When we conducted our energy efficient kettle trial a year ago, there were really only two big players on the market: Tefal's Quick Cup and the Powergen Ecokettle. Our review quite literally caused a storm in a teacup, with many Hippyshopper readers bemoaning the 'not quite boiling' water produced by the Tefal, and questioning its status as a 'kettle'. So I'm pleased to say that a crop of new kettles has sprouted this year, each with a different claim to greenness. Let's take a look at what's on offer.
The insulated kettle (pictured) manufactured by Siemens is designed by Porsche. But does it go from 0 to boiling in sixty seconds? Not quite, although the two minutes it does take isn't bad, and its thermally insulated body will keep boiled water hot for longer. I like the fact that it won't boil until the lid is firmly shut: leaky lids are an all too common cause of energy loss in cheapo kettles. This one certainly ain't cheap at £79.95
Read on for info on the new eco-friendly kettles by Morphy Richards and Philips
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It seems an obvious idea, doesn't it? By their very nature, sun loungers spend an awful lot of time soaking up rays, so why not turn that energy into something more than just a whole lot of sunburn for you?
The 'tech chair' does just that. A panel-laden shade above the user's head collects solar energy, converting it into electricity that can be used to charge gadgets, with special ports in the side of the chair for MP3 players, cameras and even GPS. And for extra cool points, it has a sliding laptop table so you can be connected in comfort. The concept, perhaps surprisingly, is the brainchild of designers at PC World. [Via Ecofriend]
Related: Solar powered bikini: recharge as you tan | Sun worshipping solar patio umbrella
Treehugger has posted a really comprehensive listing of all the search engines that help the environment in some way (or claim to -- even our old friend Blackle is here, despite being all but laughed off the internet a year ago.
I'd suggest bookmarking this list and testing out a few of these tools. Read on to find out more.
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Despite the fact that nearly three-quarters of people said that recycling makes a positive difference to the environment, almost the same number don't think about recycling their old mobile phones, with just three percent doing so. This is the despiriting result of a recent survey carried out by Nokia.
Mobile phone junk is an increasing problem as many people strive for the latest handsets, and as phone companies encourage their users to upgrade handset every year. Nokia's global study of 6,500 people in 13 countries (Finland, Germany, Italy, Russia, Sweden, UK, United Arab Emirates, USA, Nigeria, India, China, Indonesia and Brazil) found that nearly half didn't know it was possible to recycle their old mobile phone.
Related: Five ways to recycle your mobile phone | Video review: The Nokia 3110 Evolve
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The iPhone's very existence is the main reason why Greenpeace won't fully recognise Apple's attempts to be more eco-friendly in recent years. The must-have handset is loaded with toxic chemicals, they say, including some particularly nasty ones that most other mobile companies have already shunned.
But all that doens't matter anymore, because the new model is going to be encased in potato starch instead of plastic. In a bid to cut down on waste, Apple has announced that the 3G iPhone to be released later this month will come in the fully recyclable packaging made by Paperphone. Thinking about how many of these phones will sell, it's a step in the right direction. But a small one...
[Via popgadget]
Roberts is definitely going to score some major green points with their latest eco-friendly effort - the solar DAB. Not only is it the world's first solar-powered digital radio, but unlike a lot of solar-powered gadgetry, it doesn't need to be in the sun to provide your radio with juice - Marconi would be so proud.
When not directly exposed to sunlight, it is the solar panels and built-in rechargeable batteries that give the solarDAB its energy for up to 27 hours of music listening. It can also run off the mains if you want to reserve its power for when you really need it.
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Does it get any better than this? Not only could you enjoy being pampered in stunning surroundings with the assurance that you're not destroying the planet in the process -- you could update your facebook status to brag about it at the same time.
The teepee, from Perfect Earth Tours is more or less the physical embodiment of what we all want out of life these days: utter luxury without all that pesky guilt business getting in the way. With its solar powered DVD player, queen beds and spa, these 'tents' are just about the least natural way to get close to nature imaginable...and sound like absolute heaven for it.
[Via Born Rich]
Follow the jump to find out just how much better it gets inside...
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