Some of my favorite handy gadgets for saving electricity and reducing waste
There are gadgets that can make your life easier, and then there are gadgets that can help make your life greener. Following are a few of my favorites, none of which is costly and all of which can reduce the amount of waste you produce or the energy you consume. Most are also handy when the power goes out:
- Manual house-sweeper. Lighter and easier to tote around than a vacuum cleaner, a manual sweeper is great for quick, unplugged cleanups. It’s also invaluable for keeping your home from descending into messy-carpet heck during long, drawn-out power outages, like the four to seven days I occasionally experience during hurricane season.
- Solar garden lights. Not only do these brighten a yard or garden path without cords and plugs, but they also can provide backup lighting indoors on stormy nights when the lights go out.
- Hand-pumped oil sprayer. Why waste money on disposable spray cans of cooking-oil, and create needless trash when the cans run empty? A refillable, hand-pumped spray bottle is a must-have for any green cook, and can be used for everything from lightly coating skillets with olive oil to adding a dash of peanut-oil flavor to Asian dishes.
- Battery charger. No more dead batteries when you need them most, and not nearly as much battery waste (though even rechargeable batteries will expire eventually). While I use a plug-in variety now, my next addition will be a solar-powered one for completely renewable and no-cost battery charging.
- Hand-crank-powered flashlight/radio/TV. A great way to enjoy a bit of civilization or keep up with the news when the basics of modern life – electricity, batteries, etc. – are otherwise inaccessible. Handy for hiking, camping, boating, or simply when you’re stuck at home without power during a storm.
- Battery-powered fan. Couple this with a solar-powered battery charger, and you’ll always have a way to keep cool, even during the hottest electrical blackout days. It’s also nice to have for those steamy days at the beach or outdoor sporting event.
- String shopping bag. OK, it’s not so much a gadget as an accessory, but it’s still one of the best little green investments you can make. Easy to stuff into a purse or glove compartment, a string shopping bag ensures you’ll always have a tote handy without the need to specify “paper” or “plastic.”
The copyright of the article Gadgets for Greener Living in Green/Simple Living is owned by Shirley Siluk Gregory. Permission to republish Gadgets for Greener Living in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
