This is all fine and good, but what makes it green? The environmental consideration comes in three key points. First, there’s a motion sensor to allow for auto on/off features. This means that you won’t accidentally leave your light on wasting energy. There’s also what Dyson is calling “Heat Pipe Technology,” which keeps the six super-bright LEDs safe for up to 60 years of use (eliminating waste in the amount of light bulbs you’ll need down the road). Finally, Dyson has also managed to get the Energy Star certification so you can be sure the light is an efficient use of energy. Of course, the thin, stick-like design isn’t for everyone and this is hardly an affordable lamp. But if the functionality, smart features, and attention to environmental impact are important to you, this lamp is a great bet. Then there’s the real trick up LARQ’s sleeve. The cap has a built-in UV light that is activated using a button on the outside. This allows the bottle to safely clean and sanitize its inner surfaces, making it ideal for long days or weekends on the trail. You can even set the bottle to automatically activate the cleaning mechanism every two hours, to ensure that you’ve always got fresh water that doesn’t smell musty. The UV function is also rechargeable via micro-USB and that charging function is resistant to moisture up to a degree of IPX7. However, due to all the components inside the bottle, it is a little heavy and bulky. You can pick up the LARQ in five colors that range from white to mint to black. This means you won’t need to use wall outlets to charge your phone, thus saving on the less clean, less efficient energy your home uses. While solar panels can sometimes be unsafe for electronics if not checked, Anker has put in some surge protection to ensure your devices are safe. It isn’t the fastest charging device, and you do need pretty strong sunlight for it to work properly, but that’s a small concession to make for clean, solar energy powering your devices. The device supports four inputs, with two being via Bluetooth version 5, one through an aux input, and one through an optical input. UE has even managed to build IPX4 water resistance into the device, which is impressive for the size of the speaker… though it isn’t the highest rating you can get, so being cautious with water is important. It all fits nicely into the UE ecosystem, pairing with other speakers as well. What makes the product green is the new approach that Logitech (UE’s parent company) is taking to manufacturing. Many of the tech company’s top products, including the Hyperboom, are made with recycled plastics moving forward—specifically plastics that get the Post-Consumer Resin designation. Overall, the Hyperboom is a great option for parties, but at 13 pounds with a very boxy shape the speaker isn’t the most portable—even when you factor in the carrying handle. The Eneloop batteries can be charged more than 2100 times and will retain about 70% of their capacity over time (which is better than lower-quality Ni-MH batteries). The batteries will even come pre-charged using solar energy, just to compound even more “green” value to the product. The wall charger allows you to charge four batteries at once and it has an automatic shutoff feature to prevent overcharging the batteries. The price point is also pretty solid for the functionality. The downside is that the batteries aren’t as reliable over time as lithium ion counterparts, but the Ni-MH is much better if you want to be environmentally conscious. But it isn’t just a novelty. Any watch aficionado will tell you that a Seiko mechanical watch is the beginner’s mechanical watch that will earn you cred with the six-figure watch lovers of the world. The SUP250 is the classic Tanko example that sports an 18mm gold-tone stainless steel case, a Cabochon crown, and a durable leather strap. It’s also water resistant up to 30m, which wouldn’t put it into a “Diver” category, but is certainly plenty for the average daily wearer. So, while this isn’t the marquis Seiko watch, it’s certainly a great entry point, and you won’t ever need to worry about replacing the battery. Once the case has lived out its life—either because it’s dirty or you got a new phone—the material won’t stay in a landfill for decades because it’s biodegradable. You can pick up the Pela case for most modern phones and it even supports wireless charging. There are also a variety of textures and designs to choose from (we’re loving the seafoam turtle look). As far as earth-friendly phone cases go, this is the real deal.
