EcoHearth: Come Home to the Earth

The entire nation is mobilizing in a way not seen since WWII. Across generational lines, people are curious as to what actions they can take to be more environmentally conscious. What do you do if you have already changed your incandescent light bulbs for CFLs (compact florescent bulbs), but can’t afford to run your home with solar power? The answer is to look at your daily life and discover ways you can lessen your environmental impact. The change in consciousness of an entire society must begin with the individual. Below are three practical products which can help you push this transformation.

Portable Solar Generators
While only 10% of the global population, the US consumes 1/5 of the world’s energy. The majority is directed toward heating and cooling residential homes, and refrigeration. However, a considerable amount is spent on small electronic devices such as ipods, pdas, digital cameras and laptops. The average cellphone uses six watts of energy to fully charge.

There are a variety of portable, solar-based, power-generating apparatuses on the market. Stating at $50 and up, they can produce one-and-a-half to 14 watts of clean energy. Many electronic devices can be plugged into solar generators to recharge themselves. The Solio Charger and the Solar Roll are leaders among portable solar-energy-generation devices.

SIGG Bottles
The bottled-water phenomenon is a $15 billion industry, growing at 10% annually. In 2006 alone, 30 billion plastic bottles were used. The average American uses an estimated 167 plastic bottles in a single year. Unfortunately, nearly 9 out of ten bottles are not recycled, meaning"left" for the 100 bottles recycled every second, 840 are thrown into a landfill.

For nearly a century, SIGG, a Swiss company, has engineered bottles that provide a portable means to contain water. These high-quality reusable bottles are made from aluminum, 100% recyclable and non-toxic—meaning they are healthier for you. Many plastic bottles, on the other hand, contain a chemical known as xenoestrogen, which has been linked to lower testosterone in men, and breast and uterine cancer in women.

Power Monitors/Surge Protectors
Standby power, also known as vampire power, is the energy that flows through an electronic device when it is turned off. Among the list of offending machines are TVs, digital clocks, microwaves, game consoles and DVD players.

In the US, 10% of residential energy is wasted on standby power. According to the BBC, the average UK home has 12 gadgets on standby power—costing £740 million annually, or roughly $1.2 trillion. With such a drain on funds, the US and EU have limited the consumption of standby power to less than 1% in federal buildings. However, there are more than 115 million homes in the US not held to that standard, excluding California.

Power monitors, such as the Black & Decker EM100B, help you figure out which of your devices is leaking energy and how much, while new surge protectors, like the Belkin Conserve power strip, shut off energy to devices when not being used. The average American consumes 98.7 million watt-hours per year, with roughly 10% wasted. Conservational surge protectors ensure that energy generated is energy used.

These practical gadgets are widely available and serve as examples of how individuals can live more eco-conscious lives. Whether in a dorm room or office, we each hold some responsibility for the environment that sustains us. Every big and small step we take makes a tangible difference.

For additional eco-friendly items:
The EcoHearth Eco Shop

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