Greener TechTech deals are now good for the planet

A computer monitor with a motion sensor? This is great for saving energy but may not be so great for the company slacker! Eizo has invented a new monitor, the Flexscan EV2303W, equipped with a motion sensor to detect when you are or aren't in front of your computer screen. After 40 seconds from when the user steps away from his/her computer the monitor goes into power-save mode. For you slackers out there a cardboard cut-out won't cut it with this sophisticated monitor. It can distinguish between a cut-out or chair for example and normal movement. So when the user returns to their computer the monitor detects it and resumes normal operation. Looks like employees will have to start actually working at work as this smart monitor can't be fooled.

Eizo designed the monitor to be more compact, making it slim, sleek, lighter, and reducing the amount of internal components needed to run the equipment. This smaller design also allows the manufacturer to use less packaging made of 100% recycleable materials for shipping. The Flexscan is also the first of its kind to be TCO Displays 5.0 Certified which means it passed tough requirements (the toughest certification worldwide) on environmental aspects. It has also been awarded EPEAT Gold status; the highest rating from the EPA.

This is obviously a great gadget to help save on electricity, especially if you're pulled away from your desk for an emergency meeting and you don't have time to shut your monitor off, or for those frequent bathroom breaks.

This little piggy may not go to the market but it certainly is teaching kids that electricity is not free. Winner of the 2009 Greener Gadgets Design Competition this 100% recyclable "Power Hog" is a fun way of teaching energy conservation and cost.

Although the power hog doesn't actually save energy it does illustrate that time spent playing video games or watching television isn't free. I think this is a great concept to not only teach our kids responsibility and limit their daily activity on their gadgets but it also demonstrates an important life lesson on energy consumption.

Simply plug the Power Hog's tail into an outlet, plug your child's gadget into the snout, and then they can insert a coin to gain 30 minutes of electrical use. When there is enough credit the hog lights up green and when time is about to run out the modern day piggy bank flashes a warning red light.

Parents are capable of monitoring their kid's daily use of television, ipods, video games, and cell phones, etc. while their children learn the value of electricity through visualization and interaction.