The Ego Electric Street Scoota is the eco-friendly commuting solution
In today’s congested cities and towns, a scooter can seem an ideal transport solution, able to nip in and out of traffic and far cheaper to run than a car – but, as a scooter still uses petrol, it’s not the most environmentally friendly option. That isn’t true of the Ego Electric Street Scoota – this little runaround is completely electric! Simply plug the scooter in overnight to charge it with enough electricity to run it for 40 miles – more than enough for most people’s daily commute. Even better, it will cost only pennies to run. With a 1400-Watt motor, the Street Scoota can reach speeds of up to 30mph (though, in today’s traffic, you might not need to go that high!) and is a nifty ride that enables you to manoeuvre traffic with ease. Although not cheap – it retails at between £800-£1000, depending on colour and finishes – given that the average person spends nearly £2,000 a year on petrol, it will pay for itself in less than a year! Also, because it is electric, you do not need to pay road tax or the Congestion Charge, so the savings keep adding up. But the most important saving of all is environmental – as our fossil fuel reserves dwindle and the environmental and social costs of using petrol rise, it is increasingly important that we develop eco-friendly modes of transport. The Ego Electric Street Scoota is the perfect eco-solution to city commuting. Plug in yours today!
An eco-friendly commuting solution from Powabyke
Cycling has become an ever-more popular mode of transport as people try to cu transport costs and lower their carbon footprint, but you do require a certain level of fitness to cover any significant distance, which puts many people off, especially beginners. Powabyke Electric Bikes offer an ideal solution. The bikes’ Lithium-ion power pack and 250 watt electric hub motor gives you a fast boost up to 15mph, even in headwinds or going uphill, allowing you to effortless cover longer distances and making your daily commute less of a struggle. Designed to be used in a city and as a real alternative to traditional modes of transport, the Powabykes combine greener thinking and stylish design with state of the art technology to offer a real eco-solution. While they aren’t cheap – they retail at between £800 and £950 – compare this investment with the cost of running a car or buying an annual travel card and they suddenly look like a very sound investment. Even better, the Powabyke qualifies for the Government’s ‘Cycle to Work’ schemes, whereby you can purchase the bike and offset the cost against your income tax (your employer should be able to advise on this). Powabyke recommend their European Electric bike for women, and their men’s bikes come in either a six-speed or 24-speed versions. So there has never been a better time to get on your (electric) bike.
Standby solutions save you energy
Leaving devices on standby – instead of switching them off – wastes energy and costs you money, but it’s a habit that many of us have fallen into. The Bye Bye Standby Energy Saving Kit is aimed at reducing your energy bills and your carbon footprint by simply cutting the power to devices that are plugged into it when they are not in use. The device is easy to use – simply plug a Bye Bye Standby Smart Socket into a mains wall switch and plug your electrical appliance such as a DVD, TV, stereo or TV into it. You then just make sure your remote control (included in the pack) is set to the same ‘house code’ as the Smart Socket and you can switch off your devices from up to 30m away. Working on the same principle, the Intellipanel for desktop computers allows you to plug your PC into the master socket and all peripherals into the other socket, so that when you power down your computer, power to the peripherals is cut at the same time. There is also an Intellipanel for laptops available. Another smart eco-solution – designed for both PCs and laptops – is the Ecobutton. Pressing this clever little device puts your computer into energy saving ‘eco mode’, saving you energy – and when you want to start working again, you simply press the Ecobutton and your PC or laptop is reactivated at exactly where you left off! With all of us worrying more about energy bills, as well as our carbon footprint, these standby solutions offer an easy and eco-friendly way to save energy and money.
Monitoring Home Electricity Usage the Easy Way
If there are two things the average home energy user has learned during the past few years, it is that the Earth needs saving and nobody (except high-profile bankers) has any money. Environmental concerns are growing more pressing as the effects of global warming have already begun to take their toll on the climate, whilst the credit crunch and recession have picked from many a pocket. However, the point of saving the planet is an unfortunate misconception, as Earth will no doubt survive the damaging legacy of industrialized humanity. In fact, it is humanity itself that is at risk of being destroyed. Notwithstanding this, consumers are still fairly sceptical about greener forms of energy because of the increased cost that is associated with them.
Nevertheless, consumers ought to appreciate that green energy is the way of the future. In fact, it is the way of the present, too, as many of the predicted effects of global warming are transpiring earlier than
anticipated. Therefore, switching to green energy is important for everybody, although the financial concerns ought not to be discounted entirely. Indeed, in a world in which fuel poverty has become a social norm, there is every reason to think carefully about energy costs.
The Maplin Electricity Monitoring Meter, which is available for under £30, enables customers to monitor their electricity consumption by simply clamping the device around a mains cable. With a capacity to store data for 2 years, the Maplin device is perfect for assessing the energy usage of all appliances in the home – even those on standby.
Green Flashlights: Make Hay While the Sun Shines
Well, not so much hay as energy. Indeed, the new generation of eco-friendly flashlight will only work if it has been exposed to sunlight. The Verilux ReadyLight is a superb new flashlight that uses totally free and renewable solar energy to charge up three NiMH rechargeable batteries, which can then be used to power the torch.
This stylish new flashlight comprises a relatively large solar panel on its side, which, when fully charged, will offer around four hours of continuous use. Providing the same brightness as a conventional flashlight, the Verilux ReadyLight also features a sturdy and robust construction that is designed to withstand considerable shocks, impacts and water exposure. Furthermore, the ReadyLight is an aesthetically pleasing hand-held torch that is also easy to use and not overly heavy or cumbersome.
Of course, the real benefit of using a solar powered flashlight is that it can charge itself throughout the day at absolutely no cost to the user. The entire torch including batteries (although these can obviously be replaced very easily) is designed to last at least twenty years, so there ought to be no issues in respect to wear and tear or electronic faults. Moreover, the flashlight is a reliable tool that can be kept close to a source of direct sunlight, such as on a window sill, to provide emergency lighting whenever it is needed. Thus, the next time a thunderstorm knocks out a pylon, users will be content to reach for their Verilux ReadyLight in the knowledge that this eco-friendly tool was charged up at no cost to the user, planet or atmosphere.
