The Wattson: helps you save energy *and* looks pretty in your minimalist appartment : Hippyshopper

Ok, so consumer technology may be responsible for an awful lot of wasted plastic and an upgrade obsession that means every new product is obsolete by the time it hits the stores, but it can also do its bit when it comes to helping out us eco-worriers.

Over on the Innocent Drinks blog, they've spotted a handy bit of tech which will keep you abreast of the amount of energy you are using up in your home (they spotted it in the new Howies store - one of Abi's favourite shops). Called a Wattson from DIY Kyoto, the gizmo not only tells you how much your electricity bill is going to be if you keep on using that much energy, it also lights up with a pleasingly modern LED glow to alert you to your energy wastage. If it's blue, you're doing a fine job of saving energy, but if it's red you probably need to turn off a few more appliances.

Things like this always intrigue me. On the one hand, I'm a technology journalist and love a good bit of futuristic looking tech, especially if it seems to be offering a cure to an eco-problem. On the other hand, I can't help thinking it's just yet another product that's been made from the earth's resources, designed to appeal to our desire for yet more stuff that fits in with the iPod aesthetic.

More info from the DIY Kyoto website:

Display

* Portable wireless unit which allows instant reading of electricity use anywhere in the home within approx 30m of transmitter.
* Shows how much each electrical appliance uses when you switch it on or off.
* Prominent LED digital display shows electricity usage in £s or Watts, easily readable in all light conditions.
* Contemporary and cool design, looks great in every pad or mansion.
* Coloured mood light, which breathes and pulses, changing colour when you alter how much electricity you use, cool blue for small amount of electricity being used, warning red for high energy consumption.
* Change the tariff in line with your bills, currency shown in £, $ or €!
* Handily designed with recycling in mind for when you have finished with it.
* Contains an internal battery pack so you can take it round your home to see who’s using what.
* Low power mode to extend display battery life.
* UK mains 9V dc power charger/converter supplied.
* 5W average power consumption, reduced to under 1W in low power mode.