Great Finds | Tools of the trade

 

 

Green Light

 

The best closing gifts are the ones that keep on giving. For a new spin on the tried-and-true, go green when shopping for client gifts this year. Help homeowners help the planet — and leave a lasting impression — with these eco-friendly options.

 

http://www.norpro.com/

 

Composting is catching on, but it can be a bit of a hassle — where to store all those unsightly food scraps and coffee grinds? Make it easy — and easy on the eyes — with a decorative kitchen-countertop composting pail from Norpro. The ceramic compost crock pot is 10.5 inches tall and includes a charcoal filter to prevent odors as well as a sturdy stainless steel handle to carry the pail from kitchen to garden with ease.

$25.00

 

http://www.bluelineinnovations.com/

 

It might be more practical than pretty, but your clients are sure to appreciate the gift of energy efficiency. Help them pinpoint which home appliances are draining energy (and driving up the electricity bill) with the easy-to-use wireless PowerCost Monitor. The device scans the home’s power meter to provide real-time usage information, which can help owners make simple changes to their energy usage that can save them money. Price varies by retail location; starts at $85.00

 

 

 

Gift baskets can seem old hat, but not when you mix it up with an organic and all-natural set from It’s Only Natural Gifts. Build your own or choose from a variety of categories, including “Housewarming Gifts,” which range from snacks and pantry essentials to home goods and at-home spa treatments, many of which come in eco-friendly canvas bags or other reusable containers. For a truly green gift, consider the “Garden in a Bag” ($22.50), with seeds to grow kitchen herbs.

Prices vary.

 

 

 

Have handy, eco-conscious clients? Help them become the greenest homeowners on the block with the expert ideas in DIY Projects for the Self-Sufficient Homeowner: 25 Ways to Build a Self-Reliant Lifestyle. This 160-page book offers tips and photographic step-by-step instructions for projects ranging from composting and container gardening to building a greenhouse and growing and transplanting seedlings. $13.59