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America Inspired

Top 5 gifts that are really green

Smart outlet
This outlet can reduce your use of standby power

What if you could give someone a gift that is useful, will save them money for years to come, helps the environment and promotes energy independence all at once? These gifts accomplish all of these task so well, you’ll probably want extras for yourself.

Smart Strip LCG3 Energy Saving Power Strip with Autoswitching Technology – Most electronic gadgets these days draw power even when off. It’s not much, but recent studies suggest 5% of residential energy use is this wasted standby power. This remarkable surge protector has a neat trick – it watches one “controlling device”, and totally powers off other devices when it is placed on standby. So, for example, you could use it to completely power down your computer monitor, speakers and printer when your computer goes on standby. This power strip can easily pay for itself.

 
Digital tire gauge
Keep your tires propery inflated with this gauge

 

Accutire MS-4652B Key Chain Digital Tire Gauge  - Experts say that keeping your tires at the recommend pressure (or slightly higher) can improve gas mileage. It's not much, but they say a loss of 0.3% is typical for each psi of under-inflation. If you drive 10,000 miles a year at 25mpg,, that’s 400 gallons a year. If correct tire inflation even saves you 1% of that, it’s 4 gallons of gas. Even at today’s surprisingly low prices, this gadget will pay for itself in just a year; faster if you take into account longer tire life.

 

 
Compact flourescent bulbs
Compact flourescent bulbs quickly pay for
themselves

 

Compact Fluorescent bulb sets in 100W equivalent or 60W equivalent. Compact fluorescent bulbs provide such enormous energy savings that some places are outlawing incandescent bulbs. The only incandescent bulbs I have left at home are a few specialized bulbs and those in the dining room candelabra (and I’ll replace those as soon as I can find some decent equivalents). If you have friends who are still using incandescent bulbs, getting them a set of fluorescent bulbs is like giving them cash every month.

 

 
Window insulator kit
Reduce heat loss through windows with this kit

 

3M 2141W Indoor 5-Window Insulator Kit - I was visiting a friend the other day and noticed the heater going on and off all evening. No surprise, I was sitting under the living room window (closed) and could feel the constant draft. That’s energy and money being wasted for no reason, given the availability of kits like this one. As a bonus gift, offer to help with the installation.

 

 

The greenest of the game consoles

 

Nintendo Wii – Ok, this one is just for fun. It won’t save you energy unless you’re playing it instead of an Xbox 360 or Playstation III. The Wii is by far the greenest console. It’s also a great deal of fun. Read more in "Who makes the greenest game console" and "The great video game console hunt of 2008 has begun".

 

 
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By

Gadgets Examiner

Dan Appleman is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in hardware, software and gadgets of all kinds. Author of How...

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