Saving the Earth: Gadgets that Make an Impact

When we hear the word “gadgets” we envision Google Glass or Laundroid, the 2018 robot creation that uses artificial intelligence to sort and fold laundry.

Some gadgets are outlandish, some excitingly innovative and others have the sole purpose of saving lives, even our planet. As the erosion and destruction of the Earth’s landscape and resources increase at an alarming speed, inhabitants of this planet may feel the problem is too big for them to make any difference at all.

Reducing Energy Drain
Designed to extend battery life, Batteroo Boost is the world’s first reusable micro-thin sleeve that extends battery life. The ultimate goal of this innovative product is to save energy and lessen waste. Billions of disposable batteries end up in the landfill each year; many of those discarded batteries have “energy” still inside of them. Batteroo increases normal battery life up to 600 percent by snapping onto AA or AAA batteries without interfering with their fit in devices. So that battery you thought was dead can be brought back life without recharging just by snapping on Batteroo.
Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation is a thermostat that learns your habits over time and allows users to make changes to their smartphone or computer. This ground-breaking technology is good at reducing peak energy demand and saving money without being disruptive, and it works nicely with Amazon Alexa. Nest Learning “learns;” it turns itself down when homeowners are away and remembers what temps are preferred. It’s a hands-free way to conserve precious energy while keeping residents warm according to the rhythms of daily life.

Whereas Nest Learning works on energy efficiency affiliated with heating, Belkin’s Wemo® WiFi Smart Light Switch reduces energy waste with lighting. This product allows users to control home lighting using a smartphone or tablet to provide wireless control of lights. From porch lights to ceiling fans to recessed lighting, this product can control nearly anything that a traditional light switch can. With the free Wemo app, it syncs with front lights so users don’t have to come home to an unlit entryway and a dark house. Taking this device to the next level of cool is the fact that it pairs well with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and built-in devices such as Google Home to operate lights with just the power of your voice.

Minimizing Waste of Natural Resources
Avid, environmentally conscious gardeners may want to consider an earth-friendly gadget such as Blossom; its clever technology puts an end to over-watering and waste. It’s a stylish wall-mounted controller that syncs with an app to schedule watering for up to 12 different zones. A perk that makes this device even more attractive is the fact that it gathers current local weather and forecasts from multiple weather services to generate an optimized watering plan. Blossom is a smart controller that avoids water waste while providing users with the peace of mind that comes with a set-it-and-forget-it gadget.

It’s no surprise that toilets are one of the biggest water wasters in the home. Many homeowners think that taking shorter showers will minimize excessive H20 usage. Although that practice is helpful, toilets are responsible for up 25 percent of a household’s water use. Simple fixes such as purchasing a low-flow toilet or installing gadgets such as low-flow flapper and valve kits or a dual flush converter are all ways to detect and prevent leaks and reduce water usage by as much as 15,000 gallons for an average family.

Did you know that planting a tree honors the Earth in a multitude of ways? Trees create an ecosystem to provide habitat and food for birds and other animals while also stabilizing the soil to reduce erosion. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide from the air and release oxygen. One large tree can supply a day’s worth of oxygen for a family of four! National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April; this year it’s April 27.

When it comes to planting trees, many people have visions of needing to spend hours of back-breaking toil. But there’s a gadget with an odd name that’s the perfect solution for planting seedlings quickly and easily. The Pottiputki Seedling Planting Tool is an ergonomic tree seedling planting tool that eliminates bending over or moving shovelfuls of dirt. Tree planters need to simply pull the trigger, poke this gadget into the ground, drop the seedling into the tube, step on the foot trigger and the baby tree is happily in the ground.

For those who are truly interested in discovering small ways to make big impacts on preserving Earth, a few minutes of research will likely turn up a gadget, device or tool that will do just that for every aspect of life. ■

Sources: amazon.com, batteroo.com, bccab.com, learn.eartheasy.com, myblossom.com and theverge.com.