One way of making your Christmas season greener is by using LED Christmas lights instead of conventional Christmas lights. They are easy to find as most stores sell LED Christmas lights if they sell Christmas lights at all. Yup, it’s beginning to look like a green Christmas for everyone.

LED Christmas lights last ten times longer and consume less energy than the traditional lights. They use 75% less energy. You can imagine the electrical savings to be had when you use this type of lighting in your home.

Just like traditional string lights, LED Christmas lights come in various shapes and sizes, such as “globe,” or “mini.” They can be found in the form of nets and icicles. Whatever color you’re looking for, you should be able to find it.

LED Christmas Lights are safer than traditional lights. You can connect numerous strings together without worrying about overheating them. But you should still check the box or manual to find out the recommended number of strings that can be safely connected.

If you want to be even greener, you can opt for usingSolar Powered LED Christmas Lights. These lights harness the sun’s energy. Some models automatically light up at night. A fifty-light string might cost around $17 onAmazon. You’ll save a lot more energy and money when you purchase this type of LED string lighting.

One thing that turns some people off from LED Christmas lights is their initial cost. LED light strings are more expensive than the traditional incandescent bulbs. That’s the price you sometimes pay for more efficient and greener lighting solutions.

If you can’t spend money on LED Christmas lights and still have working incandescent lights, you can buyChristmas Light Timers for your existing lights. Timers regulate your lights’ energy usage. Not only that, they can also make your house more burglar-proof by giving the appearance that someone is at home (turning the lights on and off) when you’re actually away for the holidays.

Speaking of safety, whether you’re using LED or incandescent Christmas lights, you should observe safety first. When you unplug the lights, don’t pull on the cord. This can tear at the wiring inside. When storing them away, check for damage first. Don’t use lights that have loose connections, broken sockets, or bare wires. Store Christmas Lights, and any electrical decorations, in a dry place where they can’t be damaged by water. Keep them out of children’s reach during storage, to ensure the wires are not damaged.

Christmas is a time of celebration, family, giving, and religion. It can also be a time to think about the future of our planet and take a few extra steps to make it greener. Every lit bit counts, and lots of little steps combined can go a long ways.

There are many new green gadgets and green products available in the market today. Their uses are varied, but the one thing they all have in common is that they are friendly to the environment. A testament to the fact that people are buying green gadgets is the increasing amount of such items that can be found for sale. Here are some of the top five best-selling green products:
1. MJSI HYR270 HydroRight Drop-in Dual Flash Converter – The HydroRight Dual Flash Converter can convert your existing toilet to on that conserves water . Your household can save up to 70 percent of the water it uses for flushing. That’s an estimated 15,000 gallons of water per year, for a four-member family. The converter is easy to install, and no special tools are required for the job. The HydroRight system replaces the flapper, which is the biggest cause of leakage.

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2. Orange Guard 103 Water Based Indoor/Outdoor Home Pest Control – Orange Guard Water Based insecticide is made from orange peel extract, which makes it safe to use around food, human and pets. It works on fire ants, ants, fleas, roaches, silverfish, aphids, leaf hoppers, spider mites, scale insects, and other pests.

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3. Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging Kit – Sunforce’s solar charging kit comes with an amorphous solar panel that can generate up to 15 watts of clean power. It is designed to be used for cabins, homes, RVs, and boats. The solar panel is weatherproof, and durable enough to withstand hailstorms. The solar charging kit comes with a 15-watt solar panel, a 7-amp solar charge controller, a durable mounting frame, and a wiring kit with accessories to aid in the installation process.

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4. Hybrid Solar Powered Flashlight with Emergency Battery Backup – In the past, the concept of a “solar flashlight” was a bit of a joke – but it’s now a reality, with devices such as the Hybrid Power Solar Powered Flashlight. It can be charged in the sun during the day, and its power will be stored in a battery for later use. Once the light is fully charged, it can hold its charge for three years. Its LED has a guaranteed lifespan of eleven continuous years. It is waterproof, for up to 80 feet of depth, and it can float was well. On a full charge, it can provide light for ten hours.

