What eco gadgets do you have and what do you think of them?

[littlefrog]

I've always been a bit dubious about eco-gadgets, having an uncle whose house is filled with fantastic inventions that haven't really been that useful after all. But there must be some that are good - what do you have, and what do you like?

I have:

• AA battery recharger: brilliant
• Solar battery charger: totally useless, even in equatorial sunlight

I am considering:

• magnetic 'water conditioning' (to reduce limescale)
• laundry balls
• power meter (so you can see how much electricity an appliance is using)

Have you seen a bokashi? THey're like a composting bin but small enough to fit under (or on) your bench for composting all food including meat, dairy etc. It composts by fermentation so is better for the environment than usual composting and obviously doesn't require certain weather conditions. There's a tap which gives you liquid fertiliser or can be poured down drains to clean them. In Australia we get cash back from the govt because they count as waterwise for the garden.
www.biome.com.au/shop_index.php?cPath=52&osCsid=d23a641026678b68c2729a1fd1a1eae0

re paper brick press-would it not be more eco friendly to compost the paper rather than burning it (and thusly releasing the CO2 into the atmosphere?)

genuine question-was toying with buying one but decided against for this reason. Would love to be persuaded though!

I suppose the other option is buying wood, but thats had a lifetime of soaking up CO2 already. Hmm. Thoughts?

Isn't paper made out of wood pulp anyway?

am thinking

1. we buy fsc logs

1. there is other stuff in there, no?

What about the inks in newprint? Or are they all soy based these days?

As we have a wood burning stove for heat anyway assumed it was better to burn newspaper. I think wood burner is supposed to be a carbon neutral way of heating. Some of it goes on the compost but as I buy 7 papers a week usually too much for the compost heap.

Bump?

I have eco-balls and tumble drier balls which are great and (not sure if this counts as a gadget) my beloved Mooncup.

I've recently seen a DRY paper brick maker...but have just googled and can't find out where.

Can crusher - did have problems with it coming off the wall, but we've redone it, and it seems fine now.

Not sure if these count but; the airer at the top of the stairs so I dont use tumbledryer in winter, steamer so I can cook on one ring

we have a remote contol 4 gang extension £15 from B&Q and it is great.

we are looking at getting the intellipannel for the TV in the lounge, as it has a special socket for Sky Plus and Video recorder as they are time dependant.

I also have a windup torch and radio in one and it is cool.

Has anyone got the Eco kettle? I'm thinking of getting one-my kettle is on its last legs and I would like to buy something eco..

We have:

electrisave electricy monitor - fun
battery charger - works well
eco balls - don't use these exclusively, OK for some stuff.
clothes airer (don't tumble dry)
compost heaps
low energy light bulbs
wind-up LED torches
woodburning stove
some individually switched extension leads so transformer stuff can be switched off easily when not in use.

I'd like:
solar thermal water heating system
thing to make newspaper bricks for woodburner (if anyone has one they no longer use please let me know).

Composting paper is no better than burning it: both processes produce CO2.

"magnetic 'water conditioning' (to reduce limescale)"

The only function of the things is to transfer money from well-meaning people to predatory people. They have no effect on limescale. None. Nichts. Nadoo. Napa, Zero.

Sorry.

Bicycle, the best eco-gadget of all and I love it to bits.

Wind up torches, great for kids whenthey fall asleep and leave them on you don't have to buy new batteries everytime