The Igglu Modular PC is a concept to allow anyone to upgrade their computer systems easily. By using colour coded slots and easy to install blocks for the parts, the concept hopes to make upgrading a computer something anyone can do without needing any additional assistance.

The Igglu Modular PC is the concept of UK designer Rob Mansfield, it consists of a single tower that has color coded compartments designed to take swappable modules that are colour coded to match. These module blocks allow you to easily update the main parts of your PC, there is a colour coded slot for a hard drive, optical drives, a graphic card, PCI drives and for RAM. The aim is to allow anyone to upgrade their PC without any of the hassles normally associated with doing so, to hopefully reduce the amount of PCs that are just replaced after a few years.

Computing equipment is always advancing, every month it seems there are faster parts, higher amounts of memory, smaller sizes, increased efficiency. This leads to many computers becoming obsolete in only a couple of years. Upgrading a computer can be done, but many find the process difficult, not knowing what kind of hard drive they can use, what kind of memory, how much RAM their motherboard supports, or even how to install the parts they have purchased.

The Igglu hopes to change all that. Parts would be sold in colour coded blocks, each block easily pushed into its matching colour coded slot. There would be no need to take a computer apart or touch any of it internally (helping to prevent accidental damage) all parts sold in the blocks would work with the system, so no confusion over what you would need to buy. The concept even seems to suggest purchasing the parts through an online account, which would hopefully track what parts you currently have to ensure you are upgrading each one. The blocks that are returned would potentially be reused as a budget range, or recycled. This would help PCs be available to all, and reduce the amount of computing equipment that requires disposal.

The main tower has been designed to help it run using the least amount of electricity possible. The tower would be fan-less, the design of it offering passive cooling to the components. This allows it to operate quietly, without the noise of the fan constantly turning, and use less electricity than a standard fan cooled system.

The only concern would be the eventual need to upgrade the tower part, as in the concept that seems to house the processor and of course the motherboard. Given the concept ideals it would seem that this, like the parts, would then be either be returned to be used second hand or recycled, with an updated model sent out for your current parts to be slotted into.

Source: Igglu

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Igglu Modular Low Power PC Concept article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. Aleutia D1 Low Power PC
2. The FitPC 2 – 1.1GHz and 1.6GHz Low Power PC
3. Universal Cardboard-based Packaging System Concept

The Eco Gadget Starter Kit is a combination of three eco gadgets that are designed to help you be more eco-friendly with the least amount of fuss and hassle. The kit makes a good starting point for those who want to start using electronics in a more environmentally friendly way. The Eco Gadget Starter Kit includes a Powerchimp, an Intelliplug, and a pack of two AA USBCell batteries.

PowerChimp – Quick Gadget Charger

The Powerchimp allows you to charge a multitude of electronic devices, and is powered by just a single AA battery. The device comes with connectors for many different mobile phones, and can charge devices such as iPhones/iPods, MP3/MP4 players, PDAs and many more. The Powerchimp comes with two rechargeable batteries, when these are fully charged they can offer around an extra 4 hours of talk time to a mobile phone. The Powerchimp additionally has has LED torch built into it. The small device allows you to provide your electronic devices with an energy top up when on the go, without needing the bulk of many different charging plugs or even to be near mains electricity.

Intelliplug – Standby Saving Plug

The Intelliplug helps you to use, or rather not use, your computing equipment in a more eco friendly way. The plug is designed for use with PCs. You simply plug your computer into the main socket space then plug all the computers electronic peripherals into the spaces around the outside of the plug. When you then turn your computer onto standby, or turn it off, the plug will cut the power to the peripherals you plugged into it. This means that by turning your computer onto standby you can automatically turn the power off to your speakers, printer, scanner, or whatever electronics you wish to turn off while the computer is off.

USBCell batteries – USB-powered Rechargeable Batteries

The USBCell batteries allow you to charge AA batteries through a USB port without requiring a bulky charging station. The batteries plug directly into a USB port and even a few minutes of charging provides you with hours of battery use. These batteries can then be used to power any AA battery powered device, and can be used with the Powerchimp. Though the batteries are designed to allow charging through USB ports they can also be recharged through a standard Ni-MH battery charger.

The Eco Gadget Starter Kit costs just £41.95 plus delivery.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Eco Gadget Energy-Saving Starter Kit article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. USBCELL – USB Rechargeable Batteries
2. Energy Saving All-For-One Remote Control
3. Ecotek Energy Wizard – Simple Energy Saving Gadget

The GuruPlug-Server Plus is a small server designed to be plugged directly into a standard mains plug socket. This server allows you to do everything you usually would with a standard sized server while using far less electricity.

