Top sustainable tech products you must buy

You have no doubt heard about "sustainable living" or "going green." Usually, these are paired with small, everyday changes you can make, like not using single-use plastics such as a straw, but there are more significant changes you can make. These changes focus on sustainable and green technologies that will not only help the planet but also save you money. Below, we have compiled a list of 10 sustainable technology gadgets and products you must buy to decrease the size of your carbon footprint and increase your standard of living.

1. Solar panels

Solar energy is a renewable energy source, and scientists are making new discoveries about its properties and how to harness it most efficiently every day. Solar panels usually are put on top of your roof, and they have the potential to power your house, offsetting your energy bills completely. The addition of solar panels is not cheap, but, depending on the state you live in, the payback period for installing solar panels is between 5-10 years! If you are worried about a particularly cloudy week and being suddenly without power, don't fear. Solar panels often come with a solar battery that allows extra energy collected during the sunnier days to be extracted from on days where the panels aren't as charged. Solar panels are one of the most eco-friendly products on the market. Installing this green technology can be quite the task, so it's best to leave it up to professionals who are experienced in sustainable living. 

2. Dual flush toilet

One of the most wasteful products in your house may be your toilet. Depending on the age, your toilet could be the object in your home that uses the most water and could be wasting gallons of water every day. At the core, a dual flush toilet is a toilet that allows you to choose how much water you are going to use to flush, depending on if it is liquid waste or solid waste. Liquid waste needs a lot less water, and by the simple press of a button, you can save water and money. A dual flush toilet is also simple to install as it doesn't require new plumbing pipes.

3. Programmable thermostat

Heating and cooling account for almost half of the energy consumption of your home. A programmable thermostat is gaining steam as one of the quickest fixes when it comes to implementing green technology into your home. Programmable thermostats allow you to set times for your house to heat or cool itself based on when you will be there to enjoy it. Your house should never be uncomfortable with a programmable thermostat as it will have your home prepared based on your household's programmed routine. Programmable thermostats also sometimes have apps that you can use to control it from your mobile device, which makes them all the more flexible to your ever-changing schedule.

4. Smart power strips

Lamps and phone chargers are often referred to as energy vampires. They keep going even when the lamps are turned off, or the phone is unplugged from the charger. With a smart power strip, those devices that may stay in a standby mode, like your TV that's always plugged in, will be shut off entirely. The smart power strip ceases all steady flow to your devices, but once you are ready to use them again, they turn on just like usual.

5. LED light bulbs

Another little switch to green technology that starts at home is switching to LEDs. LED light bulbs are overwhelmingly more energy efficient compared to their predecessor, the fluorescent light bulb. LEDs are also much brighter and have a longer lifespan meaning you need a lot less of them to light up a room and won't need to replace them nearly as often. LEDs are also not made with mercury like fluorescent lights tend to be, so they have no toxic properties and can be disposed of easily, making them fantastic eco-friendly products.

6. Geothermal heat pump

One of the most sustainable inventions of our time is a geothermal heat pump. A geothermal heat pump, otherwise known as a ground source heat pump, draws or dumps heat into the earth to help regulate the temperature of your home. Geothermal heat pumps are known to be the most efficient, environmentally conscious, and cost-effective conditioning systems.

7. Solar Water Heater & Other Solar Products

There aren't many green products that are as sustainable as solar ones. From a solar water heater to a solar phone charger, you can find just about anything that can be powered by the sun. Solar water heaters are what you'd expect; water heaters that heat the water based on energy received from the sun, and they are not only cost-effective but incredibly energy efficient as well. Some run of the mill household gadgets that you can find a solar product version of are phone chargers, wireless keyboards, grills/cookers, lights, and more!

8. Green roof

If you want to talk about the ultimate eco-friendly and sustainable technology, you'll be interested to learn about green roofs. A green roof, or a living roof, is a system of soil, irrigation, and plantlife that replaces your actual roof for a greener, more sustainable roof. Green roofs provide better insulation, help save energy in your home, and purify the air around you.

9. Energy Star appliances

Anything that has an energy star rating, you're going to want to look into. These devices range from refrigerators to dishwashers to windows, and they all focus on making your home the most energy efficient it could be. If you're looking for a gentle path into a greener lifestyle with green technologies, look for energy star appliances to replace your old, energy-draining products.

10. Bidet attachment

Another toilet accessory, a unique invention popular in Asia especially, is the bidet attachment. Instead of using toilet paper, which can not be recycled, purchase a bidet attachment for your toilet or a bidet toilet. Relatively easy to install, the bidet attachment does the job of toilet paper by spraying water to clean yourself. It is quick, easy, and incredibly efficient.

Eco-friendly products are becoming more common, and you will find many others are trying to make the same changes you are, whether as small as a solar-powered phone charger to as big as installing a green roof. Make your changes today and reap the rewards, financially and ethically.

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