The Andrea Air Purifier is a brilliant partnership between man and plant that accelerates nature’s natural ability to clean air in order to detoxify the atmosphere inside your home. We had a chance to sit down with Tom Hadfield from Andrea to talk about how this amazing gadget is able to clean the air in your home 1000% better than a normal houseplant. Check out our video interview above!

Read the rest of VIDEO: Andrea Air Purifier Uses a Plant to Clean the Air in Your Home

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Post tags: air cleaning plants, air clearing plants, andrea air purifier, clean air, clean air naturally, clean home, green cleaning products, green home design, green home products, Greener Gadgets

Genius just took a big step forward for computer peripherals by launching the world’s first wireless battery-free mouse. The mighty mouse eschews wasteful AAAs and heavier lithium-ion batteries in favor of an electric double-layer ultracapacitor that requires just a quick 3 minute charge each day. The Genius DX-Eco runs on a 2.4 Ghz connection, is rated to last for 100,000 charges, and is expected to hit store shelves soon at a price point of $39.99.

+ Genius

Via Tech2

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Post tags: battery-free wireless mouse, clean tech, clean technology, electric double-layer capacitor, genius dx-eco, green design, green technology, Greener Gadgets, supercapacitor, sustainable design, ultracapacitor, wireless mouse

Today is the 15th annual America Recycles Day and to celebrate, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is asking you to do your part to raise awareness about where electronics can be recycled. To help you out, CEA has sponsored an electronics recycling location finder on their Greener Gadgets website so that anyone can find a recycling center near them. So get out those old cell phones, computers and that VCR you’ll never use again and bring them on down to your local recycler to be remade into something shiny and new.

Read the rest of Consumer Electronics Association Raises Awareness for Gadget Recycling Today for America Recycles Day

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Post tags: america recycles day, CEA, cell phone recycling, computer recycling, Consumer Electronics Association, green initiative, Greener Gadgets, how to recycle electronics, Recycle, recycle electronics, recycled electronics, recycling, recycling initiative, where to recycle electronics

Apple CEO Tim Cook just officially unveiled the iPhone 4S – instead of the much-anticipated iPhone 5 – at today’s live keynote in Cupertino – and although the next-generation device features the same retina display and glass-backed enclosure as the iPhone 4, the multi-tasking powerhouse packs an impressive set of new features under the hood. The latest edition of the iPhone features the company’s new dual-core A5 chip (which is twice as fast at CPU tasks) and a 7x faster dual-core graphics chip, however they were able to actually increase the device’s battery life to 8 hours of talk time by using more energy-efficient components. It also features an impressive 8 megapixel f/2.8 aperture camera with 1080p HD video recording that closes the gap on point-and-shoot cameras and video recorders, reducing the need for consumers to purchase additional devices, which incur a heavy cost on the environment. Read on to learn more about how the new iPhone 4S fares in terms of its environmental footprint – from material use and production processes to features, applications, and recyclability at the end of its life-cycle.

Read the rest of Apple Unveils New iPhone 4S Instead of iPhone 5 – Is It Green?

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Post tags: 2011 iphone, apple, apple computer, apple inc., apple keynote, clean tech, green cellular phone, green design, green iphone, green phone, green products, green smart phone, green tech, Greener Gadgets, iPhone, iphone 4S, iphone 5, smartphone, sustainable cell phone, sustainable design, tim cook

Read the rest of Top 14 Green Gadgets for Back to School

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Like it or not, we live in a wired world – so why not start teaching tots the basics of technology from a young age? Enter the Vinci, a 7-inch tablet computer designed especially for babies. The easily-grippable device is protected by a soft, rounded corners, it’s made from non-toxic materials, and it comes programmed with kid-approved games, music videos, and storybooks. What’s next – the first social network for babies?

READ MORE >

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Post tags: e-book, e-reader, green design, green technology, Greener Gadgets, kids computer, sustainable design, tablet computer for babies, tablet for babies, vinci, vinci computer, vinci tablet

Read the rest of ASK A TECH GEEK: How Can I Charge My Gadgets With Renewable Energy?

