Gadgets That Could Save Our Planet

It goes without saying that the state of planet Earth is so far down the toilet you need goggles and a neck like Shelley Long’s to be able to see it. Sure, we blame greedy oil companies who care more about profits than the environment. We point our fingers at third world countries razing the rain forests to the ground like pyromaniacs. But the truth is, unless you live in a house powered by the sun, grow your organic own food, and recycle everything until they dissolve into thin air, you helped pull the flush handle on Mother Earth.

Most of us sincerely worry about mass extinction, global warming, and the rising tide of toxic chemicals around us. A lot of us want to do something about them. But what? Not everyone is built to be a Greenpeace Warrior. Besides, standing valiantly before a whale and a harpoon may put you on the evening news, but how often can you do this? Living green every day is what really counts. You may not be ready for a lifestyle directly plugged to the sun but there are ways to minimize the damage. In commemoration of the recent Earth Day, we bring you some of the greenest gadgets on the planet, right after the Jump!

It goes without saying that the state of planet Earth is so far down the toilet you need goggles and a neck like Shelley Long’s to be able to see it. Sure, we blame greedy oil companies who care more about profits than the environment. We point our fingers at third world countries razing the rain forests to the ground like pyromaniacs. But the truth is, unless you live in a house powered by the sun, grow your organic own food, and recycle everything until they dissolve into thin air, you helped pull the flush handle on Mother Earth.

Most of us sincerely worry about mass extinction, global warming, and the rising tide of toxic chemicals around us. A lot of us want to do something about them. But what? Not everyone is built to be a Greenpeace Warrior. Besides, standing valiantly before a whale and a harpoon may put you on the evening news, but how often can you do this? Living green every day is what really counts. You may not be ready for a lifestyle directly plugged to the sun but there are ways to minimize the damage. In commemoration of the recent Earth Day, we bring you some of the greenest gadgets on the planet.

Battery Xtender Alkaline Battery Charger ($39.95)

The alkaline battery is at the heart of practically every mobile gadget ever invented since the 1950s. This disposable power source may have been heaven sent to mobile gadgeteers, but it is also a major environmental nightmare. They can pollute water systems, send streams of metal vapors into the air when incinerated, and leach heavy metals into the soil. Yep, that’s the price we pay for keeping the Energizer Bunny going, going, going… According to The Environment, Health and Safety Online, about three billion batteries are sold annually in the U.S. (that’s ten battery units per person). In the past 12 years alone, approximately 1,216,800 tons of alkaline batteries ended up in landfills across the country.

The best thing to do is to reduce your alkaline battery consumption (which could mean reducing the number of your gadgets). If you can’t give up any of your gadgets, take the time to dispose of them properly. And by that, we mean sending them to battery recycling centers. You can also switch to rechargeable power sources. But if you find them too expensive and want to stick to alkalines, reuse them as much as possible. Although recharging alkaline batteries is not new, few people do because manufacturers tell us we shouldn’t. Maybe they’re genuinely concerned about our safety. Maybe they’re genuinely concerned about their profit margin. We can’t say for sure. What we can do is refer you to the Battery Xtender Alkaline Battery Charger.

The Battery Xtender “can safely and effectively” recharge AA, AAA, C, and D of 1.2 –1.5 volt disposable alkaline batteries, extending their useful life up to ten times. Unlike other chargers, it uses a patented microprocessor technique called “Smart Charge.” It automatically adjusts the charging currents in proportion to the size of the battery being juiced up, and shuts off when charging is complete. The company says recharged batteries have “near-new capacity” if they have not been completely drained in previous use. They also say they poses no risk of harm to users.

Solar-Powered Visor AM/FM Radio ($26.50)

They probably won’t replace the iPod as a fashion statement/gadget. We have to admit the product’s Geek Factor is rather high. But if doing the right thing is more important than sporting the “right” look, the Solar-Powered Visor Radio from Global Merchants is perfect for outdoor activities like picnics, camping, jogging, fishing, sun bathing or cycling. It features an advanced IC AM/FM radio circuitry for crystal clear sound and high sensitive reception and weighs only 4 oz.

iPod Solar Power ($179.95)

If you would rather live in a severely fractured environment than give up your iPod (in favor of the solar-powered visor radio), this gadget is for you. The iPod Solar Power from Connecticut Solar provides “unlimited power” for your iPod using the sun as power source. It has a standard iPod connector, weighs only 3 lbs, folds into a compact 8×10 inches and allows you to run your permanent ear fixture from your car.

A-Data Solar Disk Thumb Drive

The Solar Disk thumb drive is equipped with a solar cell module and supports USB 1.1/2.0. It does not have a built-in battery and its solar cell module powers its LCD display to show remaining capacity. It is available in 128MB, 25MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB models. This was first presented at CeBit 2006 and will be commercially available in June.

SE and NTT DoCoMo’s “Good Plastic” Cell Phones and LG Korea’s Less Toxic Mobiles

Three years ago, a study forewarned us that Americans will add 65,000 tons of trash to the world in the form of 130 million discarded cell phones. According to their estimates, there were at least 200 million cell phones in active duty across the country last year and another 500 million retired older models headed for junkville. Cell phones (along with other pocket PC’s, music players and the like) pose special problems at landfills because of toxic chemicals in their batteries and other components, including arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc. Besides that, their plastic components are formulated to outlast the Egyptian pyramids.

Sony Ericsson and NTT DoCoMo are currently looking at cell phones made of plant plastics. The plastic materials is created from the starch and sugars of corn and potatoes which eventually breakdown into water and carbon dioxide. Not to worry, it won’t melt in your hands if you’re caught in the rain or have excessively sweaty palms. The new age plastic phones will probably as toxic as the Tupperware-age plastic mobiles but its a step in the right direction.

 

LG Korea is tackling the toxic cell phone issue more directly with its its LG Cyon. The unit complies with RoHS ( Restriction of Hazardous Substances) regulations that controls the usage of toxic material in manufacturing processes to minimize environmental damage. The new, safer mobile model contains minimum to zero levels of lead and mercury.