Envirolet Buzz | Composting Toilet Blog

Download the Envirolet Catalog

Posted by Scott

Right now we are testing out a new feature that allows customers to download our entire 44 page catalog.

We know that there are some out there who want the information immediately and do not want to wait for a catalog to come in the mail.

We also know that many of you want to save paper and would prefer to read your info online and not in paper format.

The catalog download provides the solution for both of these.

At the same time, you can still get the catalog in the mail in addition to or without the downloaded copy.

First Composting Toilets Not From Sweden

Posted by Scott

Where were the first composting toilets used?

Contrary to what is often reported, composting toilets were not invented in Sweden in the 1930s. In fact, they were first invented and used in China centuries ago!

A Picture Tells A Thousand Words

Posted by Scott

These 3D solid model illustrations of Envirolet® Composting Toilet Systems will quickly give you a better idea of how a typical Envirolet® installation will look.


Waterless Self-Contained

Self-Contained Systems sit right on the bathroom floor. This makes them ideal for applications with little or no room below, e.g., a concrete slab floor in a basement or garage.


Waterless Remote


The waterless toilet must sit directly above the remote composting unit below for the proper gravity drop.


Low Water Remote


Low water systems can have up to 3 low water toilets connected to a single composting unit as long as a standard plumbing drop is maintained. The use of a small amount of water to flush makes this possible.


If you have any questions about your installation be sure to contact us.

Wonderful Idea

Posted by Scott

This is a great comment we received recently from a very informed individual in Texas:

“I am 17 years old, and i think the Envirolet is a wonderful idea, billions of people worldwide don’t even have water to drink, much less put their poop in, this is a great way to save a necessary resource and still be hygienic. Good Job.”

If you have any comments, feel free to email us at buzz@enviroletbuzz.com or simply use the Comments link below each post.

Time to Ban the Flush!

Posted by Scott

It is now truly time to Ban the Flush and go waterless!

Get your Ban the Flush! Wall Clock today! For the environmentalist who has everything.

Composting Toilet World

Posted by Scott

Be sure to check out Composting Toilet World, the leading advocate for the use of composting toilets.

Toolgirl Discovers the Miracle of Composting Toilets

Posted by Scott

There is a great story about Envirolet® over on the Toolgirl blog. Toolgirl is the blog home of Canadian actor/writer/tool-pro Mag Ruffman.

Mag Ruffman is a television producer, writer and actress. She spent seven years as “Olivia Dale” on Disney/CBC’s beloved Road to Avonlea, and five seasons as host, creator and producer of the fix-it classic A Repair to Remember (78 episodes) and the Gemini-nominated workshop series Anything I Can Do (52 episodes) which now airs worldwide.

Mag also writes for Home Envy. You can learn more about Mag and her current projects here.

On Toolgirl, Mag writes of the Miracle of Composting Toilets. We couldn’t agree more.

Mag writes:

“Lots of people are adding composting toilets to pool houses, remote cabins, workshops, garages, cottages and motor homes. A composting toilet is the ultimate solution when you want to put a bathroom in a spot that has any of the following issues:

1. No power
2. No sewer hook-up
3. No septic system
4. No plumbing
5. No water supply

As it happens, my future bathroom site (in our small barn where I’m building an office) has all of those issues. How lucky can one girl get?

In the old days the answer would have been an outhouse but there’s no way I’m using a kybo when it’s minus 35 outside. And I’m not spending $20,000 on a septic system either.

Salvation lies in composting toilet technology, which has been around since the Seventies (actually since 1000 B.C. if you count ancient composting pit toilets in India), but is only now becoming mainstream.”

Why Envirolet®?
Mag says that “I chose the Envirolet model over its competitors because it has a highly efficient aeration chamber, which means you don’t have to add peat moss to the toilet every time you poo, although that’s always a good conversation starter.”

She’s talking about the Envirolet® patented Automatic Six-Way Aeration System.



She opted for the Envirolet® Basic Plus, our non-electric waterless self-contained model. It will be used in her new writing barn.




We will be checking in with Mag regularily for updates and hope to get some pictures of her set-up. Be sure to check out her sites.

Refer-A-Friend Program

Posted by Scott

Attention Current Envirolet® Users!
The Envirolet® Refer-A-Friend program has been updated! Read on!

What is the Refer-A-Friend program?
A significant portion of Envirolet® Composting Toilet System sales are the result of one user recommending Envirolet® to another.

The Envirolet® Refer-A-Friend program is designed to reward current Envirolet® owners who recommend Envirolet® to their friends.

We think that if you go to the trouble of praising Envirolet® to others, then you deserve something!

What will I get for referring a friend to buy Envirolet®?
If you are a current Envirolet® owner and recommend Envirolet® to a friend and they purchase a system, you both will get $50.00 on top of any discount. This way you are green & make some green!