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Our 2008 Greener Gadgets Conference featured speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Not only did we invite inventors, engineers, and representatives from the world’s biggest consumer electronics manufacturers, but we also made a conscious decision to spice up the Greener Gadgets dialog with artists, educators and environmental advocates. Nowhere was this diversity better represented than in the Greener Gadgets opening keynote presentation from environmental artist Chris Jordan. Although our short video sadly doesn’t do justice to Jordan’s massive, mind-boggling photographs, (which take up entire walls in galleries), the video provides insight into the vision behind the art, and the innovative method Jordan uses to visualize statistics as fine art.

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Post tags: chris jordan, consumer electronics, digital artist, electronics recycling, electronics waste, environmental artist, ewaste, green electronic recycling, green electronics, Greener Gadgets, greener gadgets conference, inhabitat conference

In the oppressive heat of summer, it often feels like blasting your AC seems like the only way to get any relief. But since that can be extremely energy and $$ consuming, did you know that there are lots of green alternatives on the market today? Read on for our 5 eco gadget picks that will help you keep your electricity usage low while keeping your cool factor high.

READ MORE >

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Post tags: 5 Green Gadgets to Beat the Summer Heat, dyson, eco design, green design, green electronics, green gadgets, green gadgets to beat the heat, Green Gadgets to Beat the Summer Heat, Greener Gadgets, solar powered gadgets, sustainable design

Following his inspiring keynote at the first ever Greener Gadgets Conference, we were lucky enough to sit down one-on-one with photographic artist Chris Jordan to talk about his work, e-waste, and the future of mass consumer culture. In his conversation here with Jill Fehrenbacher, Chris talks about whether or not we will be able to stem the growing tide of consumerism, and the issues of collective versus individual responsibility for environmental problems. Hear Chris Jordan’s provocative thoughts in this great interview video.

See More Greener Gadgets Coverage >

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Each week renowned gadget expert Peter Rojas from gadget Q&A site GDGT.com answers your questions about green technology in our Ask A Tech Geek Series. Read on for this week’s installment and submit your questions below!

QUESTION: What are some easy ways to reduce my laptop’s energy consumption?

- submitted by Cliff Champion

PETER ROJAS:
There are definitely a few very simple things you can do to reduce your laptop’s energy consumption and extend its battery life. Here are my suggestions:

1. TURN DOWN YOUR SCREEN

Turn down the brightness on your screen. The screen is one of the biggest power hogs on a laptop and reducing the brightness even just a bit will help. Read on for the other 4 super easy tips.

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Post tags: ask a gadget geek, ask a tech geek, clean technology, consumer electronics, easy ways to reduce laptop energy consumption, eco design, eco geek, Eco Tech, engadget founder, gdgt, gdgt founder, gdgt.com, gizmodo founder, green consumer technology, green design, green gadgets, green gagdets, green gdts, green tech, green technology, Greener Gadgets, how to recycle your cell phone, how to recycle your phone, inhabitat, inhabitat ask a tech geek, laptop energy consumption, laptop energy usage, peter rojas, recycling phones, sustainable design, Sustainable Gadgets, sustainable technology, tech geek

Ever wished you could charge your cell phones and laptop on the go – in your car, on a train, or just walking around? There are many new gadgets that have come on the market for mobile renewable energy: from solar gadget chargers, to kinetic energy chargers, to mini portable wind turbines. Check out this video to learn a bit more about some of the companies behind the most future-forward new mobile renewable energy devices.

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Post tags: Boston Power, eco gadgets, energy generating gadgets, gadgets use kinetic energy, green fuel cells, green gadgets, green technology, Greener Gadgets, greener gadgets conference, hymini, kinetic energy technology, long-life batteries, M2E, mini portable wind turbines, mobile renewable energy devices, MTI, portable renewable energy, portable solar chargers, solar gadget chargers, Solio

Each week renowned gadget expert Peter Rojas from gadget Q&A site GDGT.com answers your questions about green technology in our Ask A Tech Geek Series. Read on for this week’s installment and submit your questions below!