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5. Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap – Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap can be used on ornamental foliage plants, houseplants, flowering plants, fruits, and vegetables. It kills pests, such as aphids, spider mites, mealy bugs, and whiteflies. It is safe to use around people and pets.

Going solar no longer has to mean installing huge bulky solar panels on your home. Sunslate is a type of solar shingle which can be used to tile your roof in place of other conventional roofing solutions – but with an added benefit: they can also provide power to your home.

The amount of money you will be able to save on your energy bill, by using Sunslates or other solar shingles, depends upon the placement of the shingles upon your roof, the intensity of the sun in your area, and weather conditions.  But according to the video above, a solar roof could provide enough energy to power your entire home, given the right circumstances.  Watch the video to find out more.

One of the most popular Hybrid cars on the market is the Toyota Prius.  Compact and economical, it’s starting price is listed as just $22,400, putting it within the realms of reality for the everyday, albeit environmentally-conscious, individual.

The third generation of Toyota Prius, the 2010 model, has EPA ratings of 51 mpg in the city, and 49 mpg on the highway.  That’s pretty good even for a hybrid, and is a step up from earlier Toyota Prius models.

But a new pricing structure is lined up for this hybrid, and the Toyota Prius I, II, III, IV, and V are reportedly already available.

The lowest cost version is the Toyota Prius I, which should run for around $21,000, while the Prius V starts at $27,670.

It gets better though.  A solar roof package is available for the Toyota Prius II, III, and IV Models – but not for the V.

The solar roof system costs between $3,600 and $4,500, and uses solar energy to supplement the vehicle’s power and get even better mileage.  This package also includes a solar-powered ventilation system, a navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and remote-control AC (for those of us who just can’t be bothered to lean forward and turn the knob?)

With this new combination of hybrid technology and solar power, a whole new range of fuel efficiency may be possible.  The solar powered version is said to make mileages of up to 70 mpg possible under ideal circumstances.

If you live or often travel in a sunny climate, the solar roof might go a long ways in reducing your gas bill and carbon emissions.

Under some (somewhat theoretical) circumstances, the driver of a solar-powered Toyota Prius might never need to buy gas at all.

But at the very least, a driver of a solar powered Prius who uses the vehicle’s eco settings and follows basic speed guidelines can expect to stop for gas far less often – so infrequently, in fact, that he should take care not to forget to stop for gas at all.

Sources:

Toyota Beefs Up Hybrid Leader Prius

Toyota Prius

The following are related sites that you might find interesting and useful. If you have a related website or blog which you think would provide useful information to our readers, please contact us and let us know if you’d like to exchange links.

Frugal Zeitgeist – Frugal and resourceful living.

Environmental Blogs – Blogs at Action Spark provide comprehensive information on environmental sustainable development.

Effective Survival – Homesteading, self sufficiency, emergency preparedness, and natural living.

Nontoxic Living – Chemical-free and healthy lifestyles, for a better future.

Build and Rebuild – Green building tips and resources.

Source and Resource – Green and sustainable living with optimum uses of existing resources.

The Green Bean Blog – Green and nontoxic living for the home and family.

San Diego Solar Installer – Solaria Energy Systems helps reduce or even eliminate the need for outside energy resources for people in San Diego and all over Southern California using its Solar installations.

Sick and tired of those pesky energy bills that seem to rise in price every month? Worry no more! The new GE “Net Zero Energy Home” is promising to deliver zero energy costs by 2015.

The first home is being built using new state of the art “power generating and storing technologies” according to the GE Reports Blog. These technologies will be combined with the companies most hyper efficient appliances and lighting and their most advanced energy management systems which will help to ensure the maximum efficient throughput on all aspects of the homes electrical system.

GE is also promising a new line of smart thermostats, solar panels and wind products for residential power usage, all which will be used with the companies zero concept homes.

Not ready to buy a new home? You may still be saving up to 15% on your bills. GE just announced their new Smart Grid technologies which is already being implemented in several States. Using this new technology local power companies can more closely match peak circuit demand times, maintain circuit voltage levels without large overages, and provide additional wind and solar power.

I don’t think I’ll be buying a new energy efficient home anytime soon, but I’d gladly take advantage of 15% off my current bills courtesy of GE.

