At the lately held Hokkaido Toyako Summit in Japan, Toshiba steps forward into the field of IT solutions by exhibiting its new IT Power Measurement unit. Paired with gadget called IT Home Gateway, the unit is attached to the home’s power distribution board and provides all the energy usage information available to Toshiba’s Home Appliances server directly.

This enables us to have a regular watch at our power consumption and at the same time we can trace out which appliances are drawing on more power so that we could regulate them.

Amongst the gamut of power measurement and controlling devices, Toshiba’s Unit is the first-of-its-kind. The supporting device enables you compare the total energy consumption with the total in-house energy production from solar panels, hence making it possible for you to have a zero sum power use. Apart from this, we can hook up the unit with other household appliances and control them to work in power saving mode.

The complete set of the IT Power Measurement Unit and the IT Home Gateway would cost us around $2,000. Undoubtedly, it would be a one time investment that can reap you quality returns and energy saving.

Via Ecogeek

If you also wish to contribute your show towards saving our planet then go as many of trees as you can. With global warming spreading like a virus, every single creature residing on the Earth is liable to justify his living. If not for anybody else than at least for himself!

Before you could moan about lack of space for growing plants, I have something that will solve your dual purpose. Yup, a USB-powered Mini Greenhouse, its name says it all. Any other excuse? Without bothering you much, the device expects you plug it into your computer and its USB functionality allows the greenhouse (plants) to grow naturally at your desktop table.

The Greenhouse comes filled with artificial soil; seeds, adaptable growth light and the open window that assures the complete protection of the plant. Other accessories include computer interface giving access to the growth rate of the plant along with calendar, wallpaper and bookmark settings.

Aspirants can pick it from Geeks.com for $20

Via New Launches

Today’s youth is more-concerned about environment than restricting themselves to the personal issues. As a result, the concept of Engagement Rings has bought another wedding vow with it. It says the ceremony of marriage ties a knot of the bride and the groom with the World outside.

The target of purity has shifted here from the presence of mandatory diamond to the clean ambience. Making an effort in this direction, an eco-friendly engagement ring has been designed. Doing with the controversial issue of mining diamonds that in-turn disturbs environment, the ring is the result of their long-hunt for healthy alternatives.

This made me give three-cheers to the name of San Francisco-based Brilliant Earth, a business started by Beth Gerstein and Eric Grossberg exhibiting their love for each-other and the Earth. Doing away with the corrupt methods, the business believes in offering a fair origin for diamonds.

The supply of the diamonds here is made from Canadian mines known for practicing environment-friendly techniques. The matchless quality of the delivered gems would surely make you feel proud for the small concern towards the safety of the environment. The company also donates 5% of its proceeds for the assistance of the local African communities affected by the cruel techniques of the otherwise diamond industry.

Via Trendhunter

Here is a lively campaign that puts you across the features and usages offered by compact fluorescent light bulbs. The mouthpiece for this campaign viz. Natalie Portman, Kyra Sedgwick, and Chloe Sevigny are following the medium of the “Green” video being played at a new National Geographic.

True, we have been listening about CFL bulbs that serve as a best deal to save energy and money. But my wait for LED bulbs is still on.

Check out the video below:

Via EcoRazzi

What made Sony target the reprocessing of one pound of e-waste for every pound of electronics sold under it? Following the footprints of Dell, the company has introduced e-cycling program globally to contribute its services to the environment by reducing electronic waste.

Sony believes in post-sales services and thus the company has inked pact with 75 Waste Management Recycle America eCycling drop-off centers across US to maintain the ecological-balance by protecting environment from e-waste.

The fact is that the usage of electronic products cannot be restricted to numbers as they have become the demand of the hour. So, the smart way is to recycle the used products to save our own lives.

Art Installation made by utilizing damaged computers 

Survey done by the EPA in 2005 revealed that out of 1.9 to 2.2 million tonnes of electronic products used; only 345,000 to 379,000 tonnes are recycled. Unfortunately, the rest resides in landfills. This effort made by Sony is more than just doing away with this way of disposal as the process enables the reuse of the glass, plastic and metal. This ultimately reduces the need to extract fresh metals from the Earth, thereby cutting off the energy expenditure. Also, the emission of greenhouse gases can be put to an end to a certain extent.

The customer-friendly nature of the company is making them open sufficient drop-off locations, so that distance would never be an issue. Also, Sony customers’ do not have a spend a single penny to avail this service but yes recycling of other company’s products would demand the payment of market prices.

Via News Factor

Save water, reduce greenhouse emissions; ride on the green road carved by Fujitsu

Japanese Electronic Giant Fujitsu plans to walk on a green road for its contribution towards the safety of the planet. Having bought a 200 KW hydrogen fuel cell from UTC, the company aims at providing power and heat to sprint the buildings covering its campus in California.

This single fuel cell is capable to offer two different types of energies to the plant. Hydrogen produced through burning methane with steam is flowed into a proton exchange membrane, thereby generating electricity that power computers and other electrical paraphernalia within the facility.

The process in turn produces heat when the hot water is cycled through the plant. The temperature of the water is too high that a small quantity of water has to be taken away as its temperature is unbearable for the internal working of the plant.

Likewise every move to have a green earth, reduce global warming; one cannot claim this option to be 100% eco-friendly option. But what catches eye and mind is the fact that the greenhouse emissions through this process are almost 35% of the normal. This simply means doing away with the 500 tons of carbon dioxide from the air along with saving about 800K gallons of water a year. Isn’t it a great move?