How wasteful is it to keep chargers/adapters plugged in when not connected to their corresponding devices?

- submitted by Benjamin Lozovsky

PETER ROJAS:
The short answer is: not very much. At least not usually.

But that’s not the whole story. Read on to find out more.

Read the rest of ASK A TECH GEEK: How Wasteful is it to Keep My Chargers Plugged in When Not Connected to Their Devices?

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Post tags: ask a gadget geek, ask a tech geek, clean technology, consumer electronics, eco design, eco geek, Eco Tech, engadget founder, gdgt, gdgt founder, gdgt.com, gizmodo founder, green consumer technology, green design, green gadgets, green gagdets, green gdts, green tech, green technology, Greener Gadgets, how much energy do chargers use, how much energy do chargers waste, how to recycle your cell phone, how to recycle your phone, how wasteful is it to keep my chargers plugged in when not connected to a device, inhabitat, inhabitat ask a tech geek, peter rojas, recycling phones, sustainable design, Sustainable Gadgets, sustainable technology, tech geek, wasting energy

Mary Lou Jepsen’s keynote presentation of One Laptop Per Child at our Greener Gadgets conference a few years back was without a doubt one of the highlights of the event. The OLPC laptop, known as XO or the $100 laptop, is a feat of energy efficient engineering, consuming just 2W of energy – which enables it to be powered through solar cells or hand cranks. In the video above, Mary Lou illustrates how the XO laptop is a new model for energy-efficient electronics, and inspiration to look at new ways of powering our devices.

Watch the full-length video of Mary Lou Jepsen’s inspiring talk here >

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Post tags: children laptop, ChildrenLaptop, eco design, green design, Greener Gadgets, humanitarian design, inhabitat video, Mary Lou Jepsen, olpc, OLPC hand crank, olpc xo, OLPC XO 1.75, OlpcXo, OlpcXo1.75, One Laptop Per Child, sustainable design, xo laptop

How can I recycle my old cell phone?

If you’ve ever wondered about the answers to these or any other green gadget questions, you’re in luck – because Inhabitat has teamed up with renowned gadget geek Peter Rojas from gadget Q&A site GDGT.com to answer all your burning green tech questions. Peter Rojas is the co-founder of gdgt, Gizmodo, Joystiq, RCRD LBL and a little website called Engadget (maybe you’ve heard of it?). Peter knows anything and everything about consumer electronics, and he’ll be coming on board Inhabitat for the month of June to help our readers navigate the choppy waters of sustainability in relation to consumer electronics. Each week, Peter will be answering YOUR questions about green technology, if you have a burning question for him about anything green and gadgetty – from phones, to apps, to cameras to chargers – submit it today by leaving your questions in the comments below or tweet your question with the hashtag #AskATechGeek.

To try to provoke as many good questions as possible we’re sweetening the deal – we’ll be giving away your choice of Inhabitat T-shirt to every questioner that Peter answers, so ask a great question and win an inhabi-fab shirt (worth $35)!

Read the rest of Submit a Question To the Ask a Tech Geek Advice Column with Peter Rojas & Get a Free Shirt!

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Each week renowned gadget expert Peter Rojas from gadget Q&A site GDGT.com answers your questions about green technology in our Ask A Tech Geek Series. Read on for this week’s installment and submit your questions below!

QUESTION: I’ve heard that it’s better to keep a laptop on sleep mode rather than shutting it off completely. Why is that the case? What would you recommend?

- submitted by WIll Giron

PETER ROJAS:
What you’re probably referring to is the concern that frequently shutting down and booting up causes stress to your computer’s hard drive that over time will culminate in catastrophic failure — and almost certainly at the worst possible moment, like when you’ve just finished a term paper.

Read on to learn the greenest state for your hard drive.

