It seems like there’s not a day that goes past without a dire warning about our energy consumption and the need to drastically reduce our usage - whether it be for the benefit of the environment or of our bank accounts. Energy saving doesn’t have to be a drag, though, and, with these ten great green gadgets, you could drastically reduce the amount you use, as well as the amount you spend.
Water Pebble (£5.31 inc P&P) - Very simple, yet very effective – like many eco gadgets, the Water Pebble plays on your guilt by letting you know how much water you’re using. Stick it by your plughole and it will measure the amount of water used in the first shower you take. It will then use this as a benchmark for future showers and will flash green at the start, amber halfway through and red to tell you when you’re over-using and it’s time to stop.
Eco Kettle 2 (£38.93 inc. P&P) - There are plenty of them around, but the Eco Kettle 2 claims to use 31 per cent less energy than any other kettle. Not only that, but it will reduce the amount of waiting time by an average of 90 seconds.
Radiator Reflector Foil (£14.99) – Not the most glamorous, but potentially the biggest money-saver on the list. Around 70 per cent of heat generated by radiators is estimated to be lost through the wall behind. Banish this wastefulness covering the walls behind the radiator in foil and bask in the warm glow afterwards.
Electricity Saving Monitor (£12.99) – A straightforward electricity usage monitor with a neat twist. Rather than measuring your household usage, you can find out which appliances are the most and least energy efficient by plugging them in and reading the usage on the screen. What’s more, for the energy geeks among you, one whizzkid has even come up with a way of tweeting your usage via the device.
Standby Buster (£21.86) – We’re all guilty of laziness from time to time, but with the Standby Buster there’s no excuse for us to be guilty of wasting energy. Plug in your appliances and use the remote to switch them off completely, rather than on standby. Sounds small, but you’d be amazed how much you could save.
Surge for iPhone and iPhone 3GS (Approx. £53 US equivalent) - A fairly pricey gadget, but the Surge will keep that energy-guzzling iPhone going for hours longer without the need for electricity. It’s effectively a lightweight carry case with a solar panel on the back to draw in energy – meaning you can charge up while on the go.
Solar Powered Speakers (£49.99) – As simple as they sound; Devotec’s Solar Sound Bluetooth Speakers push our buttons – available on the go with a 2x2w sound- it’s a decent bet for the fairly modest price tag.
Fit PC 2.0 (£210-£420 depending on spec.) – The world’s ‘smallest, greenest PC’. Aside from the novelty factor, Fit PC2 claims to be save you over £100 a year on electricity by stripping out much of the glitz; providing your with a compute that “functions the same as a standard PC, yet uses just 7 per cent as much energy”.
Econav (£149.99-£199.99) – Save fuel and help the environment with this eco-friendly satnav, which will tell you the optimal gear, optimum speed and warn you against excessive breaking and acceleration as you drive. Annoying, perhaps. Money saving, definitely.
Eco Media Player-Revolution (£114.90 inc. P&P) – The creation of quasi-celebrity inventor Trevor Baylis - yep, that one from The Big Breakfast! - the Revolution is a smart gadget with MP3 and video player, phone charger, voice recorder and file viewer all in one. The most amazing thing? You can keep it charged by simply winding it up like your Nan’s old gramophone.
Further tips?
If you’re looking for more tips to cut your energy use, we’ve got an exclusive video interview with E.ON's energy efficiency manager Kevin Bryant, which could be just the thing you need.
