Fashion Alert: Primo Water and Rachel Zoe

It seems that Primo Water is becoming a darling with reality television stars.

We told you earlier this week that we spotted a Primo Water dispenser at the home of "Biggest Loser" winner Danny Cahill.

Well, we just got word from the director of operations for Rachel Zoe's company that they just received their Primo Water dispenser. They've set it up in their offices, and report that it looks great and is working great.

Oh my God! Shut up. Oh my God!

Hollywood stylist Rachel Zoe is a fan.

Oh my God!

We'll be keeping our eyes open for next season of the Rachel Zoe Project on Bravo to see if we can spot Primo sharing screen time alongside all those designer labels Zoe chooses for her A-list celebrity clients.

"Biggest Loser" Winner includes Primo Water in Weight Loss Efforts

"Biggest Loser" winner Danny Cahill obviously realizes the importance of pure, great-tasting water to a healthy lifestyle.

Cahill, a land surveyor from Broken Arrow, Okla., lost an astounding 239 pounds to win the latest season of the hit NBC reality show.

Guess what we spotted in Danny's kitchen in one of the episodes leading up to the finale? A Primo Water dispenser.

To win the "Biggest Loser" and drop 239 pounds, Danny had to trade his unhealthy habits for healthy ones. One of the easiest changes people can make at the beginning of any health makeover is to switch from sodas, sugary beverages and caffeinated drinks to water.

But as the contestants on the "Biggest Loser" learned, making healthy choices can be quite difficult when other temptations surround you. Weight loss winners like Danny learn to surround themselves with healthy options -- fruit and veggies to snack on instead of high-calorie sweets and great-tasting Primo Water to drink instead of sodas.

Like diet and exercise, water should play a role in your weight loss plan, according to a Wake Forest University nutritionist:

• Water can decrease your appetite. The next time you feel hungry, drink a glass of water and wait 20 to 30 minutes to see if those hunger pangs subside.
• Water can help you cut calories. Most people drink a lot of calories throughout the day. Consider replacing sodas, sweet tea and juices and zero-calorie water.
• Caffeinated beverages act as a diuretic and can lead to dehydration. By the time you feel thirsty, you're already dehydrated. Though you may consume lots of caffeinated beverages throughout the day, they won't keep you hydrated like water will.

Now, we thought we'd sign off with a few inspiring words from the "Biggest Loser" himself, Danny Cahill.

How can a Primo Water dispenser improve your life?

Want the convenience of pure, hot or cold water in your home?

Could it be any easier?

Writer endorses tabletop water coolers

Home improvement writer June Koppang endorses tabletop water coolers as an eco-friendly alternative to bottled water.

I think it might be a good idea to buy a tabletop water cooler. It will save you money and it is eco friendly. There are too many plastic water bottles in the landfill, and with a water cooler you can help cut down the number of bottles that are thrown away. You can buy your water in bigger amounts, so you can cut down on the number of bottles that you throw away...

I found the Primo Pioneer Tabletop Water Cooler that sells for $99.99. This tabletop water cooler dispenses both cold and hot water. It will hold the standard size bottles (3-5 gallon) which are not included. There is a safety tap for the hot water so that it is safe around a child. There is spill proof loading and there is no plastic taste. The base is 16.38" H x 11.63" W x 11.75" D, and it comes in white. This tabletop cooler will save a lot of extra plastic bottles from landing in the land fill. I think this tabletop cooler would be a great asset to have in your home or in your office.

Thanks, June, for taking up the cause!

California County Bans Bottled Water and Water Coolers

It's tap water only for government employees in Sonoma County, California.

Elected officials there have banned bottled water and water coolers from county government buildings out of budget and environmental concerns. The move will save the local government $70,000 annually, according to local press coverage.

As in most places, Sonoma County has a glut of plastic bottles in its landfills. Only about 20 percent of plastic bottles are recycled; the rest are trashed, according to the newspaper.

While water dispensers are an environmentally responsible alternative to bottled water, Sonoma County supervisers voted to get rid of them, too, to save $45,000 annually, in cooler rental and water fees.

Primo Water Ranks As One of North Carolina's Fastest-Growing Companies

Primo Water was honored recently as the Triad's fastest-growing privately held company.

Winston-Salem based Primo topped the Business Journal of the Greater Triad's Fast 50 list, a ranking of private companies based on revenue growth between 2006 and 2008.

Despite the recession, Primo Water's business continued to grow as consumer backlash against single-serve bottled water increased. In growing numbers, consumers who are concerned about the environment and their health are switching from bottled water to coolers for their homes. These convenient dispensers house reusable 3- and 5-gallon bottles that are recycled at the end of life cycle, unlike most single-serve water bottles.

Primo Water understands the behavioral trends driving sales of bottled water. Most consumers want a convenient source for cold, delicious water, which they can't get from a tap. Primo dispensers offer a Zero Waste alternative to single-serve bottles, while at the same time delivering convenient access to pure, healthy and delicious cold or hot water at the push of a button.

A Primo Water dispenser also makes sense for budget-minded consumers. Owning a cooler saves homeowners an average of $200 a year versus renting.

This shift in consumer sentiment and buying habits presents a tremendous market opportunity for Primo and its retail customers going forward. Only a small percentage of households currently own their own water coolers, but that number is growing significantly each year.

Primo Water has redefined the water dispenser and elevated it to a must-have item for every home with the introduction of stylish bottom-loading coolers. Its innovative in-store exchange program allows consumers to exchange their empty 3-gallon and 5-gallon water bottles for full ones at grocery and home improvement stores nationwide.

Primo Water, founded in 2004, first became eligible for the Fast 50 list last year. Primo ranked third then and rose to the top position this year, ahead of such growth companies as Samet Corp., New Breed Logistics, ArcaTech Systems and Varrow Inc.

Accounting firm Smith Leonard of High Point ranked the Fast 50 companies using a formula that factors in both dollar and percentage growth from 2006 to 2008. The formula is weighted to sustained growth and is equitable to companies of all sizes.

What do elected officials have against water coolers?

We know that budgets are tight everywhere. But why are water coolers becoming a casualty of municipal belt-tightening?

Last week, we wrote about the decision by the Board of Selectmen in Freetown, Mass. to get rid of water coolers in town hall, as a way to save $500 annually.

Now comes news that another local government in Wallkill, N.Y., is getting rid of its water coolers.

As reported by the Record Online:

Proposed employee furloughs. Halted road projects. Now, say goodbye to water-cooler conversations as Wallkill continues to look for ways to save money.

The town has cut spring water delivery to town buildings.

Without access to water coolers, town employees are sure to reach for bottled water, which is so very bad for the environment. Local governments need to find ways to trim their budgets that don't have such a steep environmental cost.

Getting rid of water coolers doesn't save these towns very much money -- only $500 annually, in the case of Freetown, Mass. -- and it increases the likelihood that employees will reach for the bottle when they're thirsty.

Yes, there's tap water in these government buildings. But we'd wager that most employees will chose the convenience of bottled water over tap.