Make Green Come True

Many innovations are making run-of-the-mill power strips into technological dinosaurs.  Phantom power, the power leaked by items that are plugged in, but not necessarily switched on is gaining more and more exposure in press.  As more people become aware of the drain of phantom power, new solutions like the one below are sure to appear.

Belkin has introduced a remote control power switch.  It can be operated through a handheld remote, so you won’t have to crawl to flip off the power and cords can be hidden out of sight and out of reach.   The remote can operate not only a single power strip, but also an entire fleet of power strips that are used on all the electronics in your home.

Belkin BG108000-04 Conserve 8-Outlet Surge Protector with Remote Switch (White)

Related Make Green Come True Articles:

Product Review: Smart Strip

A Fun Gadget to Monitor Your Home Energy Use

Phantom Power

If you are interested in being environmentally friendly when cleaning your house, the Bissell Liittle Green Multi-Purpose Compact Earth-Friendly Deep Cleaner is a great way to start.  It does an excellent job of cleaning up spills and messes (salsa and pet stains included), is small in size, and is not terribly noisy.   While carpet cleaning machines  may not be the first thing you think about when you think green, this one has quite a few earth-friendly features:

-  It contains 95% less PVC than its forerunners.

- The tanks are made of recyclable polypropylene.

- Many parts (solution tank, brush, etc.) are made of 100% post-consumer recycled materials

- The packaging for the machine contains no styrofoam and is primarily recycled cardboard.

- Phosphates and many other chemicals have been eliminated from the cleaning solution for the machine.

Overall, it is nearly as effective as running a full-sized carpet cleaner and is never a burden to set up, move, or bring upstairs.   If you have used the Little Green Machine, please leave a comment and let other readers know what you thought!

Bissell 14007 Little Green Multi-Purpose Compact Earth-Friendly Deep Cleaner

Automating your home may seem like something out of a science fiction film and bring to mind a picture of hundreds of expensive electronics devices, this is not necessarily the case. Simple and inexpensive home automation techniques can save time, energy, and money. Learn to be green through home automation with these green tips.

1. Occupancy Sensors

Occupancy sensors attach to or replace light switches throughout your home or attach directly to light sources. They are based on motion-sensors and will make sure you never forget to turn out the lights after you leave the room again.

Decora Wall Switch with Pir Occupancy Sensor
Maxxima MLS-03 Occupancy Sensor 3 LED Light
Leviton Decora Manual-ON Occupancy Sensor, Single Pole, 3-Way or More Applications, 180-Degree Field of View, 15A-White, #IPP15-1LW

2. Programmable Thermostats

If you want to save energy and money each month when heating and air conditioning your home, programmable thermostats are the way to go. They will allow you to set different temperatures for different times of day, so you can make sure your thermostat is set for comfort when you are at home and for energy efficiency when you are at work or asleep. Many electric companies will now install programmable thermostat, check with your electric company today or look at one of the great do it yourself options listed below.

Hunter 44550 Auto Save 7-Day Programmable Thermostat
Lux Products Touch Screen 7 Day Programmable Thermostat TX9000TS
Lux Products Smart Temp Programmable Thermostat TX1500

3. Solar Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is a great way to beautify your landscaping, make your green space more enjoyable, and increase home safety. If you want to take advantage of these benefits, but do not want to waste energy or wire your yard for power, then solar lighting is a great green alternative to traditional electric lighting. Many varieities are available and in many cases solar lights are less expensive than their electronic equivalents.
Malibu Outdoor Solar-Powered Tiki Torch Light, 2-Pack #LZ604R2
Malibu 3-Pack Solar Landscape Plastic Flood Light Set with Remote Panel, Textured Black #LZ413
SohoDecor 6 Pack Stainless Steel Solar Garden Lights , New 2008 2 LEDs Version

A Solar Car?

