Building a Greener House with Energy-Saving Gadgets

We'd all like to do a bit more for the environment, but aside from switching off the lights and doing the recycling, many people find it difficult to live greener lifestyles. Whether it's due to a lack of time or a struggle for ideas, some consider that running an eco-friendly house is too challenging. Fortunately, there's one easy way in which we can all make a difference to climate-change. You can make use of the wide array of energy-saving devices that are now available for your home.

Everyone knows about energy-saving light bulbs, but did you know that some of your most-used possessions actually have a greener alternative? Or that some accessories can help reduce the amount of energy you use and shrink your bills at the same time? Well now's the time to wise up, as we take a tour of the house and discover opportunities for eco-friendliness everywhere we look.

First stop: The kitchen
If there's one thing in the house that gets used as much as 20 times a day, it's the kettle. But for the caffeine-addicted, have you ever stopped to consider how much energy you must have used over the years? Wouldn't it be great if there was an inexpensive, energy-saving alternative? Well there is! 'Eco-kettles' only boil the amount of water you need, meaning you use as much as 30% less energy every time you make a cup. This adds up to a huge decrease in otherwise wasted energy.

A greener home office
Simple changes can make all the difference. For instance, swapping your standard stapler for an 'eco-stapler' could have a dramatic impact on the amount of waste you generate. The eco-stapler punches a hole which folds back on itself, holding sheets of paper together with no need for metal staples. If every office in the country had one of these, we'd save tonnes of metal every year. Being green has never been so easy.

And who wouldn't want a greener garden?
You might not think of the garden as a place full of energy-sapping gizmos, but devices like bug zappers and outdoor lighting have green alternatives that require no household energy. Solar-powered bug zappers charge through the day and switch on automatically at night. Wind-up LED lanterns only use as much energy as you need. These completely renewable gadgets offer cheap and easy green solutions that nevertheless make a big difference in the long run.

Finally ... everywhere else
Some energy-efficient devices can be used in every room of the house. We've already mentioned light bulbs, but have you ever thought about how much wasted heating you use in a year? With a 'radiator booster' you can improve the airflow to get more heat from less energy. Just fitting one of these to every radiator in the house will cut your bills and curb your emissions. And once it's fitted, you never have to think about it again. There's an eco-friendly alternative for each room in the house.

Phil Ward works for Gizoo, which sells gadgets and gifts online. If you're searching for energy saving gifts and gadgets, Gizoo has a wide range of solar powered gadgets and eco friendly gifts.