Back in September we launched our Starfrit contest offering readers the chance to win a nine-piece eco-friendly cookware set from the company. The response to the contest has been overwhelming, with over 1500 of you answering the daily trivia questions and throwing your name in the pot (there's a little cookware-related humor for your Friday morning).

We were almost sad to close the contest, but all good things must come to an end. Except for our winner, who will begin what we hope is a love affair with green cooking. Heck, maybe we'll even have a hand in inspiring the next Jamie Oliver or - heaven forbid - Hell's Kitchen guru Gordon Ramsay!

To keep the process fair and most importantly, as green as possible, we have eliminated the issue of paper waste by using a random internet selection tool rather than printing off each inidividual name as you would in a traditional draw. Each name has been assigned a number from one through the total number of entries. 

Now the range of numbers has been entered into the custom random number generator at Mrs. Glosser's Math Goodies website.

Without either of us looking at the screen I am going to repeatedly hit enter to generate numbers until Cee Bee tells me to stop.

Here we go! Drumroll please....

And what do you know - we have a name!

Without further adieu, our winner is.....

(Of course we'll make you jump to find out!)

...read the rest...

Making eco-friendly improvements in your home doesn't mean you have to shell out a ton of money to buy new Energy Star appliances or insulation for your basement. Simply replacing your traditional light bulbs with energy efficient ones (CFLs) can consume 75 per cent less energy and as an added bonus, they last up to 10 times longer than a regular bulb.

Just to put it into further perspective for you, consider that a regular bulb operates at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and a CFL bulb operates at only 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If you visit Home Depot's Eco Options website (after the jump), you can even calculate your amount of savings based on the number of bulbs you replace.

And yes, while CFLs do contain mercury which is toxic for the environment should they wind up in a landfill, Home Depot introduced a plan earlier this year that takes in these bulbs for recycling. So go ahead and make the switch, just ensure you handle the CFLs with proper care!

» Home Depot

Is the comforting thought of eating organic food nothing more than a security blanket? Possibly, according to a food expert who devoted several years to research and even written a book on the topic titled "The Truth About Organics." Alex Avery, director of research and education for the Hudson Institute's Center for Global Food Issues has even gone so far as to call the concept of eating organic "a total con."

Ouch! Those are fighting words and Avery certainly doesn't seem interested in beating around any bushes.

"There is not a shred of science" to back up claims that organic is safer or more nutritious, he said.

There's a long list of criteria for food that is certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), however Avery takes issue with the fact that while a USDA seal of approval addresses how food is grown, it does not take into account food safety or nutrition, meaning organic food is ripe with the potential to carry salmonella and E.coli thanks to fertilizer used to produce the food. He also claims that natural pesticides like copper solutions that are approved in organic farming can be toxic.

Organic Trade Association representative Holly Givens swung right back at Avery's statements.

“Many consumers see a link between agricultural practices and the health of the earth, and how those systems are interconnected with human health,” Givens said. “They see organic products as a solution, not as part of the problem. Organic fits in with the desire to lead a more healthful life."

While Avery certainly doesn't agree with those sentiments, it turns out he's cut back his work at the institute to part-time since the popularity of organic food is increasing, with the rate of growth in 2008 expected to be in the double digits and despite the drama on Wall Street recently, expected to hit the $32.9 billion mark.

“There's no money in being on the common sense side against a very popular bandwagon,” he said.

» FOXNews

Depending on where you live, the onset of autumn may mean having to dig out your umbrellas, throw on a sweater before walking the dogs, or hunt for your mittens.  And the further away from the equator you live, the better the chances that with winter coming your home is warmed by the sun all day and then gets freezing cold at night.

That's the case in Montana, home of the very neat Cozy Curtains company.  They have this really great product called the Warm Window System which is a system of custom roman-style shades that are insulated, covered in attractive fabric and feature a magnetic seal to prevent drafts.  In the same way a puffy comforter on your bed keeps the warm air in and the cold air out, these window coverings snuggle and seal your window openings, helping you regulate the temperature of your home throughout the day.

The installation of these custom window coverings is a great do-it yourself project, although you may have to phone-up your Dad or your handy Uncle to give you some help if you're a home improvement novice.  Cozy Curtains provides lots of information on their web site about the materials you'll need, how to measure your windows, etc.  And based on their customer testimonials, the folks at Cozy Curtains are happy to work with you every step of the way to ensure you're satisfied.

