The UV Card is perfect for all those who tend to scurry under the shade whenever the sun gets too strong for them, which isn’t a bad thing considering you have forgotten to put some sunblock on. Anyways, the more scientifically minded who love taking details of their environment will find the UV card to come in handy as it will be able to indicate the current UV intensity within three seconds, displaying it in three levels (1 to 3 indicates low, 4 to 6 is middle while 7 to 8 means staying indoors and wait till dusk). The UV Card retails for $11.50.

How many times has your MP3 player died on you while you were rocking out far from home? I’m sure it’s happened at least a few times, and depending on your MP3 player, you were probably out of luck until you got home to recharge it. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just turn a hand crank a few times and have it charged again?

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Yes, you are reading this headline correctly. Someone actually invented a washing machine that works in conjunction with a toilet.

Yeah, I know it sounds pretty gross, but listen to what the WashUP actually does. The washing machine is stationed above the toilet in order to recycle the washer water into the toilet.

The concept is based on a simple premise: why use fresh water to go to the bathroom in? The WashUP puts in soapy water from the washing machine that would have otherwise have gone down the drain and puts it to good use. Now you can go in part-clean, part dirty water and send it, well, down the drain.

The washer is also built high so you don’t need to crouch down to put your clothes in. Now that’s something that is an improvement. The only thing that doesn’t seem to be well thought out on this WashUP is where do you dry your clothes? I mean, if the washer is now in the bathroom above the toilet, where is the dryer going to go, in the shower?

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Hybrid vehicles are always welcome in my book, since the earth is already being overloaded by too many people, too much waste and an imbalanced system of wealth distribution. Encouraging people to take public transport instead of just riding around in their fuel guzzlers for fun does take some getting used to, since most folks prefer the privacy of their car. What happens when you try to prick their conscience from another point of view? What if they know that if they were riding on a hybrid bus that does it’s part in reducing carbon emissions, will they take the plunge then? Until these plug-in hybrids are well distributed all over the world in congested cities, that answer remains theoretical. I’m not here to talk about that though, but will concentrate instead on this efficient and pollution limiting plug-in hybrids.

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With the amount of industrialization happening all over the world, getting clean, fresh air is but a dream of yesteryears. Smog and haze is the order of the day, but Sharp aims to do their bit in providing you with cleaner and fresher air by releasing the KC-C100U and KC-C150U air purifiers. Both of them feature a triple filtration system, Sharp’s Plasmacluster technology and a humidification function that helps trap dust and pollen, decrease odors, and freshen and humidify the air. Meant to be used in small rooms, the KC-C100U is good for up to 254 square feet and retails for $399.99. As for the KC-C150U, thihs powerful unit caters for rooms up to 347 square feet in size and goes for $499.99.

Source: Gizmag

One thing I hate when getting back from the grocery store is that I’m left with half a dozen plastic bags. I know that they have other uses, so I have a small stash of them, however, most get tossed in the trash. My wife has been considering picking up some reusable bags because they are more environmentally-friendly. I’m inclined to agree with her. However, another solution would be to get a Grocery Bag Chair.

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Sometimes I have to wonder if there is a limit to eco-friendly gadgets that try to save as much energy as possible. For example, the Benkatine Turbine: a device from Leviathan Energy that allows you to generate electricity when you flush the toilet.

The device works using the principles of hydroelectric power. In other words, water flows in (or, in the case of flushing, out) a turbine fan spins, and power is generated. Not only can the Benkatine Turbine generate power from the indoor plumbing, but it can be used outside to generate power from gutter drainage.

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For those of you who have that dream of backpacking through Europe, you might want to take something to blog your experience. The Backpacker’s Diary is a PC concept that is made to be more durable and flexible, specifically designed for outdoor usage.

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