What We Need
• The new Envirolet® customer, the friend, should provide us the contact info of their friend at the time of purchase. We just need enough info to find them in our system to verify they bought a system from us and so we can send them their credit! You can provide this info over the phone or in the Comments section if ordering online.
• You can give this after, but it just makes it easier for us to apply the extra credit.

Payment
• Payment will be applied to new orders at time of purchase. Payment will be sent to the referring friend within 4-6 weeks.
• If you would like your $50 used as credit for later purchases, please let us know.

Got a Friend?
If you have a friend that you would like to refer, please call us toll-free 1-800-387-5126 in the US or 1-800-387-5245 in Canada.

Call 416-299-4818 if you are located outside of North America.

Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent

Posted by Scott

Greenthinkers has a story about a great eco-friendly laundry detergent called Ecover.

Nathan at Greenthinkers writes:

“Last week’s exciting addition to my local organic produce distributor’s line-up is Ultra liquid laundry wash from Ecover at ecover.com.

This product is wonderful because it is one of the best eco-friendly laundry detergent on the market. The United Nations seems to think so too - they have recognized Ecover for exceptional environmental initiative.

This certified-vegan laundry wash not only leaves your clothes soft and clean, it even has a light, refreshing, hypoallergenic natural scent. It far exceeds legal requirements for biodegradability and has minimum impact on acquatic life.

The planetary savings are immeasurable…and the price isn’t too bad in comparison to conventional liquid brands either.”

Hiatus

Posted by Scott

Hey everyone! Buzz is back after a brief hiatus while the contributors were all on vacation.

From Outhouse To Tool Shed

Posted by Scott

Here are some nice pictures that tell a great story from an Envirolet® user in Missouri. They used to use an old-fashioned outhouse. Then they got their Envirolet® Composting Toilet System. (The comments from the customer are in quotes.)

“This is the cabin we have in Mark Twain National Forest, in Ste Genevieve County, Missouri.

I built it in 1965, on a pile of rock, [the] reason for installing your unit [was that there was] no way to put in a drain field for less than 20,000 bucks. We lived here for three months during the great flood of ‘93, the only sanitation at that time was a Johnny-on-the-Spot unit, we had no water or electric.”

And then they got an Envirolet®, which replaced the old outhouse (and temporary Johnny-on-the-Spot!).

The cabin
“This is the new nice clean no smell Envirolet by Sancor, really a super operation, we really like it.”


The Envirolet® inside the cabin
“My wife says this sure beats going to the old place during the ice and snow.”


The old outhouse converted to a tool shed
“[The outhouse] is 30 years old and now a tool shed.”

We apologize to outhouses everywhere! But, look out because Envirolet® is going to replace you!

The Wind Turbine Ventilator

Posted by Scott

It’s time to talk about a sometimes overlooked feature of Envirolet® Composting Toilet Systems. The Wind Turbine Ventilator.

A 4” Wind Turbine Ventilator is included standard with all new Envirolet® Systems (except the Envirolet® MS10, which offers it as an option). This is something that others do not include standard or even offer.

Why is the Wind Turbine good?
The Wind Turbine adds performance by increasing evaporation of liquid from your composting system, especially when the power is not on in DC or AC units.

The Wind Turbine is also a great advantage to those who experience frequent power outages or will have occasional extra heavy use.

What happens if there is little or no wind?
The Wind Turbine Ventilator is of course not a sealed component. So, even when there is little or no wind, evaporation will still occur.

The Wind Turbine complements the composting toilet system by adding extra evaporation performance.

Can I add the Envirolet® Wind Turbine to another composting toilet system?
There are other compost systems than Envirolet®? To answer this outrageous question: yes. If you need some extra performance or are not getting good air flow then by all means add our turbine. (And regarding air flow, only Envirolet® has 2 Fans to provide efficient air flow and evaporation. Others have only 1 fan.)

What’s the 4 inch part refer to?
Our turbine has a 4” connection to attach to 4” rigid (vent) pipe.

What is it made of?
Aluminum. Or aluminium if you’re not from North America. Huh?

Links:
• Wind Turbine Ventilator on Envirolet® USA
• Wind Turbine Ventilator on Envirolet® Canada

Organic Food For Beginners

Posted by Scott

Are you considering switching to organic foods? If so, check out this nice article about organic food from Chatelaine magazine. The article is presented in a very common sense manner that will help organic newbies get over common hurdles such as cost and if organic food really is better for you.

Here is a sample from Natural Selection by Diane Peters:

“I’m what you might call a lazy organic. I think organic food is better for me, but I can’t justify shelling out double for pesticide-free broccoli or buying frozen dinners that cost more than takeout. But I’m changing. I have a little guy at home in the high-chair stage and I pay a premium to ensure that his first foods contain fewer pesticides and antibiotics. Plus, my grocery store is making organic more affordable and available: organic baby food costs almost the same as regular, the organic produce section is growing daily, and I can pick up organic ice cream and tomato sauce at digestible prices. No wonder organic-food sales are jumping by 20 per cent every year.”