Toyota, the manufacturer of the popular Prius, has been taking steps to green it’s buildings by installing solar panels and following green design.  Now, they are taking solar panels a step further.  Rumors have been circulating the web that future Prius models will be equipped with a sunroof to offset energy used by some of the electrical systems.  While the power that could be collected would not be enough to sufficiently power the car itself, the concept is a step in the right direction.

If you were a science enthusiast as a kid and still have an avid curiosity,or if you are just looking for a way to rein in your electric bill, you will enjoy the  Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor.  The device will help you monitor power usage in your home or at work.  Plug the device into the wall and then plug in any appliance or electronic device.  It will give you information about power consumption and let you calculate the energy you use over days, months and years.  This will help you determine how much phantom power devices in your home are using. The advanced P4460 Kill A Watt EZ model will provide 8 metrics to help you determine power usage.
P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor

P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor

A Sheffield Hallam University student has completed an eye-catching senior design project – a bicycle made from cardboard.  While the bike still relies on some metal parts, the frame, seat, and pedals are all made from recyclable hexacomb cardboard.  It can be produced for about $30.  The low cost of the bike makes it resistant to theft and available to the masses.  While the frame will not last forever, it is expected to survive for roughly a year, even when subjected to rainy or snowy weather.  The cardboard portions of the bike can be replaced for roughly $5-8 each year.   Have you heard about an interesting recyclable product lately?  Leave a comment on the site or email ideas[at]makegreencometrue[.]com.

Fortune Small Business and Rice University have partnered to sponsor a student start-up competition.   The entry topics this year range the gamut from medical device to winter weather gear, but one team in particular could have a positive effect on our environment.  The Potentia team from University of Michigan (Ruba Borno, Tzeno Galchev, Rishiraj Das) have developed a power source that derrives energy from naturally occuring evaporation.  The device is used to function in wireless sensors and can reduce sensor costs by 80% while harvesting a natural power source.

For more information…

While this mower is not exactly a new technological breakthrough, it does have the potential solve may pressing environmental issues with lawn care. The mower does an excellent job of trimming grass and weeds, especially if you do not let your yard become overgrown.

Pros:

1. No more gasoline. You will not have to bring gasoline home to power your mower. You won’t have to smell the fumes.

2. Quiet – I can hear the birds chip, let my neighbors sleep (or stare as the case may be – it does draw attention by merit of being different).

3. Safe – There are no mechanical blades.

4. Lightweight and portable – it can fit into a compact car in most cases and is very light.

5. No carbon footprint – no emissions.

6. Wide footprint – cuts a wide path and is more efficient.

Cons:

1. Becomes difficult to push if your yard is overgrown (but is fine if you mow weekly).

2. Wide footprint – you may still need to weedeat depending on the layout of your yard.

3. Requires effort – on a sweltering summer day, you may glance over at your neighbor on his ultra power riding mower with a twinge of envy, but remember you’re the one who is saving the earth!

Purchase:

Scotts 20-Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower #2000-20

Swiss Engineers working to develop the Solar Impulse, a solar-powered airplane that creates no emissions. Testing is slated for next year, and a round the world journey is slated for 2011.

Launch Video

Solar Impulse Website

If your home is like most, you have a plethora of electronics that require batteries – remote controls, mp3 players, wireless keyboards/mice, cameras, gaming controllers, clocks, flashlights, etc. By purchasing rechargeable batteries for your electronics, you will save time, money, and will help reduce dangerous waste products. Modern chargers allow you to quickly recharge your batteries (or keep a spare set for swapping in and out). They are slightly more expensive to purchase at first but the savings will quickly add up. In most cases, you can find a charger and four batteries for less than $30, and replacement batteries for around $2 per battery. They can be recharged hundreds of times and you will never have to make a quick trip to the store when you find out that your camera is out of battery power.

Recommended Battery and Charger Kits:

Energizer AA 15-Minute Charger w/4 NiMh AA Batteries

Sony Quick Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries