Gadgets go green

Nov 30 2007 Peter Jenkinson

Peter Jenkinson presents six eco-friendly devices that help save power and cash

The words green and gadget rarely shared the same sentence barely a year ago unless it was to describe the envy on your friend's face when you showed them your latest purchase.

Now there is a plethora of eco-friendly gadgetry aimed at helping you cut down on your energy consumption and embracing natural power.

Not only will you be saving cash, but metaphorically hugging a tree at the same time.

1. Ear Sunshine-BHS-603 Bluetooth Headset - £49.99 from www.orangeaccessories.co.uk

Ladies and gentlemen I present you with the world's first solar-powered Bluetooth earpiece - a device that will end the irritation of yours running out of juice just when you need it the most.

It can survive up to 200 hours on standby and nine hours talktime in complete darkness and simply recharges itself during daylight hours.

2. Wind Up - Trevor Baylis media player - £154.99 from www.ethicalsuperstore.com One minute of winding on this machine equates to about 40 minutes play time on one of its many functions.

It does music, video and FM radio as well as functioning as a torch, sound recorder, photo viewer, mobile phone charger, ebook viewer and data storage device.

An acceptable 1.8 inch screen for viewing and 2GB internal memory which is expandable. Great kit from this wind-up merchant.

3. Unit of Measurement-wattson-£149 95 from www.firebox.com This ingenious wireless device displays the amount of electricity being used in your home, and all in real time. Place the machine in any room and it will display a running total of the energy you're currently using, in either watts or pounds sterling. Turn off a device and watch as the counter goes down.

This machine also offers the info via ambient lights - when the lights are blue, consumption is low, when they're red, it's time to turn something off.

4. Time Dries-Alarm Clock - £10.99 www.amazon.co.uk

Powered by humble H2O this digital alarm clock just takes water in one of its transparent tubes and comes to life.

Forget about disposing with dead batteries, just top up every now and then.

Hardly likely to save the planet but perhaps there's hope for bigger and better things.

5. Catch some sun - SunJar £19.95 from www.firebox.com

Containing solar panels and LED lights inside this normal looking frosted Mason jar - by day it is gathering rays from the sunshine and by night comes to life.

The harnessed power is diffused through the glass creating a wonderful ambient glow. The jar is also available with blue LEDs.

6. One by One-Tefal Quickcup - £49.99 from www.currys.co.uk

Save up to a whopping 65 per cent of the energy used in boiling a big standard kettle with the clever Tefal Quickcup.

This machine works at the touch of a button and passes the water over a heating element and delivers just enough for your cuppa.

Takes less time and offers the perfect excuse not to make everyone a brew.