The GuruPlug-Server Plus is a full server with a 1.2GHz processor, 512MB of DDR2 RAM and comes with Linux Kernel 2.6.32 embedded on its internal memory. This allows it to function as a regular server, while taking up a fraction of the space. More importantly it draws only a fraction of the power. The server is thought to draw only 5 watts in normal operation, this compares to a regluar computer drawing roughly 175 watts when operated similarly.

Because the server is so small it lacks many features we take as standard, such as hard drive space or a video card. Luckily the server comes with an eSATA2 port, which allows you to connect a high speed external SATA2 hard drive to it. The server also features two Gigabit Ethernet ports to allow wired network connections at a high speed.  It also has both Wifi (802.11 b and g) and bluetooth capabilities to provide wireless network connections. The server also comes with two USB 2.0 ports and a MicroSD port, this allows you to add on more peripherals and expand the internal storage capacity of the server.

The GuruPlug-Server Plus provides you with all the basic requirements you could need in a server for home use, while allowing you to expand it as required. As with most Linux servers you access it remotely, but this then limits it to command line operation. It would be suitable for applications such as a file server for a household, a dedicated firewall to improve network security, or you could even use it as the control centre for a Smart House. The server can perform these functions while drawing very little electrical power, thus enabling you to have a server running permanently without the same concerns regarding electrical usage that you would have for a regular computer.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the GuruPlug-Server Plus – Highly Compact Low Power PC article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. Aleutia E2 – 500MHz PC using just 8W of power
2. D-Link Green Energy Saving Network Switch
3. Aleutia D1 Low Power PC

This USB Wireless Optical Mouse is made by Cables Unlimited allows you to stop using even rechargeable batteries to operate your computer’s mouse.

The Battery-Free USB Wireless Optical Mouse is a plug and play device, meaning its easy for anyone to install. The mouse itself is wireless and is optical providing you with a sensitive response to your movements. It draws its power through the specially designed mouse mat. It is this mat which plugs into your computer’s USB port and draws power through that. The mouse has two buttons and two scroll buttons to help you use your computer smoothly and efficiently.

The mouse itself measures 12 cm x 5.4 cm x 3.7 cm (4.7in x 2.5 in x 1.45 in) which is a pretty standard size. The mouse mat is 22.5cm in diameter (8.86 in). Due to the fact the mouse draws power through the mouse mat though the mouse is wireless it does not offer you the same freedom other wireless mice do, as you are tied down to working on that mat and it has a wire connecting it to the computer. Also it is probable that the mousemat is taking charge from the computer constantly and so is using electricity needlessly for a lot of the time. For these reasons some may feel this product is not eco-friendly, but some may feel it is worth this to cut out the use of batteries and the problems of disposing even rechargeable ones after they are finally worn out.

The USB Wireless Optical Mouse is available for $24.79, and comes with free shipping if you spend just $0.21 with Amazon.com.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Battery-Free USB Wireless Optical Mouse article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. Woodern Keyboard & Optical Mouse
2. Energy-Saving Eco Computer Mouse
3. Buffalo Solar Powered Wireless Keyboard

The Puzzle Bamboo Laptop Stand allows you to use a laptop at a better height when at a desk. The stand raises the laptop to eye level while offering great ventilation to the base of the laptop to prevent overheating.

The Puzzle laptop stand is made from bamboo wood. The shape of the stand was envisioned to use the least amount of material as possible, to allow it to be made out of the small left over pieces of bamboo from making larger items. The design allows the two parts of the stand to be interlocked to create an easily transported and flat item that should fit into any good laptop bag without a problem. This allows the stand to be taken wherever you need it, to offer you a better height of laptop use when you are out and about without adding too much extra weight or inconvenience.

The Puzzle Laptop Stand is made from bamboo, there are many advantages of this environmentally. Bamboo grows very quickly so makes a good renewable wood alternative. Being a type of grass, bamboo takes carbon dioxide in to grow like all plants, trapping it within itself to only be released when the material is burned. For the stand the maker takes bamboo from the manufacturer Moso who try to operate in an eco-friendly manner, for example they use a glue with low formaldehyde.

As the stand comes in two separate pieces it can be used by a wide range of sizes of laptops by simply positioning the stands at the distance apart required. This separate nature does mean the stands can be used for more than just as a laptop stand, the ends can be used as book ends, or even as heat mats for pans.

