energy
Stylish and smart
The lighting company Croft & Little recently introduced a collection of energy-efficient fixtures. The new stock features low-wattage, compact fluorescent bulbs that reportedly use 65 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10 to 20 times as long. Look for the “eco-friendly” logo at.
money
Perfectly priced plants
Talk about win-win-win: Gardeners get free plants, growers unload overstock, and people with disabilities are put to work making it all happen through an innovative online program called Free Trees and Plants. Simply log on to freetrees. to reserve flowers, trees and shrubs that growers and nurseries are unable to sell during the season. All you pay for the plants is the shipping charge.
time
Great grills await
The spring 2007 issue of ShopSmart magazine from Consumer Reports has tips for finding the perfect grill:
Look for stainless-steel or coated cast-iron grates. They have broad, closely spaced bars for the best searing results.
Shop with a magnet. 304 stainless steel, which is nonmagnetic, tends to resist corrosion better over time.
Get four wheels; two-wheeled grills have to be lifted and dragged.
Look for burners with a lifetime or 10-year warranty. They are among the most repair-prone parts.
