Greener Gadgets: Power Hog and Energy Conservation

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Matt Embrey .

Here’s a cool entry to Greener Gadgets that aims to teach kids about energy consumption and conservation.  The Power Hog is an a power consumption metering piggy bank.  Simply plug your kids TV, or Xbox, computer… whatever power hungry thing they use into the Power Hog then plug the hog’s tail into the wall.  Now [...]

Green UpGrade Your Kids Bookshelf

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Paula Mitchell Bentley .

An author named Jen Green has made it easy (and super affordable at $6.99 each on Amazon) to teach our kids how to go green. She has a series of books, “Why Should I…?” illustrated by Mike Gordon helping to answer those non-stop questions that kids always ask. These books not only say [...]

Save the Economy, Save for Your Future and Save the Planet

Posted on February 13, 2009 by Doug Gunzelmann .

The “thrift paradox” describes the problem of spending money to stimulate the economy without continuing down the path of consumerism that led us into our current economic state. The phrase was coined by John Maynard Keynes, yet there is a way to both spend and save at the same time…and you can be green about [...]

Poop Management — Cloth or Disposable?

Posted on February 2, 2009 by Paula Mitchell Bentley .

Or is there a third option that is easier for parents than cloth and better for the environment than disposables? Matt touched on these flushable diapers in his piece aptly titled Green Diapers: A Lot of Sh*t to Think About in which he examines all the pros and cons of both cloth and disposable [...]

Barack Obama and a Greener America

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Doug Gunzelmann .

While listening to the inaugural address today it was hard to miss the nods President Obama made toward the need for alternative energy sources and a shift in behavior towards America’s energy consumption. Happy inauguration day!

Hanukkah, an Eco-Holiday

Posted on December 21, 2008 by Samantha Tackeff .

Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of Lights. While both cultural consumerism and family tradition has led me to closely associate the holiday with eight days of gifts and wild amounts of potato pancakes (latkes) and deep fried foods like Sufganiot (Jelly Donuts, see above), the story of Hanukkah itself is [...]

Eco Odyssey: 2008 - Wattson Energy Monitor

Posted on March 12, 2008 by Doug Gunzelmann .

Upgrade: ~$300

Big fan of Space Odyssey:2001? Well here is an eco-friendly version of the deranged and psychotic HAL. Named Wattson, this is an energy monitoring device that once installed in your home displays how much electricity you are consuming. Using both a digital read out and illuminating color display Wattson is like your personal Al [...]