Source: Green Tuna Design

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Puzzle Bamboo Wooden Laptop Stand article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. Macally Sustainable Bamboo Laptop Stand
2. Asus Bamboo Series Laptop PC
3. Sustainable and Professional Bamboo Briefcase

The PowerGorilla by PowerTraveller is a portable charger that is capable of charging anything from a laptop down to a mobile phone. With a substantial sized battery this charger can provide a laptop with an additional 2 to 5 hours of electricity. The SolarGorilla also by PowerTraveller is a portable solar panel device that can charge portable electronic products directly from itself through the adapters provided. Used together they can make a truly powerful charger for all portable electronics.

The PowerGorilla can be used to power anything from 5v to 24v, this allows the device to be used to charge laptops, mobile phones, PDAs, GPS devices, MP3/MP4 players, and many other portable electronic devices. To charge you simply set the voltage you require for the device you wish to charge, the LCD screen on the device will inform you of which setting has been chosen so you are sure you have the right one. Once the setting has been chosen you just plug the device to the charger. The device can provide between 2 and 5 hours of power for laptops depending on the make and model and up to 20 hours of power for smaller portable electronic devices.

The PowerGorilla has a powerful 21,000 mAh high density Lithium Polymer rechargeable battery at its core. The device can be charged in three ways, firstly it can be charged from a wall socket, secondly it can be charged through a USB port and thirdly it can be charged through a SolarGorilla.

The device can be charged from a wall socket while it charges a laptop or other portable electronic device. It can also power a laptop and a mobile phone at once. The PowerGorilla comes with an array of safety features to help you charge your devices safely.

The SolarGorilla provides you with electrical power anywhere. The two inbuilt solar panels are hinged to allow them to be opened to take advantage of the sunlight when required and to be safely folded away when not. It can provide 500 mAh in both 5v and 24v, to cover a range of portable electronic device needs, from those of laptops to those of mobile phones, PDAs, GPS devices and many more. To help protect the solar panels within the case has a rubberised finish to it and the device (apart from the electrical cables) is water resistant.

The SolarGorilla is capable of charging a mobile phone from flat to 100% charged in around 1.5 hours, on a day with good sunlight. The devices ability to make excellent use of sunlight through its panels make it capable of running a laptop from it on a bright sunny day even in the UK. The SolarGorilla has been designed to include a slot that can allow it to be hung from objects such as a tent to take maximum advantage of the sunlight while being safely out of the way.

Combined these products allow you to charge the large battery of the PowerGorilla with the eco-friendly SolarGorilla to allow you to be able to charge just about anything from anywhere in the world. The PowerGorilla and the SolarGorilla each come with a neoprene travel case and many different tips to allow them to charge a wide range of devices, the SolarGorilla includes a cable to allow it to charge the PowerGorilla.

The PowerGorilla costs £149.95 with free delivery.

The SolarGorilla costs £139.95 with free delivery.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the PowerGorilla & SolarGorilla – Portable Charger For Laptops article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. iSol Plus – Portable Solar Charger
2. The V2 Solar Powered Charger
3. Juicebar – Pocket Solar Charger

The VX1932wm-LED is a 19-Inch WLED-Backlit monitor by ViewSonic. This is an energy efficient monitor that uses less electricity than other monitors of a similar size while providing excellent clarity in its display and sound.

The monitor uses WLED (White Light Emitting Diodes) to produce its picture. Using back lighting technology the monitor changes the back lighting levels depending on the signal image that needs to be displayed. It therefore uses less back lighting for darker images, helping to provide clearer, more vivid dark colours and blacks, while using the back lighting to its fullest effect for brighter images to help make the whites seem whiter with more clarity. These LEDs help to reduce the monitors power drain and the monitor and its back light system are mercury free.

The monitor comes with inbuilt stereo speakers and has a contrast ratio of 10,000,000:1. The monitor measures 55cm x 17cm x 51cm (21.5in x 6.5in x 20.2in) and weighs 10.4 pounds. The 19 inch monitor is thought to use only 50% of the electricity of standard monitors, and has a 15w power consumption. This combined with the fact the monitor is mercury free makes it a good choice for those wanting to be eco-friendly and have reduced electricity bills.

The monitor costs only £124.20 plus £3.95 shipping. This monitor is available to buy in North America, however, the monitor is currently on backorder.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the ViewSonic VX1932wm-LED 19-Inch WLED-Backlit Energy Efficient LCD Monitor article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. Energy Efficient Acer S243HL 24inch LCD Monitor
2. Energy Saver Power Monitor By Black & Decker
3. Current Cost ENVI Energy Monitor

The D1 PC by Aleutia is a extremely small and energy efficient computer. The D1 compacts all the normal features of a PC into one tiny quiet case.

