21 Gadgets for the Green Home

Environmental consciousness and convenience don't have to be opposites. Use these tips to green up your home.

(NEWSER) - So you're not ready to give up your car for a bicycle to help the Earth. LiveScience suggests 10 baby steps to going green that won't even cramp your style.

1. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
2. Purchase Energy Star-rated appliances, electronics, and lighting.
3. Instead of plastic bags, shop with a reusable tote bag.

Executive order requires federal agencies to reduce waste, conserve energy

(NEWSER) - Federal agencies have until 2020 to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 28% under an executive order President Obama signed today. The order also calls for improvements in energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction. "As the largest energy consumer in the United States, we have a responsibility to American citizens to reduce our energy use and become more efficient," Obama said before signing the order. More»

(NEWSER) - Being sensitive to the environment doesn't have to cost a fortune. In fact, the green option is often the most cost-effective one. Scientific American spotlights nine ways of cutting your bills as you save the Earth:

• Shrink your living space. Prefab homes and plans for dwellings as small as 65 square feet are widely available.

Creating more water is the answer with 1.8B facing extreme shortage by 2025

(NEWSER) - One UN study estimates 1.8 billion people will face extreme water shortage by 2025; the US government projects 36 states could face a similar fate by 2013. Doug Cantor, in Esquire, examines potential shortage solutions:

• PlayPump: A pump attached to a children’s merry-go-round extracts water from the ground as it spins. Expected to provide water for 10 million people by 2010.

Green innovator gets unfair rap as environmental offender

(NEWSER) - The world's attitude toward China's environmentalism is "hypocritical and decidedly unfair," writes Fred Pearce in Yale Environment 360—this coming from someone who has "literally held my nose at the foul air." Yes, China's "development zeal" has it doing "the bad things that most of the world does," but it's also the world's leader in green innovation, waste recycling, and alternative energy sources. More»