Solar chargers for your green gadgets are the best way to maximize their eco friendliness by staying off of the grid.  And although reducing your consumption of gadgetry and products in general is the best way to stay above-board in the environmental circles, buying a green alternative can be a good way of reducing your carbon footprint while still feeding your hunger for shiny, pretty things.

When it comes to acquiring the latest shiny accessories, iPhone users are catalog experts. So, it will come as no great shock that a sleek solar charging sleeve has been developed just for the chic iPhone 3G. The Powcell charger is sure to grab the eager attention of many Apple fan-boys and -girls as it is not only a useful accessory, but designed to faithfully match the contours and feel of the iPhone despite not coming from Apple.

The Powcell sleeve was designed from a meticulous process of 3D imaging of the iPhone itself, according to the manufacturer, Motion Touch. The outcome results is sporty styling that seamlessly integrates itself into the overall look and feel of the iPhone. Its contours flow from plane to plane while the coloring matches the saturation and luminosity near perfectly and (most importantly)  seemingly effortlessly. Powcell allows access to all ports while attached to the iPhone, making it ideal for charging in use.

The large solar panel utilizes all available space while not adding any unsightly bulk or much inconvenient weight. The solar voltaic cell itself is able to capitalize on ambient lighting conditions, according to the product page, making charging in the office or school a convenient option while staying greenly off-grid. Powcell continues to charge your iPhone without available light via its internal battery even when removed from the phone.  Though, it should be noted that a storage battery is available on all solar chargers nowadays, or at least should be (talking to you, designers).

Motion Touch claims a great retailer and phone manufacturer interest in this gadget.  According to them, various phone manufacturers have approached Motion Touch about providing solar sleeves for other brands.  No list of future compatibility is yet available.

Henry Powell, Client Director of MotionTouch says “Dispensing with the need for plug-in chargers makes Powcell a ground-breaking eco-product.”  “Groundbreaking” may be a bit of a stretch as we have reported green chargers here, here, and here, which are already suitable for not only an iPhone but any USB ready device.  That last one is even powered by wind!

But hey, it’s marketing, right?  The fact is, again, that you will most likely spend the first several years of the gadget’s life just making up for the amount of energy it took to deliver the product to you.  However, if you are going to buy a backup charger anyway, then a solar charger is a green way to provide off-grid power, and the Powcell may be the best way to stay chic and rid yourself of the wires and bulk of conventional wall plugs. And a backup charger is not a bad idea, regardless.  In the world of instant, wireless communication there is no reason that an uncharged battery should prevent you from reaching help in an emergency.

The Powcell currently is compatible with the iPhone 2G and 3Gs.  There is no word on its 4G integration, but one can bet against it. Available for purchase at Powcell.com for ₤59.99 (around $100 USD).

When green gadget lovers and designers dream up ways to power electronic devices, we often get caught up in the glamor of solar and wind advancements while neglecting the oldest and most reliable source of power mankind knows: elbow grease.  Handheld solar and wind powered chargers can be extremely convenient and a great way to stay off the grid.  However, sometimes we just don’t have proper access to the weather conditions required for those devices. When it comes to handheld charging in an urgent situation, your own muscle power may be the only truly reliable source of green power.

Electric generators simply work on the premise of moving cooper and magnets around each other very quickly to produce electricity.  It’s a super interesting phenomenon that you can spend a lifetime exploring, but really is a very simple device.  It doesn’t matter whether the turbine is moving via wind, water or simply by hand.  While moving generators via muscle power is not terribly effective for large-scale consumption, it really only takes a small amount of effort to charge a handheld gadget such as a cell phone.

Luckily, the good people at Easy Energy have developed a nifty solution. The YoGen is a  pocket-sized, hand powered electric charger that efficiently produces a current strong and reliable enough to charge most or all of your handheld devices.  The user charges the device by pulling a cord in an manner that, according to the YoGen website, resembles a yo-yo.  Hence the name (those clever dogs).

