Phantom power has been the talk of the town recently.

If you haven’t heard of it, it’s simple. Many of our devices today have low-power or standby modes which serve to reduce start-up times. Unfortunately these modes still use power, even when you aren’t using the device. Basically, all these devices are wasting power just sitting there.

We’ve seen some great idea to solve this problem. From intelligent powerbars to tables with integrated plugs, to a switch to cut the power to entire rooms.

The Ecostrip is the next generation of phantom-power reducing devices. It recognizes that most of these power-sucking devices are computer peripherals.

The ecostrip has a USB port which plugs into your computer. It’s simple: when your computer turns off, so does the rest of the powerbar. All your other devices get their power cut, and you’ve solved the problem. No price announced yet, but it should appear on store shelves soon.

Just remember to turn off your computer!

via Treehugger

UPDATE: You can buy the ecostrip here

Popularity: 22% [?]

First off, these are speakers, sort of.

Yes, they look like rolled-up paper, but they work just like speakers. No toxic plastic or metal, they are made from a 100% sustainable material.

Now these aren’t stand-alone speakers exactly. They are designed to amplify your ear-buds, thus working like a speaker. It’s the same principle as yelling through a cone, they amplify the sound.

Even cooler than sustainable amplifiers is that these make use of recycled paper. They use old music scores and a little bit of clay to create the paper. You’re recycling old music to play new music!

These are great for showing off your green side, and they sound great as well.

via Keetsa, Treehugger

Popularity: 42% [?]

This is the Kenmore 62912 low-power refrigerator.

This full-width fridge uses only 75 watts of electricity running, that’s less than a 100watt lightbulb! It does have a startup surge of about 750 watts, but in total uses only 0.7 kwh per day.

It has 9.5 cu.ft of space and measures 21 3/8″ W x 27 3/8″L x 53 3/8″H.

This is a great low-power fridge, and while it’s a bit smaller than a traditional huge fridge with ice maker and integrated TV, it’s an effective way to reduce your electricity consumption and save some money off your electricity bills.

It’s only $350 to top it all off, much cheaper than most fridges!

via Sears, Green Trust

Popularity: 19% [?]

A new green company in California, Sun Run Generation, is providing an innovative way to reduce your emissions.

Instead of buying expensive solar panel systems to generate your own power, Sun Run will sell you power from a system they own. It’s a bit like renting solar panels.

You do not have to purchase the panels, and the one-time installation fee is far less than installation on your system. You will pay a monthly bill to Sun Run, so you’re not seeing the full cost-savings of your own system, but it saves you the big upfront cost of purchasing an entire solar system.

What’s more is you’ll be off the grid, and generating your own power. No more blackouts or rising electricity costs!

All in all this is a great, and cheap, way to switch to green electricity. The company takes care of setting it all up, and you’ll be green in no time!

via ENN

Popularity: 13% [?]

Britian’s environment ministry said it will begin phasing out incandescent bulbs and switching to more eco-friendly CFLs.

Britian is attempting to cut 5 million tonnes of carbon by 2012 and this is one step along the way.

The British government has been working with manufacturers and retailers to provide options to customers.

As of yet this remains a voluntary switch, but there has been talk of creating mandatory initiatives, as we’ve seen in Australia and even the US.

It’s great to see another country promoting the switch to energy efficient lighting, and it’s been surprising how well these new bulbs have been received.

LED lights are also on the rise, and are due to compete with CFLs in the near future. Stay ahead of the game and read our review of LED lights and bulbs.

via ENN

Popularity: 16% [?]

Kohl’s stores in California are taking the plunge and installing huge solar arrays to power their stores.

63 of the 80 Kohl’s locations in California are to be included in what’s being called “the largest planned US photovoltaic solar rollout to date”.

The finished system should produce about 25 megawatts.

It’s great to see a company recognize not only the environmental, but financial benefits from alternative energy. No doubt those big box stores take up a lot of energy, expensive energy. This one-time investment will serve future cost savings.

Kohl’s hopes to generate more than 35-million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

via Engadget

Popularity: 11% [?]

Farfromboring has a nice big selection of eco-friendly bamboo and wood flash drives. These use sustainable resources (bamboo and wood) and use eco-friendly components (such as lead-free solder)

These are a great mix of green and geek, and even if it seems like everyone needs a flash drive these days, you can still be eco-friendly. These go great with the Bamboo LCD Monitor as well!

Farfromboring sells these are promotional products, so you can buy them in bulk quantities. You can also get them custom engraved for use at your next big event! Make a lasting green impression for your business.

via EcoStreet, Farfromboring

Popularity: 26% [?]

As we’ve mentioned before, many of the devices we use today waste power with standby and low-power modes. These modes’ only real purpose is to cut down on start-up times.

This is the electric table.

It’s a table designed to help you unplug your unused devices. No doubt you’ve got a couple power bars hidden away under your desk, and it’s a huge pain to crawl under there every time you turn your monitor off.

The electric table has integrated plugs, so instead of plugging your ipod into a hard to reach power bar, you just plug it into the side of the table. When you’re done with it, the plug is easy to reach.

This will no-doubt make unplugging unused devices much easier, and will thus help to reduce this “phantom power” used by devices.

via TreeHugger

Popularity: 18% [?]

These are quite the things of green beauty.

Cardboarddesign, a New York based cardboard design firm, is selling furniture made from 100% recycled cardboard.

The furniture is made from corrugated cardboard, providing surprising strength and durability. For those who’ve ever had to moved a big desk or table, it’s very light-weight as well.

Desk55

This cardboard desk measures 48″L x 28″W x 31″H and is made from 2 1/2 inch corrugated cardboard.

Desk55 sells for $150

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Shelves55

The perfect companion to your Desk55, Shelves 55 is green shelving. It measures 29″L x 14″W x 53″, features 3 shelves, and is 100% renewable. While the company doesn’t provide information on how much weight the shelves can take, it’s made from the same 2 1/2″ cardboard as the desk, which is said to be “heavy duty”.

Shelves55 sells for $144

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Space Dividers 55

These space dividers are made from the same durable 2 1/2″ corrugated cardboard as the rest of the series55 furniture. It’s a great way to green your home and create separated spaces.

Space Dividers 55 sells for $140

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CardboardDesign also has a table, a “project table” and a whole slew of other cardboard based products. Check it out at cardboarddesign.com

via The Alternative Consumer, CardboardDesign

Popularity: 15% [?]

How green is your skateboard?

In addition to all those cool tricks I can’t do, skateboards are emissions-free transportation. But how green are skateboards?

After all, skateboards are little more than wood on wheels, but do zero fuel emissions make up for the wood used?

Well Comet skateboards is making sure you can skate green. Their factory, in downtown San Francisco, is the only solar-powered skateboard factory in the world. They are also working with several manufacturers and universities to create green glues and coatings.

As for the skateboards themselves, the wood is sourced from sustainable Hickory forests. The boards feature bamboo and maple veneer for the top. In addition, all materials are sourced locally whenever possible. All the painting is done with water-based paints as a nice extra touch.

So whether you’re ripping it up in your backyard mini-ramp (if only!) or just using it to get to class, make sure your board is certified green.

via Keetsa, LifeGoggles

Popularity: 13% [?]