After buildings/ offices, the GO-GREEN bandwagon is now joined by restrooms as well. Ask anyone tested by a horrible traffic jam, on a sweltering day when the car’s AC seems like a mediocre fan, what a mini-heaven a well maintained restroom in his/her office can be? But this little luxury can leave a big footprint behind as, often the practices employed in rest rooms lead to a lot of wastage of valuable resources like water. So now, its time to make the public conveniences “Green”. Leading the path is Michigan’s Grand Haven State Park- a favorite destination among campers. The State Park has installed a nouveau eco-friendly toilet-shower building to harmonize camping with a nature-friendly holidaying experience.

The green restroom makes use of sustainable building materials, natural daytime lighting, timer-controlled showers (with on-demand water heaters), reduced-flow shower heads and low-flow urinals and toilets in order to function as a water-cum-energy efficient building. Unique to the eco-restroom is the use of motion detectors that control night-time lighting! What’s more? The electricity consumed in building’s ventilation system is provided by mighty sun via the solar panels fitted on building’s roof! There’s a new sanitary sewer line as well to ensure the safety of watershed.

Other parks in Michigan will follow in the footsteps of Grand Haven State Park and officials plan to eventually turn all the restrooms in Michigan’s 97 state parks and recreation areas into eco-friendly and efficient buildings – laced with clean odor-free, waterless composting toilets. With such green restrooms the scenario for eco-tourism and green travel seem to get better and better.

Via: jamblemag

Planning to hike or camp with your kids this summer but worried about battery less cell phones or iPods after a fun-filled day? Worry not anymore for Uniross (only battery brand worldwide to be endorsed by WWF) has come up with a new range of eco-friendly battery chargers for people like you.

The battery charger is powered by sun energy. This solar charger with USB adaptor can be obtained for£39.99. Others in the range include a 15 Minute charger, the Nomad- a portable power hub” with USB adaptor, a travel clock charger and a wind-powered portable charger with bike mount. Wow, quite a handful of eco-chargers I must say!

Price list:
15 Minute chargers claim to charge any battery in just 15 minutes comes after shelling £34.99.

The Nomad- your portable power hub with USB adaptor can be yours in a mere £19.99.

The travel clock charger- is also a travel clock alarm at £29.99. It charges any battery in under 3 hours while you are enjoying your siesta!

The wind powered portable charger set – includes a bike mount, integrated Lithium ion batter, USB output and phone and game connectors. All yours for just £49.99.

All the above mentioned will be available from coming August and will be available at hardware stores, electrical & departmental stores, supermarkets and even on internet!

Via PocketLint