For book readers there has been a new movement in the way that books are read. This is the movement is to using electronic book readers. Now there are many different types available on the market. One of these eReaders is the TheBook by Augen. This eReader is unlike some of the other readers available.

TheBook stands out in the market because it not only displays the books you want to read but will read the book to you. This text to sound feature is available on many books unless it has been blocked by the rights holder. This eReader also comes with 150 preloaded books for you to enjoy which include “A Tale of Two Cities”, “Black Beauty” and “Encyclopedia Britannica”. Some other features of TheBook by Augen include built in WiFi, basic web browser, 2GB of storage allowing you to store up to 1,500 of your favorite books and built in speakers. There is also a MP3/MP4 audio and video player available on TheBook so you can play some of your favorite videos and music. One of the best features is the adjustable text size allowing any reader to comfortably read any book. With TheBook by Augen you will be on your way to reading some of the books on your reading list.

Anyone who cooks knows the pain of having to do the dishes after. Most people do their dishes everyday, which if you don’t have a lot of dishes can be a waste of water. For people who are single or don’t have children, it is often the case of small amounts of dishes everyday. Even when you have a dishwasher it can be a waste of both power and water to run it without a full load. Now there is the Gota Dishwasher which is the perfect dishwasher for those who don’t use a lot of dishes.

The Gota Dishwasher is a water conserving dishwasher. The Gota conserves water by steaming the dishes in a pre-wash stage and then collecting the cooled vapors for washing the dishes. The unique design of the Gota allows it to cut your water consumption by up to half. The dishwasher will also store the cooled, filtered water for later washings. Since this dishwasher is smaller, it will run on less electricity. This means you will be able to not only conserve water but save money while doing it. The Gota Dishwasher is designed to sit on your countertop allowing you to have more cabinets in the space that would normally be taken up but a traditional dishwasher.

Home security is important to anyone who owns or rents a home. The more gadgets and devices you have in your home the more home security is important. There are several home security companies on the market that will monitor your home for you and can give you some peace of mind. The only downside to these is that they often have a monthly cost that goes along with them. Well, now there is the Solar Powered Window Alarm from Smart Solar. This alarm can be placed anywhere and is easy to install yourself.

The Window Alarm will produce an alarm noise of 6.8 kHz, which even in a deep sleep will wake you up if tripped. The unit is easily mounted to a window, best if it is a window that receives a great amount of sunlight. The sensors are then places up to 60cm from the main unit and you are ready to go. As the sun shines in your window the Window Alarm is charged and the energy is stored in a Li-on rechargeable battery. The best benefit of using the Solar Powered Window Alarm is that there is no operating costs and there is no major wiring in the house needed.

Water conservation is always something that comes up when people talk about the eco-friendly movement happening. It is something that is important if we want to have clean water in the future. But it is also important for many people who live in cities because they have to pay for all the water they use. Well, what if you could use the rainwater that falls from the sky to do things like flush your toilet or water the grass and garden. Now you can if you have the Rainwater Pillow installed at home.

The Rainwater Pillow uses your homes gutter system already in place and uses overflow drains to ensure that there will be no overflow or ruptures. Everything you need to install the product, including an installation DVD, comes with the Rainwater Pillow upon order. Standard pillows are available in 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 gallon kits and range from the $2,500 to $4,200. Rainwater Pillow does offer custom pillows for those who need a larger capacity but you have to keep in mind that the space required must be unobstructed by poles, pipes and support beams. The Rainwater Pillow is perfect for anyone who waters their grass, wants to reduce their household water bill, washing cars, filling pools, and even for running your sprinklers.

Rechargeable batteries have changed how many people use batteries. They are also much better for the environment than standard batteries because you are not throwing the alkaline chemicals out and into the ground. The only downside to using rechargeable batteries is that you have to have the charging stations plugged in to make sure that it is ready to charge the batteries when needed. Or you have to hunt down the charging station when you need it. Well now you don’t have to do that, all you need is the USBCell batteries.