Against present 50% efficiency of the fuel cell, it can be 85% competent, if additional heat is captured from the process. This praiseworthy and efficient move of Fujitsu is aided by utility credits as the company has got a rebate of $500,000 ($2.50 rebate per watt) from Pacific Gas & Electricity. No doubt about the success of the Fujitsu’s initiative but yes success can go two-fold if the waste is minimized and cell works with its full efficiency.

Drawback: The installation of this system is accessible to the industry that works in a 24X7 environment. It is this feature only that Fujitsu doesn’t fall in a category to make the efficient use of its own invention.

Via NYTimes

Is it essential to convert a sand-and-gravel path into a metalled road? China says yes, but India counters it saying not at the cost of environment. Ready China assures that monitoring the number of tourists visiting that road brush-up every doubt.

Chairman of National Tourism Administration, Shao Qiwei told media that if China respects environment and tourism equally but if the demand of the hour is to choose one then environment is the first priority.

Environmentalists in India and elsewhere have protested China’s move to convert 110-kilometer long sand-and-gravel path into a “black-topped, metalled road, lined with guardrails” for athletes to take the Olympic torch to the summit. China’s concern for environment cannot be doubted as the country can attract tourism through green environs only.

Also, the very climate of the Himalayas doesn’t invite many tourists, making it difficult for the climbers to reach at such a height. Exemplifying it Qiwei said: “This we have discovered when we built Quinghai-Lhasa high altitude train. Many people got breathless when they reached that height in the train. Mount Qomolangma (Everest) is much higher than that,” he said.

So, is this debate enough to water the protest raged by Environmentalists to convert 110-kilometre long katchha road into a metalled one sand for athletes to take the Olympic torch to the summit?

It’s time to experience the magic of Chimo Ventless Fireplace. Those who are conscious to save their environment and contribute to the issue of energy crisis should definitely handpick this warm product. The USP of this decorative accessory is that it fits into your apartments without demanding the need of chimney.

It is an eco-friendly device as the fireplace burns clean ethanol, which is smokeless. The sleek stainless steel look offers it a contemporary decor. The product is available for sale in different sizes and its range starts at 1.259,99

Via Gadget grid

In an initiative to save the earth from global warming, Al Gore (former VP of USA), Kevin Wall, Cameron Diaz and the MSN Network have launched a campaign called SOS (Save Our Selves).

A unique concept, its first effort is called ‘Live Earth’ that shall have a 24-hour concert on 7 July across all seven continents with more than 100 of world’s famous singers in action. This simultaneous concert is expected to gather an audience of more than two billion people through concert attendance and broadcasts.

The proceeds from the concerts will be used to establish a new, multi-year global effort to combat the climate crisis to be led by Gore, who chairs The Alliance for Climate Protection. Gore said, “In order to solve the climate crisis, we have to reach billions of people. We are launching SOS and Live Earth to begin a process of communication that will mobilize people all over the world to take action.”

MSN, on its part, is not only providing netizens with view of the concert events, but it is also offering an extensive collection of interactive media that will entertain, educate and inspire folks to combat global warming.

Via News Wire

The answer to the complex connectivity of recycling a paper affecting an iceberg in the North Pole lies in Live Earth Concert . A bow of respect goes to the very mention of Live Earth that has featured eight concerts with big names in music and is in rage to fight global warming.

Live Earth is an event ideated by Al Gore, Former U.S. Vice President together with Kevin Wall with a hope that it will swerve the present political system by raising a public voice to save environment. With a deep hope that it will change people attitude, Wall doesn’t consider this concert as a solution but as a medium that will alarm people by empowering them.

Unlike last year’s Live 8 (2006) where the focus was the poverty in Africa, this time the mission of Live Earth is somewhat nebulous as the ways to solve the climate crisis are not definite. Accepted but without goals it’s useless to walk. Realizing this, Gore and Wall charted out their objectives related to Live Earth.

A “7 Point Pledge” will be placed before the concert goers and each one of them is expected to embrace it by signing on it. Their signature means a responsibility on their shoulders to encourage their country sign treaties that will cut global warming pollution, reduce carbon dioxide pollution, encourage plantation and may others. Also the immeasurable achievements of Live Earth are waiting for Saturday (7 July) to add one more in its kitty.

Some insides yet to happen on 7 July

The profits of the Live Earth will be sent to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a nonprofit organization chaired by Gore. The range of the tickets for the U.S. concert range is from $83 (euro61) to $348 (euro256).

What led to the origin of Live Earth? The production of “An Inconvenient Truth,” the Academy Award-winning documentary on Gore’s global warming slideshow is an inspiration for both Wall and gore and is the right tool to awake the people from their deep slumber.

Concerts are scheduled for East Rutherford, New Jersey; London; Johannesburg, South Africa; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Tokyo; Sydney, Australia; and Hamburg, Germany. The broadcast of the concerts will be done in the U.S. on NBC, Telemundo, the Sundance Channel, Bravo, MSNBC and Universal HD. The online audience can enjoy it at LiveEarth.MSN.com and on XM satellite radio.

Besides a band of scientists performing in Antarctica, more than 150 artists’ viz. Madonna, the Police, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Alicia Keys will also occupy the stage.
Expectations are to carry it forward to 3-5 years but focus is to reach the targets before then and if the bowhit right then no one can stop your success.

Via Live Earth