Read the rest of ASK A TECH GEEK: Is It Better to Keep My Laptop in Sleep Mode or to Shut it Off?

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Post tags: ask a gadget geek, ask a tech geek, clean technology, conserving laptop battery, eco design, eco geek, Eco Tech, engadget founder, gdgt founder, gdgt.com, gizmodo founder, green design, green gadgets, green gdts, green tech, green technology, Greener Gadgets, how to care for your laptop, inhabitat, inhabitat ask a tech geek, laptop power, peter rojas, powering your laptop, sleep mode vs shutting of laptop, sustainable design, Sustainable Gadgets, sustainable technology, tech geek

Each week renowned gadget expert Peter Rojas from gadget Q&A site GDGT.com answers your questions about green technology in our Ask A Tech Geek Series. Read on for this week’s installment and submit your questions below!

QUESTION: I’ve got boxes full of old USB cords and cell phone adapters that I don’t use anymore. What’s the best way to get rid of them?

 -submitted by scifilullabies

PETER ROJAS:
Anyone who buys gadgets know how cables and chargers can accumulate, and almost everyone I know has a drawer filled with random cables and chargers from products that were discontinued years ago. These days manufacturers ship almost everything with a USB cable, regardless of whether you need one or not.

So what to do about it?

Read the rest of ASK A TECH GEEK: How Can I Recycle Old Cables & Chargers?

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By using aluminum to create the cases for its electronics, Apple has made a significant contribution to its environmental sustainability goals. Apple adopted the use of aircraft-grade aluminum back in 2007 when Apple CEO Steve Jobs penned a letter pledging for a greener Apple. The company has found remarkable success thanks to the switch, achieving a 66.4 percent recycling rate in 2009. Numbers are still being calculated for 2010, but Apple has set a goal of 70 percent for 2010-2015.

Read the rest of Apple Surpasses Recycling Goals By Using Aircraft-Grade Aluminum

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Post tags: alco aluminum company, alcoa, Aluminum, aluminum content in electronics, aluminum recycling, apple, apple aluminum cases, apple aluminum electronics, apple aluminum recycling, apple ceo steve jobs, apple electronics, apple recycling rate, e-waste recycling, electronics recycling, Greener Gadgets, greener technology, recycling, Recycling initiatives, Steve Jobs

Samsung just unveiled an amazing new solar-powered LCD television that can operate completely free from the power grid! The 46″ prototype TV, shown at CeBit in Germany, includes solar panels that produce energy from the ambient light in a room – because it was engineered to use very little energy, no additional power sources are needed. Another major breakthrough behind the concept is that the thin screen can display images and information while allowing objects behind it to be visible – this means that it has applications ranging from car windshield HUDs to storefront displays and digital window blinds.

Read the rest of Samsung Unveils Solar-Powered Zero Energy Transparent TV

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Post tags: 2011, CEBIT, Design, Eco, electronics, green, green design, green electronics, Greener Gadgets, LCD, net zero tv, OLED, photovoltaic tv, Sebit, SID, Solar Power, Sustainable, sustainable design, Technology, tradeshow, transparent, TV

Do you get excited when it comes time to get a new mobile phone? There is an almost overwhelming list of factors to weigh – functionality, technological advancements, style, price and much more. But how many of you also consider how it was made, the end of life options and whether it has been designed for upgrades and disassembly? A mystery no more, the Secret Life of Things Project launched its’ first animated short film at the State of Design Festival in Melbourne, Australia last year. Entitled Life Pscycle-ology, the film is a quirky, humorous and insightful take on the life story of a lonely mobile telephone named Mr Eric Sin, who has been discarded for a sexy new and improved model after just one year of use.

Read the rest of ‘Life Pscycle-ology’ Film Animates the Lifecycle of a Mobile Phone

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Post tags: eco design, green design, Greener Gadgets, Leyla Acaroglu, mobile phone lifecycle, product life cycle, sustainable design, the secret life of things, The Secret Life of Things Project