Water-saving shower heads are a must-have Nicholas Eveleigh/Getty Images
- shower head photo Water-saving shower heads are a must-have Nicholas Eveleigh/Getty Images
- cfl light bulb photo Energy-efficient bulbs minimize electricity use Tom Schierlitz/Getty Images
- thermal leak detector photo The Black & Decker Power Thermal Leak Detector Black & Decker Corp.
- power monitor photo The Black & Decker Power Monitor Black & Decker Corp.
- knight rider gps photo GPS units make sure you don't waste gas wandering around Courtesy of Mio
- battery recharger photo Battery chargers prevent disposable waste Don Farrall/Getty Images
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From iPhone apps to the best home energy monitors, check out this list of the must have gadgets and technologies to save both money and the planet's resources.
Save Water
A low-tech shower timer is a great way to start off your journey into saving money. The more low tech the better because that means fewer materials are used in the making of it, and likely it'll have a smaller impact after its useful life has run out. A great example is this basic shower timer from Ripple. A shower timer lets you know when enough is enough during your showers so that you don't dawdle away your dollars.
What good is a short shower if your shower head blasts water like a hydrant? The Roadrunner is a great option, using just 1.59 gallons per minute. With a quick internet search or a trip to your local hardware store, you'll be able to find a low flow shower head that's perfect for you, and can immediately start saving.
Save Light
Light bulb technology is getting pretty outstanding these days. Watch this fun video that discusses different bulb technologies and decide what works best for you. By shopping for energy efficient CFL or LED bulbs, you'll save a ton over time.
Putting your lights on a timer is a good way to make sure they get shut off even in the most forgetful of households. The Lights Out Autoswitch from Black & Decker is an easy-to-install option that will be on the market soon. Or, the Motionbulb accomplishes both tasks of switching to CFLs and turning off the lights by utilizing motion activation.
Save Heat
Properly insulating your home, at the windows and doors especially, will save big dollars in the heating and cooling department. One upcoming gadget that will help you detect just where you need insulation is the Thermal Leak Detector from Black & Decker. It's a small hand-held device that measures the temperature as you move along walls, floors, ceilings and so on, and tells you when there's a drop in temperature, helping you hone in on any drafts.
Save Electricity
There are a lot of technologies out there that will help you save electricity. First and foremost, you want to know what gadgets in your home are sapping the most from the grid. Use a power monitor to figure out what you're spending, and what's causing you to spend more than necessary, so you can start cutting back. Black & Decker's Power Monitor is a good option and runs $100 on Amazon.com. Other options include a Wattson, or to get specific for particular devices, the Kill-A-Watt is a classic favorite.
Smart power strips are also a great way to save money by eliminating phantom power. And cutting down on how much energy your computer uses is easy with simple downloads.
Save Gas
The first way to save money in the car department is to simply drive less. Bike or walk where you can. But even here, technology doesn't let you down. You can car pool using Carticipate or similar car and ride-sharing programs and save that way.
If you definitely want to or have to drive yourself places, then you can save gas by driving smart. A GPS will save you money by making sure you don't waste gas getting lost, and can help you find the most direct route to your destination.
There are also a wide range of iPhone applications designed to help you save money on gas by tracking how you're driving, finding the cheapest gas stations, and providing tips and tricks.
Save Batteries
We're still trying to ditch disposable batteries. But many gadgets still require them to run. If you're unable to avoid the purchase of a gadget that uses AA batteries, then the best way to save money is using rechargables.
Buy a good battery charger, and keep the batteries as long as possible before recycling them. A universal battery charger can typically run anywhere from $15 to $40, and will save you a bundle over the years on disposable batteries.
But of course if you really want to be green and save green, avoid gadgets that use disposable batteries.
Technology is here to help us go green, and save green. Keep an eye out in our Tech & Transportation section for many more ways in which you can use technology to help the environment.
Read more about green technology:
How to Go Green: Gadgets
How to Go Green: Home Electronics
Get On Board With Solar Powered GPS Systems
Should You Use a Landline or a Cell Phone?
5 Clean, Low-Tech Replacements for Dirty, High-Tech Gear
Turn Your Broken Power Cable Into Something Else
Set Your Computer for Energy Savings
7 Ways to Make Your Cell Phone Battery Last Longer
Charge Your Gadgets with Small-Scale Renewable Energy
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