The Aleutia D1 is under half the size of most other SFF PCs (Small Form Factor Personal Computers) Aleutia claim, measuring only 26.8cm x 31.8cm x 7cm (10.55in x 12.52in x 2.75in) and weighing only 1.8Kg (though Aleutia do also claim it weighs 2.4Kg) compared to other SFF PCs which can weigh around 8Kg. The PC though is not lacking in ability, the D1 comes with an Intel dual core 1.66GHz processor, 4GB RAM, 40GB SATA-II HDD, DVD-RW drive  and many other components that go into making this a suitable PC for office or light home use. The D1 comes with the Ubuntu Linux 9.10 OS as standard but has been tested to be fully compatible with the current Microsoft OSs from Windows XP to Windows 7.

By using energy efficient processors and combining them with laptop components like the DVD-RW drive, the D1 features a low power consumption, using only 26w (though Aleutia also claim it uses 34w, either way an exceptionally low power drain) which could mean the D1 uses only 25% of the energy of other SFF PCs. Because of the energy efficient processors, the D1 also produces less heat, meaning it requires only a small fan to cool the system. The smaller fan causes less sound than conventional desktops, and can only be heard whirring when your ears are very close to it.

Source: Aleutia D1 Product Page

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Aleutia D1 Low Power PC article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. Aleutia E2 – 500MHz PC using just 8W of power
2. Igglu Modular Low Power PC Concept
3. MSI U110 ECO Wind Eco-Friendly Netbook

RShut is an advanced remote computer power management tool for Windows 95 through to Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server. The tool allows you to shutdown or wake up any computer over a local network or the internet. This means your computer is only switched on when you need it to be on, saving you energy.

Exploiting Wake-On-LAN technology, RShut gives you considerable control over when your computers are switched on and off. You can even hibernate or suspend computers in rather than powering a computer off. Suspend and hibernate modes helps to reduce boot times and allowing you to continue working where you left off.

By using schedules, you can control when your computers are powered on or off. This is useful particularly if your computers are only performing tasks at certain times of the day. Some energy providers have cheap tariffs overnight, so it might be cheaper to run your computers at night when you’re doing heavy processing.

When powering off a PC, you can choose what applications are terminated (or not terminated) to ensure that any programs already running on the system are closed safely. For security, the software uses password verification to ensure only you can control when the computers are powered up or down.

RShut is available from DownloadBuyer for around £8.68 GBP, where you can purchase and download software for your Windows or Mac OS X based computer. Of course, any electronic download software has no printed manuals or discs, meaning you’re saving trees and emissions resulting from media production, printing and delivery services.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the RShut – Remote Computer Power Management article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. Eco Button PC Energy Saving Device
2. Energy-Saving Eco Computer Mouse
3. Aleutia D1 Low Power PC

The Eco Button is a retro-fit device that you plug into your PC’s USB port that makes it quick and easy to put your computer into an energy saving mode. The button is designed to suspend your computer when you disappear to answer the phone, have some lunch, go to meetings, etc. When you return to your PC, just hit the button to quickly wake the computer up again, right where you left off!

The EcoButton triggers the most eco-friendly energy saving mode available on a PC, which is almost equivalent to the computer being switched off completely! The main benefit of the EcoButton is that it makes it as easy as possible to use this energy saving mode, literally at the press of a button.

Based on an average sized machine of around 200 Watts, and an electricity cost of around £0.16 per kWh, and when the Eco Button is used for 4 hours per day for 1 year, savings are estimated to be around £50 per year ( about $85 USD). Which is roughly equivalent to a saving of 135kg of carbon dioxide emissions a year! The software includes a meter which calculates your actual energy savings and carbon footprint.

The EcoButton is designed to be used with a Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista 32-bit PC, as the EcoButton is not yet compatible with Apple Macs or Windows 7. The button itself measures 5.5cm (L) x 5.5cm (W) x 1.5cm (H) and sits on top of your desk in front of your PC. The idea is that the button is a constant reminder to save energy using your PC.

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Eco Button PC Energy Saving Device article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2010 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

Related posts:

1. Energy-Saving Eco Computer Mouse
2. Savaplug – Energy Saving Device For Fridges And Freezers
3. Energy Saving All-For-One Remote Control