So whether you live in Montana, California or (brrr...) Calgary you're sure to see an immediate energy savings in your home with high-quality insulted windows coverings like these.  Hit the jump to check out Cozy Curtains for yourself!

» Cozy Curtains

Recently I wrote an article about composite decking that was based off a few sources that were quite negative on the product. Yesterday, however, I talked to a representative from a company that manufactures and sells the product and got a bunch of new information. I know, this sounds like it’s going to be a biased opinion but at ecollo the search for the truth is never ending and both sides of the story is always valuable.

Universal Forest Products is one of the largest suppliers of lumber products in North America. They provide several products including wood alternatives to construction markets and DIY home centers. Recently they were awarded the Forest Stewardship Council’s Chain of Custody certification which means they’re manufacturing plants only use lumber from well managed forests around the world. Remember, wood is renewable as long as the forests it comes from are managed properly. As for composite decking or wood alternative decking UFP is one of the major suppliers to Home Depot providing the Veranda line of decking.

Here is quick recap of the composite decking world. The first products were developed back in the 80’s and one of the first big companies was Trex. Widespread use and commercial viability didn’t come until the 90’s and along the way there were problems with early versions of the product, for instance, which ever color you started with they all faded to grey over time. Since then the products have been refined and problems have been ironed out to the point today where you have a very durable and long lasting product.

Most composite decking products are manufactured using wood dust waste left over from other lumber products plus High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) which by the way is a #2 recyclable plastic. So, when using wood alternative products you are getting your environmental value out of the fact that industry by-products are used to build it plus your product is going to last a long time and will not need emission emitting stains or paints to protect it.

As far as maintenance goes there is some involved and this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that owns a home. Everything around the house needs general maintenance and upkeep to prolong it’s life from roofing to siding to landscaping, and composite decking is no exception. It’s true, they don’t need stains or waterproofing but they can absorb stains if you spill something and don’t clean it within a reasonable time period. There are products on the market that can remove older stains. As for mold, this is rarely a problem with the product but the location. Let’s face it, mold grows on just about any surface if it’s wet, shady and doesn’t ever get a chance to dry out. When composite decking is replaced it’s usually the result of aesthetics not structural integrity, the home has changed hands and the new owner has different ideas.

All in all I’d say things are looking up for composites, I’m definitely going to check out these products for my own deck project next summer.

» Universal Forest Products

For all of those lucky enough to be experiencing an extended summer (or as Al Gore refers to it, global warming), staying warm may be the last thing on your mind. However even if the cooler fall weather hasn't hit your radar yet, we're now easing into the season where a dip in temperature is inevitable. Your first instinct as the weather changes may be to reach for the dial on thermostat or in more extreme cases, start installing insulation, but before you do, consider developing an alternative wardrobe as a means of staying warm. This will reduce your impact on the environment - and your next heating bill. It may not always look fashionable, but unless you think your dust mites are going to pass judgement, it shouldn't be the foremost concern!

Pull over or zip up - Big, thick, warm sweaters or hoodies will keep your upper body warm and make you feel cuddly and comfortable. Scope out your local thrift stores for inexpensive options - there's a good chance one of your finds will become an at-home wardrobe favorite.

Slip it on - Walking on cold hardwood floors, linoleum or insert-name-of-other-flooring-here isn't fun nor does your significant other probably appreciate you trying to warm your cold feet on their back (ahem), so grab a pair of slippers or woolly socks (or both!) to keep your precious toes from freezing.

Top it off - Your brain requires a lot of blood and that blood has to be the right temperature for you to function properly (think about how much your brain controls!). Therefore wearing a hat is your best bet. Plus, if you're someone who gets cold ears rather easily, your head-topper can pull double-duty. Fleece hats feel great against the ears, however the downside to any hat is of course the unfortunate hair (only a big deal if you have to go out during the day at some point) and the fact that they can start to feel itchy and uncomfortable. Remove the hat for a few minutes to give yourself a break if need be.

Dress your tea - Drinking tea (or coffee, coffee, coffee) is a great method of warming yourself from the inside out. Make a full pot of tea to sip on throughout the day and in the spirit of coziness, use a tea cosy to keep your teapot warm!

» Wikipedia