Eco-minded bathroom fixtures are no longer hard to find, but they still tend to focus more on function than on form. One notable exception is W+W, a combined toilet and sink from Spanish brand Roca that combines compact style with green-minded thinking.

Launched last fall, W+W is a single, L-shaped unit in which the sink and toilet are not only attached but also integrated internally. Specifically, wastewater from the sink is used to fill the toilet's cistern, thus saving as much as 25 percent of the water that would normally be used. An automatic cleaning system prevents bad odors and bacteria, while a specialized tap controls the water's temperature and flow for maximum energy savings, Plumbing Park reported.

Developed by the Roca Innovation Lab and designed by Gabriele and Oscar Buratti, the prize-winning W+W is priced at EUR 2,731. An eco-iconic innovation to bring to the green but style-conscious masses near you...?

Website: www.roca.com.es/w+w/w+w/en/index.html
Contact: www.es.roca.com/en/contact

Spotted by: Pepa D'Amato

When companies search for a new salesperson, you know they scrutinize each candidate's track record before making an offer. When consumers hire a real estate agent to sell their home, however—probably the biggest asset they own—the choice is often made by chance. Enter Homethinking, a site that aims to bring transparency to U.S. real estate agents so as to help homeowners pick the best one for them.

New York-based Homethinking puts agents under a spotlight so consumers can quickly identify the ones that shine. Toward that end, it crawls the web to find out what each agent has accomplished in the past, including how many houses they've sold, in what areas and for what prices, and how the actual sale price compared with the one that was advertised. Homethinking also interviews the people whose houses the agent sold for information such as how well he or she interacted with prospective customers, how they set expectations around the sales price and how responsive they were when questions arose. It then presents all the resulting data for consumers' perusal, in an easy to use form that's browsable and searchable by city, state and ZIP code. When they've found one who looks promising, consumers can contact him or her at their own initiative.

Of course, it's not just consumers who stand to benefit from this new transparency. Realtors themselves can claim and edit their profiles, contribute neighbourhood reviews and otherwise showcase their talents; they can also upload their listings and have them syndicated for free to Craigslist, Trulia and Zillow. And that, in turn, is where the transparency tyranny becomes transparency triumph. Embrace the new openness and make it your own, and you too will share in the glory. One to partner with or emulate in other parts of the world...?

Website: www.homethinking.com
Contact: feedback@homethinking.com

Spotted by: Susanna Haynie

It's increasingly common to see reclaimed goods transformed for other purposes—sailing dhows into furniture, for example, or banners into bags. What's less frequently seen are efforts that preserve the essential functionality of the original goods. British Specialbike is one such instance, and now Canadian EcoRad provides another by transforming old cast-iron radiators into eco-minded electric heat systems.

Cast iron radiators are often seen as remnants of outdated hot-water or steam-based heating systems, and so are frequently scrapped by homeowners updating their homes. Radiators' heavy thermal mass, however, makes them ideal conductors of electric radiant heat, a much more energy-efficient alternative. EcoRad uses an environmentally friendly process to restore and preserve the beauty of old radiators while converting them for use with electric radiant heat. A specially manufactured internally installed electric element replaces the extensive water piping system needed for a central furnace; in addition, each radiator is connected to a programmable thermostat that allows the temperature of each room to be controlled individually for additional efficiency. The company's process uses 99 percent recycled materials, and by recycling old radiators rather than melting them down, 44kg of greenhouse gases are kept out of the atmosphere for every 100kg of melted cast iron. The resulting unit is used much like an electric baseboard heater, EcoRad says. An assortment of finishes are available, and conversion takes four to eight weeks. EcoRad's pricing begins at CAD 475 for transforming an old radiator; alternatively, it also offers a line of already-refurbished ones, featuring styles dating back to 1850, starting at CAD 695.

Offering myriad eco-benefits along with a way to preserve old homes' architectural heritage, EcoRad is an excellent example of green-minded innovation. One to partner with or emulate in other chilly parts of the world...? (Related: Community-focused deconstruction & salvage.)

Website: www.ecorad.ca
Contact: info@ecorad.ca

Spotted by: R.P.

Much the way French wellness shop HOJO aims to help keep senior citizens healthy and independent for as long as possible, so UK home renovation firm Ruby Slippers hopes to help them enjoy their homes for as long as they can.

Launched just last week, Ruby Slippers specialises in combining good design with practical functionality that can help people enjoy their home throughout their retirement years. At the heart of the Ruby Slippers service is a concept it calls “ageless design,” which essentially boils down to accommodating the effects of aging in an invisible way through smart design features that are not just stylish but also geared toward safety and comfort. Kitchens, for example, can be redesigned with colour-contrasting work surfaces and flooring for enhanced visual orientation; effortless single-lever taps; and a flush hob with level burners for safer transfer of hot pans. Bathrooms, meanwhile, can be redone to feature European-style level-access showers, stylish grab rails and an outward-opening bathroom door to ensure emergency access in case someone falls.

Far from diminishing a home with ugly tools focused purely on functionality, Ruby Slippers instead aims to make homes not just more livable for seniors, but also more attractive. An “Ageless Home” audit service is available from Ruby Slippers at a special introductory price of GBP 250 including a full home audit and a written report of recommendations. Also available are design review—priced at GBP 250 as well—and handyman service for GBP 30 per hour.

There were more than 519 million people aged 65 and over around the world last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and that's expected to triple to 1.53 billion by 2050. Time to tailor some services to seniors in your part of the world...? (Related: Helping seniors relocate — Driving service for seniors — Supermarkets for seniors.)

Website: www.rubyss.co.uk
Contact: info@rubyss.co.uk

Spotted by: Top Trends via Raymond Kollau

Solar energy may offer myriad compelling benefits, but its use in homes is still far from widespread. California developer Comstock Homes is now developing what it calls the nation's first single-builder solar-powered community, however, just 10 miles from downtown LA.

Comstock's Villages at Heritage Springs will include more than 500 residences set on 54 landscaped acres in Southern California's Santa Fe Springs. A variety of sizes, styles and floor plans will be available, ranging from 1,390 square feet to 2,166 square feet, two-story townhomes to three-story houses with optional loft. Regardless of the size, energy efficiency will be at the heart of each Villages home, with features such as double-pane, low-emissivity (Low-E) windows; energy-efficient lighting, heating and air-conditioning; cool roof tiles; and a tankless water heater. Perhaps even more significant, however, is that all homes will feature SunPower solar roof tiles to power their lights, appliances, TV and other electronic devices, allowing them to exceed the National Energy Standard by 50 percent, Comstock says. With a wireless monitoring system for energy-use tracking, the SunPower system can save consumers up to 60 percent on their electric bills, including credits for extra energy production. The development is expected to be finished next year, according to CoolerPlanet, with single-family home prices ranging from USD 500,000 to USD 750,000.

There is another large, solar-powered development in California already, CoolerPlanet points out—a 650-home community from Lennar Corp. in Roseville. Either way, with all the many reasons to decrease dependence on fossil fuels, both provide a large-scale example of the possibilities. A model to be emulated in sunny places around the world! (Related: Thin, flexible solar paneling — Solar panels, measured and designed remotely — Solar panels shaped like clay roof tiles — Free plans for eco homes.)

Website: www.villagesatsantafesprings.com
Contact: www.villagesatsantafesprings.com/contactus.html

Spotted by: Jim Stewart