“GO GREEN” THIS ST. PATRICK’S DAY
By Steve Woodfield
FIVE GADGETS TO “GO GREEN” WITH THIS ST. PATRICK’S DAY
While many of us will be donning green gear for St. Patrick’s day (and maybe even eating green food and imbibing in green beverages), St. Paddy’s is also a perfect time to “go green” in your tech choices in an effort to better serve our environment. Going gadget green this St. Patrick’s Day is easy with ReShip.com – we can ship the following products directly to your home, no matter where you live (no luck of the Irish required).
1. Lenovo ThinkPad L420 & L520
Greening computers isn’t so easy, and that’s why it’s amazing that the Lenovo ThinkPad L420 and L520 both incorporated up to 30% recycled material from office water jugs and used IT equipment in their LCD cover, palm rest, and case. Both are 40% more energy-efficient than their predecessors and promise lower carbon dioxide emissions, and even the packaging has been reduced 20% (and is now 100% recyclable, meaning no giant Styrofoam blocks in that box).$669 and up, Lenovo.com
2. Bedol Water Alarm Clock
There is probably no cooler home swag than the Bedol Water Alarm Clock. It uses no batteries or electricity, and you only have to replace the water every six months in order to keep it running smoothly. The new Squirt model even looks like a cute, colorful water drop. $26, BedolWhatsNext.com
3. Etón Rukus Wireless Speakers
Even if these speakers weren’t solar, they’d be cool. The Etón Rukus wireless speakers, available this summer, will come with an AC adapter and solar panels, making the product one of the few portable speakers that can run as long as the sun is shining. It connects via Bluetooth, sports an e-ink display that is more energy-efficient than others regardless of the source you use, and has a powerful sound being lauded by tech pundits. $150, EtonCorp.com
4. iGo Green Power Smart Wall
Anyone running electronic devices these days needs to find a way to reduce what techies call “vampire power” (the energy used while appliances are in standby mode). The iGo Green Power Smart Wall is an energy-saving four-outlet wall unit surge protector that automatically reduces vampire power by up to 85%. $20, iGo.com
5. Voltaic Generator Solar Laptop Charger
With the Voltaic Generator Solar Laptop Charger, you can sit by the pool and still charge your laptop, cell phone, Nintendo DS, and everything else. The waterproof charger bag, which looks like a futuristic laptop case, uses high-efficiency cells and includes a battery pack custom-designed to efficiently charge from solar power. Just an hour in the sun will charge most cell phones or provide up to 45 minutes of laptop time. $345, VoltaicSystems.com