Take one look at your fave cool gadget, whether it's a matchbox-sized mp3 player containing 100 albums worth of music, to a deck-of-cards sized device that serves as a phone, email retrieval device, GPS, and podcast player, and you know that we are already living in the future.

But the truth is that the energy and resources needed to make and run these gadgets (and the ability to keep doing so) is based on an unsustainable system of manufacturing and energy production. To avoid a Soylent Green future, we need to make awesome devices that have a much lower impact.

Good thing there are a bunch of great companies working on that, so we can have our tech, and be green too. Click brand names below to be taken to our products guide, check out all our rated electronics, and click here for more info on how we determined our leaf ratings (how green they really are) for the following large electronics that have so far, been under the radar.

Computers

The Dell Studio Hybrid uses 70% less power than most desk tops, and it's smaller (which means less material needed to make them, AND takes up less room in your home office). You can build your own to your specs, personalize it with interchangeable colors and printed sleeves, and it comes in recycled packaging.  Dell's environmental commitment extends beyond this computer; the company purchases 20% of its energy from renewable sources and is on its way to becoming carbon neutral.

VeryPC, a London-based computer site, offers two green computer models, the Green Media and the GreenPC.  These computers are extremely energy efficient using between 21- 46W of power versus a traditional desktop’s 100-150W.  These computers are significantly smaller than traditional computers, requiring less material during production and are both RoHs* and WEEE** compliant.

Green Media's Fulwood, BE Premier, and Treeton II Premier, also sold by Green PC, are extremely energy efficient computers that uses only 21W of power when running.  Minimal amounts of toxic materials are used to make the computer, and it meets RoHs* and WEEE** guidelines.

Aleutia Atom PC's E2 desktop computer needs only 8W of power (that's a quarter of what it takes to run most laptops!) to run. The Aleutia E2 with WiFi uses 10 watts and the Intel Atom CPU needs 25 watts. They are smaller than a typical desktop, so use less energy to be made and are all made at one location to limit costs (and CO2). Atom PC's contain fewer hazardous chemicals and there's even a solar package available so you can power your computer with the sun.

Power Devices

The Solio Classic Charger was a favorite last holiday season, and their new Magnesium edition charger does the same thing as the original (charging phones, mp3 players, and electronic organizers), but better- it's more efficient and can hold a larger charge. Since it's a hybrid device it can be used in the sun or from a wall outlet.  Parts are made from recycled materials and Solio has a takeback program.

The Voltaic Generator can power a laptop with its solar cells, generating up to 17W.  It can also power cell phones, MP3 players and other small electronics.  The shell, mesh, and lining are made from 100% recycled PET and is shipped in recycled packaging.

Other Devices

The EarthDrive is a recyclable USB drive made from PLA, a biodegradable polyster derived from corn. The drives are available in different storage capacities from 1-8GB.

The Eco-eye Mini shows exactly how much electricity your household is currently using-- a great tool to reduce energy consumption.  Made from some recycled materials and shipped in minimal packaging.

The re drive is made from recycled plastic, recycled aluminum, and low impact bamboo. It powers off when not in use to conserve energy.  Simpletech has minimized the use of hazardous chemicals in this product.

The Sony Bravia Digital LCD JE1 series is its most energy efficient TV using only 89 Watts of power.  Sony also incorporates some parts of old TVs when building this model of Bravia, and offers a free take back program and recycled packaging.  Right now this computer is only available in Japan, but Sony has plans to bring it over to the US soon.

*RoHs is a EU directive that establishes standards on what hazardous chemicals can be in electronic or electrical products.  It limits the amounts of Cadmium, lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and certain flame retardants in products.  As far as I know it's much stricter than anything we have for electronics in the US.
 
**WEEE is another EU directive that stands for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.  It requires that products be designed with end of life management in mind so they can be easily disassembled and recycled.  It basically it serves as an equivalent to a take back program.  It forces manufacturers to think of the disposal and not leave it up to consumers doing the right thing.