we are starting to move in that direction!

For those who have not used Phoenix's new light rail, it was a clean, smooth ride. I felt safe. Besides the less stress benefits of not having to drive, or find/pay for parking downtown, I was able to meet some wonderful people. On the way there, I dialogued with an Artist who was given a pass to the Green Conference by her Architect friend. She shared with me her experience living in and raising her family in what is considered an underground home in the East Valley, and how remarkable are the savings that her and her husband enjoy with low utilities. She said she had a small kitchen, and I asked if she had frameless cabinetry so she could maximize her storage space. She did not know what type of cabinetry she had, and with one question, I could tell she did not. I explained it to her the advantages of gaining an additional 10-20% more space to use in cabinets and drawers, and gave her Cook Remodeling’s website which has an article on cabinetry.

As we approached the stop close to the Phoenix Convention Center, the gentleman sitting in front of us told us that he was returning to the Green Building Conference. He told us he had preregistered the day before, and he would be happy to show us where we need to go to check in. He said otherwise it may take us a long time to find where to go with so many people, and he was right! We really appreciated his help navigating through the crowds.

On the way back, after a long day on my feet, I was glad to be able to sit back and relax. Not only did I travel across town faster not having to drive in the 5 PM traffic, I got to finish reading about Dorothy Day, an amazing woman, my assignment due that night for Just Faith, a social justice ministry formation class. With that time to recharge, I was ready to create dinner, eat, and go to class.

My next posting I will share some of what I learned at my day at the International Green Building conference!