Energy consumption is the key; gone are the days when gadgets would sit and gobble electrickery all day. Instead, new gadgets aim to lessen their energy usage, or find alternative sources to provide exactly the same function. Take a look at the design classics of tomorrow, as they take us into a brave new world of gadgets without the guilt.
Tefal Quick Cup Water Heater
- £49.95 from John Lewis
This dinky black and stainless steel gadget has a water capacity of 1.5L - enough for most people's tea and coffee needs. It magically dispenses hot and cold water at the touch of a button - simply press, and a mugful of piping hot water is drawn up, filtered, heated and poured direct to your favourite tea-cup. The beauty is that the Tefal Quick Cup only heats as much water as you need and no more. Tefal claim it can save up to 65% energy, compared to an ordinary kettle. It also takes just 3 seconds to heat the water, so you have plenty of time during the ad break to make your cuppa!
Solio 1000 Hybrid Charger - £39.95 from John Lewis
This versatile charger is only 18mm thick, and weighs in at a pocket-pleasing half a kilo. Thanks to several power adaptor tips, the Solio will charge most mobile phones, MP3 players, and GPS units, anywhere in the world. You'll never fear being stuck for batteries again - and the chemical savings you can make by powering your favourite gadgets with this instead of buying batteries is immense. Depending on the intensity of the sunshine, a full Solio H1000 will charge a typical mobile phone once - or give 10 hours of life to your iPod. The internal battery can be charged up via your computer's USB port too - which makes carrying around enough juice for a weekend camping trip as easy as squeezing a lemon.
Roberts Wanderer (R9957) - from £30 at Currys.digital
Imagine there's no batteries, it's easy if you try. That might have been John Lennon's refrain if he'd lived long enough to hear his music on this wind-up radio for a new millenium. The Wanderer is a lot like me - handsome, sturdy, lovely to listen to and easy to wind-up. If you love to take your favourite music on camping trips, or don't want to miss the charts on your beach holiday, then stop your carbon levels going POP! with this beautifully-designed talking point of a gadget.
USBCell - £9.99 for 2 x AA size batteries at Currys.digital
These dinky little babies have been all over the news recently, joining the plethora of gadgets you can shove in your USB port. Quite simply, these rechargeable batteries come in a variety of sizes, and get their juice direct from your PC or laptop. That means you consume fewer environmentally dangerous substances - and lead the way in cool new gadget design. What else can promise you that for less than a tenner?
Dryerballs - 2 for £7.99 at John Lewis
Spiky gadgets go straight to the top of the class - and these are no exception, even though they only help with the laundry. The Dryerball aims to reduce the time your dryer spends on by speeding up the process, thus saving energy. Not only that, but they replace harsh chemicals in conditioners by softening your clothes with their rolly, spiky action. Watching the washing spin round has never been so exciting! The balls are reusable, which means hours and hours of fun, and tonnes of clean, green washing.
Justin Webb