Six Gadgets to Save the Planet (And Everyone On It)

Posted on Wed Feb 13 2008

By: Brooke Olive in Alternative Energy, Environment

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In today's world, when the latest gizmos and gadgets are rapidly replaced and the previous contraption rendered redundant and left for landfill, it is nice to see that some clever people are still focusing on the environment and how to have less of an impact on our little world. The main problem contributing to the destruction of the Earth, apart from deforestation and species extinction, is global warming.

In order to turn back the clock on humankind's gross mismanagement of the environment and reverse the process of global warming, many small but important measures must be undertaken. Water conservation, energy conservation, reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and increase in the use of renewable sources like wind power, must all be taken into account. The failure to properly protect the environment and the climate in all levels of bureaucracy has led the world's population to an ultimatum: to leave our problems and our parents' problems to our children or, instead, to urge ourselves to take action now, in every way possible.

A claw within the guts of passive society, twisting and nudging, ready to promote change, a few smart inventors create in order to improve life itself; to prolong the existence of natural habitats and to make survival easier for those that suffer from lack of the basic essentials. It only takes a few simple changes to create a major difference. The danger is collective, the responsibility is individual, and the time for action is now.

Household Energy Monitor

The Wattson, created by D.I.Y. Kyoto, is a solution to end excessive energy consumption. A sleek gadget, combining wood and plastic, it is a modern example of old meeting new. It has the ability to measure overall household energy consumption, as well as that of individual appliances. This hand-held gadget displays usage as a number and as a light which dims according to energy use.

Wireless, it can also calculate in pounds (so far) the cost of running each appliance and even the annual energy consumption of your entire household. Able to connect to your PC, it can print out a chronological report for each item and its energy usage. All of the information is stored within its own database. It also has a feature which allows owners to chat with each other online, to compare numbers and offer advice on further energy saving.

Home Composting Made Easy

Although today's generation has been equipped with the education and the ability to reduce landfill, we are still producing more landfill than necessary. Such landfill sites become danger zones, and not only for the generations aheadthey also emit 10% of the poisonous gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. They cause land instability, soil and groundwater contamination, odours, and fire hazards. In order to reduce the amount of waste that is left for landfills, more re-use and recycling of waste products is imperative.

An easy way to reduce household waste by 30% is a kitchen composter. The Max Air kitchen composter bin is a biodegradable bag that prevents the growth of fruit flies. All scraps can be thrown in this bin liner, and when full it can be added to your garden compost bin, where it will then begin to break down. An easy and simple way to start making a difference, and even your children can actively help. Fresh, clean fertilizer for your garden; less waste for landfill; clearer conscience: all for under fifteen dollars.

Biodegradable Water Bottles

The world's first biodegradable bottle has been manufactured by a company called Biota, using nature-based packaging from Nature Works TM PLA. The bottle is made entirely from a renewable resourcecornand is completely compostable. These bottles are obviously far better than any traditional plastic bottle, which will never biodegrade. Under the proper conditions, the bottle will completely disappear within 75 to 80 days.

Although made from corn, the bottle is still a natural plastic and cannot be eatenthough it is safe for food and water contact. It will not decompose on the shelf and has the added bonus that the corn plastic will not leach aldehyde chemicals into the water, as can happen with petroleum-based products. Biota products use 50% less fossil fuels in production and also burn clean, without releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Biota spring water is sold in most health food stores and also online, for about the same price as PET based spring water.

Water Conservation

Water conservation is a high priority for all those environmentalists out there. Those in the know realize that eventually, if water waste is not reduced, even the rich countries are going to have major shortage problems. Never mind those third world countries that already don't have enough clean water to drink.

There are two solutions, invented for two different problems:

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

The use of alternative fuels in our transportation services can help lessen climate change and the misuse of valuable resources. Many informed people are now using hybrid cars to get around, using fuels like ethanol, natural gas, electricity, and biodiesel, to significantly reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. Most of these fuels can be produced and utilized from natural resources.

One such product is the Toyota Hybrid, available in many makes to suit all lifestyles. It saves gas, saves money, and is extremely environmentally friendly. Plus, they don't need to be plugged in. There could be a massive demand for hybrid-style vehicles, as the world becomes more globally aware of issues relating to fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. Most car manufacturers are now seriously planning to start producing more lines of hybrid vehicles as the demand for them riseswith the environmentally-aware and style-conscious alike.

As global awareness becomes more important and as self-education and environmental preservation become more popular with people of all ages, the future ahead seems bright with possibility of change.

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