Have you had the courage to look at your electricity bill yet this summer? Chances are it ain't pretty since we often end up using a ton of electricity trying to keep cool. But don't sweat it - nowadays there are a host of smart electronics specially designed to keep temperatures down without driving your
energy usage up. Read on to see our picks for 5
green gadgets to beat the summer heat.
1. DYSON BLADELESS FAN Think you could totally forgo energy-sucking air conditioning if you had the right fan? Well that's what designer James Dyson (yes, of vacuum cleaner fame) is offering with his efficient and sculptural
bladeless fans. The fans use a cyclone accelerator to amplify air 15-18 times before blowing it out in a refreshing breeze.
Wouldn't it make a lot of sense if we could use solar power to cool our homes during the summer months, when sunshine is bountiful? That's exactly the idea behind the
Ventamatic solar fan, which harnesses energy from a roof-mounted multi-crystal photovoltaic panel. Electricity generated by the panel flows to a DC motor, which then runs a gable-mounted ventilating fan to keep your home's attic or upper floors nice and cool.
We all know that fans are more energy-efficient than air conditioning systems, but sometimes it is just too hot not to turn on the AC - especially when young children and the elderly are concerned. The good news is that there are some eco-friendly models out there to choose from, and our pick is the Whynter
energy-efficient portable air conditioner. With zero CFCs, no lead and low overall energy usage, the Whynter offers the comfort of air conditioning while still keeping the environment in mind.
"
Blight" is a prototype for a set of solar-powered window blinds that shade your home from unwanted sun while generating electricity. Although the design has yet to come to market it's such an intriguing idea that we had to showcase it. If you're looking for an option that you can actually purchase right now, check out these
eco window shades - many people don't realize that blocking out the sun is one of the easiest and least energy-intensive ways to keep your home's temperature down.
5. DIY SOLAR POWERED FAN So far we've covered a series of store-bought green gadgets that will keep you cool - if a DIY design is more up your alley, check out this tutorial from Instructables that shows you how to
make your own solar-powered fan from an old computer fan! This low-energy AC alternative is made from recycled materials, making it a great way to keep cool while going green.
Do you have some tips on how to stay cool in the hot weather without expending a ton of energy? Share them with us in the comments.
See
more from Inhabitat:10 Tech Tips for a Green + Healthy Workplace5 Apps To Stop a Temper Tantrum in its Tracks5 Phone Apps To Boost Your Brain PowerTech
to Help you Work Smarter and GreenerGreen Tech to Help You Relax
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Inhabitat is an online magazine devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and design towards a smarter and more sustainable future. Written by a young tech-savvy team designers and design journalists, Inhabitat delivers fresh content daily, showcasing emerging work from the cutting-edge of the global design community. Yuka Yoneda, is a writer and designer from Queens, New York. She received her bachelor's in Business Management from Stony Brook University, and holds a degree in Exhibition Design from F.I.T. In 2008, Yuka looked in the mirror and didn't like what she saw. Always feeling like there was something missing from her life, she had turned to excess, amassing a mountain of clothes, shoes, bags and random tchotchkes to fill the void. In an act of desperation, she founded Swyyne.com as a guide for urbanites wanting to change their piggish ways and has been learning and smiling more ever since. When she is not writing about sustainable design, Yuka amuses herself by making trash into treasure, hunting for goodies at her favorite thrift shop, The Family Jewels, and trying to eat every type of food in the world.
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