"Go Green" is the buzzword these days but in the enthusiasm to fit the bill, some incredibly imprudent gizmos have been invented that serve no real purpose. Shweta Dravid takes a look at five such gadgets.
Solar Hat Fan
Tackling the scorching heat can lead to bizarre inventions. But nothing is as dumb as the solar hat fan that hangs right in front of your face. Adding to the inconvenience the production of solar panels needs a lot of energy, this contains and even produces some toxic materials.
Eco Kettle
Who knew that a cup of tea could harm the planet? But apparently it does, which led to the invention of Eco kettle that provides us with a greener cup of tea as it fills up with water but boils only as much as selected. But the question that arises is that isn’t more energy wasted in sourcing, manufacturing and transporting this yet another brand new uni-function plastic product from China.
But that’s not the real concern, as drinking tea itself is a not an eco-friendly activity as tea gardens are created by clearing huge forested areas. “Most of the tea estates are located in elephant habitats, which disturb these big magnificent mammals. So, whether a kettle is eco friendly or not, it doesn’t really matter in the entire picture, “says Anuj Khare, a renowned environmentalist and Head of Nature Walk, an NGO.
Asus Ecobook
If you eat and drink while working on the laptop, this Asus Ecobook, built from laminated bamboo strips are definitely not for you. When this supposedly eco friendly notebook hit the market in 2007, people complained that bamboo scraps flew around, leaving only a little bit of paneling that made it more of a green hogwash. “Just imagine the repercussions if your laptop heats up or if the battery catches fire,” notes Anuj.
USB Greenhouse
You might want to have plants at your desk to brighten your day but imagine having an USB-powered greenhouse to enhance your moods. This unique gadget needs a lot of paraphernalia to make it work including a PC with Intel Pentium 4 working at 2.4 gigahertz or faster, at least 128 megabytes of RAM, 100 megabytes of hard drive space, a Windows compatible soundcard, a CD-ROM drive and lastly a specific type of display adapter capable Microsoft Windows XP. “Wouldn’t it be a better idea to just buy a potted plant to feel one with nature instead of all these complications, “says Anuj.
Inflatable Shower Curtain
Taking water conservation to different levels is the new inflatable shower curtain that attacks you and wraps you up in its spikes if too much time is taken in the shower. The idea is to make you more conscious of water usage but at what cost is the question. Instead just build self awareness towards environment conservation and have your bath faster or set an alarm if required.
Anuj muses, “The worst part about “green” gadgets is that they are rarely fully green. They do ease consumer guilt but they may never actually help the planet.”
Better buy a high end product that will last forever than purchasing marginally “green” products that may have to be replaced in the end. It’s just not worth it!
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