When the user pulls on the T-handle of the self-returning cord, the YoGen’s internal alternator spins, generating the power needed for recharging the batteries of your cell phone or any other handheld 5 volt device.  You can check your devices’ included wall adapter to see whether it is a 5 volt input (it will say “output” on your adapter, because the specs are referring to the charger itself).   The YoGen has a 5 watt maximum power, which is plenty for modern cell phones and mp3 players. The YoGen also includes a built-in 650 mAh lithium-ion back-up battery  to ensure a consistently steady output. An available upgrade comes with a secondary battery pack. The YoGen connects via a mini USB and a variety of adapter tips are included.

The charger is ergonomically designed to reduce strain on the user and is compact enough to carry in a purse or even trouser pocket.   Unfortunately, there is no available information on how much pulling it actually takes to charge a device, which seems a tad suspicious.  According to a Blackberry report, previous hand powered chargers could take up to 15 minutes, which is a bit more straining than most users will accept.  Solar and wind may still make more sense for convenience.  However, YoGen does claim to have broken through efficiency barriers, so this device most likely requires much less effort.  But we cannot be sure until some independent testing is done.  In any case, a human-powered energy source could certainly be an all-in-one solution for green and convenient charging.   It could even be a lifesaver in an emergency.

This laptop is solar powered.  It weighs 1.5 pounds.  It’s only $220.  Somehow, the Spanish company iUnika has developed possibly the coolest and most profoundly useable solar gadget to date, while simultaneously making it one of the cheapest laptops under the sun.  Meet the all new solar GYY.

The newest trend in laptops is the net-book.  Net-books are so named because surfing the internet is the most complicated thing they are designed to do.  The GYY comes equipped with the minimums: 128MB of RAM, a 64GB SSD drive and the CPU is 400MHz.  The screen is a micro-small 8-inch WVGA with an 800 x 480 resolution.   A big part of these limitations is the youth of the product.  These notebooks, if good sellers, will make leaps and bounds in performance to be sure.  Remember though, all you want to do is surf the net a bit and get some writing done anyway.

What makes a net-book like the GYY desirable is that giving up processing power results in super small, ultra light, and amazingly affordable laptops.  The compact size allows you to take it anyway without hinderance and even without using the solar capabilities, battery life is generally about twice that of larger laptops. And let’s face it, what more do most people even use their laptops for?  If you are, let’s say a professional writer, and your main use for a laptop is writing documents and using the internet for research and correspondence then affordability and mobility are desired above all else.

If you are a green freak, then maybe an environmentally responsible computing experience is what you hold above all else.  GYY still has you covered.

The GYY models were first showcased in Madrid at the LibreMeeting, an international conference sponsored by the Free Knowledge Foundation and focused on free software. The green friendly GYY netbooks from iUnika run a Linux operating system, which allows them access to more than 5,000 free apps.  That’s also what makes them so inexpensive.

Toyota has launched a unique buzz marketing campaign to attract attention to the launch of the newest model of the 2010 Prius, setting up a bizarre display of giant flowers in the middle of Boston’s Prudential Square.  So what is the point?  What do flowers have to do with the Prius?

The 18 foot bright-colored flowers, which sprout up from benches big enough to seat 10 people, turn out to be more than just colorful seating.  The flower petals themselves are actually solar cells, and the intent of these strange sculptures, which look like something out of Alice in Wonderland, are to provide free electricity for cell phones and laptops.   The benches are even outfitted with free Wi-Fi.

So far, the giant artificial daisies have been set up temporarily in Boston. In a few days, they will be moved across the country and placed in other major cities, including New York, Chicago, Seattle, and LA.
People seem to be reacting well to this campaign, and it is drawing a lot of attention in Prius’ tech savvy market base, a collection of consumers who respond well to buzz marketing. 

Toyota calls their flower-benches a harmonic relationship “between man, nature, and machine,” a creative tag-line also used to describe the third generation Prius itself.

At 50 mpg, the 2010 model Prius is the most efficient model introduced thus far.  It also features a solar panel powered ventilation system, which explains the solar marketing gimmicks, and improved aerodynamics, achieving the lowest drag coefficient of any high-production car, ever.  A bigger battery and electric motor allows more energy to be generated when braking and a Power Split Device allows more power generation and recharging during freeway driving.

Toyota has proven once again to have a great sense for their customers and an innovative spirit