The USBCell battery is unlike anything else because the charger has been built into the battery itself. This solves the problem of finding the charging station to recharge the battery because this one can be plugged into any standard USB port. When your battery’s power is gone, all you have to do is pop the cap and plug it in. Within a few hours you will have a fully charged battery. The convenience of being able to use any standard USB port whether it is on your computer, PS3 or XBox 360. Fully charged you get 1300mAh of power and the battery can be recharged up to 500 times. For around $20, you get two AA batteries which will give you the freedom to go where you want with your battery powered electronics.

Remote controls come with just about any electronic device that you purchase anymore. They come with televisions, DVD players, CD players, digital photo frames and even car stereos. The biggest downside to owning all these remotes is having to constantly replace batteries in them. Depending on how many remotes you have it can be a costly every time you have to replace batteries.

Now there is a great solution to the chore of buying batteries and that comes in the form of the Powerplus Leopard solar powered universal TV remote control. Armed with the latest in solar technology, this remote control’s solar cells can charge the battery even without being in direct sunlight. The remote control is fitted with an internal lithium-ion battery that stores power to be used when there is no light. This makes it perfect for household use because it will charge using artificial light. The Leopard universal TV remote control is easy to program and can be done in only a few seconds. With 34 different function buttons all of your TV needs will be covered. The Leopard weighs around 76 grams it compares with standard battery operated remote controls.

Clocks are found everywhere. One of the bad things about having a clock is that it has to be plugged into an electrical outlet or has to have batteries constantly replaced in it. This uses a lot of waste both for the environment and for you as a consumer. There is now a better solution without having to give up using a clock. The solution is the Bedol Water Clock. This clock runs itself on natural power. No longer will you have to rely on electricity, batteries or winding.

To use this clock, all you have to do is fill the tank up with tap water and add a splash of natural lemon juice. This will have you set to keep time for 8 to 12 weeks of accurate time keeping before you have to refill the tank. Thanks to a built in memory chip, you won’t loose any time when changing water. This modern styled Eco-friendly clock measures in at 4″ x 3 1/2″ and comes in four color choices, green, blue, charcoal and orange. Because the Bedol Water Clock produces no pollution and runs on things that are easy to find on hand, this is the perfect clock for the world traveler. It also makes the perfect unique gift idea for the home or office. You can find the Bedol Water Clock for $16 here.

The EcoATM is a rather bizarre idea. They are calling it a self service Automated eCycling Station where you can sell used consumer electronics and mobile phones. You simply insert your portable device or phone (it has to be something small like a digital camera or portable games console) and the machine values it and then pays you. You can get a trade-up coupon, a gift card or make a charitable donation with the proceeds. Retailers who take one on can set up their own promotions and discounts.

The devices are valued in real-time with reference to market prices and naturally there is a profit for the operator. EcoATM are a San Diego based start-up and they placed their first machine in a store in Omaha. A total of 23 phones were thrown into it on the first day of operation and they now plan to roll out a fleet of machines. Apparently it will be able to detect more and more devices over time and it can scan them to determine if they have cracks or scuff marks which affect the value. They will recycle and reuse products wherever possible.

People have been seeking alternative sources of power for years now as we aim to turn away from the pollution caused by finite fossil fuels and the dangers of nuclear power. One of the most obvious and abundant sources of power is the wind but wind turbines have traditionally faced two big problems. Firstly they are expensive compared to other sources of power and secondly people find them ugly.

The expense comes down as manufacturing techniques improve but now there is a solution to the claim that they are eyesores. Locate them offshore. This also has the benefit of allowing efficient operation and it doesn’t need to interfere with anything else. The first floating offshore wind turbine has been built and is now being tested off the coast of Norway. If it can survive the extreme conditions of the inhospitable North Sea then it can work anywhere. You can find video footage of the wind turbine on the BBC website.

While waiting for the best of the best electric car from the giant manufacturers in the US, Germany or Japan, a company from China manages to amaze us. Dubbed Zhejiang 001, the Chinese electric car is going to cost only $5,560. Using sung energy and a solar panel roof, the car has a 93-mile range autonomy if charged for 30 hours because it can only transform 14 to 17 percent of the sun light.

I’m not sure about you, but the financial crisis and with recent fuel prices (which should drop now that oil went below $70, but don’t) I’m really tempted into buying something like that. However, winter it’s coming over here and I’m not sure what will happen when it gets covered in snow. Still, the idea is great if you’re living in California and want a daily commuter alternative. – via Gizmodo