10 Cool Green Technology Products For The Home On Earth Day 2019

Products for saving electricity, water and other resources could help lighten your impact this Earth Day.

Going Greener

Green technology isn't just about producing renewable energy. It's also about saving energy and other resources, such as water, paper and plastic. If you're looking to cut your energy and water usage—or rely more on recycled materials—a number of products can help you reduce your environmental footprint in a meaningful way. And often, you'll save money while you're at it.

Earth Day 2019 is celebrated on Monday, April 22. So in honor of Earth Day, we've rounded up 10 green technology products for the home that are worth considering.

Nest Thermostat E

The Thermostat E is Nest's more affordably priced smart thermostat, but that doesn't mean it has anything less to offer on energy efficiency. Key features include turning down the temperature automatically when occupants have left (which the Thermostat E does by using your smartphone's location). Nest says that its device saves an average of 10 percent to 12 percent on heating bills and 15 percent on cooling bills—which also means a lower carbon footprint for you. On top of its eco-friendlier approach, the Thermostat E offers capabilities such as remote control of your thermostat from any of your devices.

The Nest Thermostat E is priced at $169.

Rechargeable Batteries And Battery Charger

While throwing away single-use batteries is legal in most states, that doesn't mean it's not wasteful. Eliminating the use of resources and the waste that's created by single-use batteries by switching to rechargeable batteries can be a great step to take for Earth Day. And it's not that expensive, either. For AmazonBasics rechargeable batteries, you'll pay $14.99 for an eight-pack of rechargeable AA batteries and $11.99 for an eight-pack of rechargeable AAAs. The batteries are good for 1,000 recharge cycles—a major savings of resources (and money). And for an added carbon-reducing bonus, Amazon says its rechargeable batteries are pre-charged using solar power. An AmazonBasics charger, which can recharge both the AA and AAA batteries, is priced at $14.99.

Rocketbook Everlast: Earth Edition

For those of us who still prefer handwriting over typing, you can have the best of both the physical and digital worlds with the Rocketbook Everlast—and save some trees while you're at it. The Rocketbook Everlast looks and feels like a normal pen-and-paper notebook, but the notes can be easily uploaded from the notebook to cloud services. The Rocketbook Everlast includes 36 pages, which can be erased with a damp cloth. Given that the notebook is "infinitely reusable," according to Rocketbook, the potential for saving paper over time is huge. And for the Everlast: Earth Edition, Rocketbook has teamed up with nonprofit organization One Tree Planted to plant a tree for every Everlast: Earth Edition that's sold (and two trees for sales on Earth Day itself).

The Rocketbook Everlast: Earth Edition, with an accompanying Pilot FriXion pen and microfiber towel, is priced at $32.

HP Tango

HP Inc. is working to lessen the impact of printing with products such as the HP Tango home printer, as well as its own eco-friendlier printer cartridges and paper. Along with having a stylish design and voice-control capabilities, the HP Tango stands out by being manufactured from 30 percent closed-loop recycled plastics. The Tango is also Energy Star certified, and works with original HP ink cartridges, which are partially made from recycled plastic. In addition, all HP-branded paper sold in North America is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council—denoting responsible forest management. HP-branded paper comes from sustainable sources including recycled paper and trees that were specifically planted to become paper, the company has said.The HP Tango is priced at $149.99.

LG LTCS20220S Top-Freezer Refrigerator

The No. 1 rule of thumb in green living: It's always better to try to save as much energy as possible before attempting to generate your own clean power. From that perspective, the most critical green technology of all may just be energy efficiency. Green experts don't necessarily recommend replacing your perfectly functional appliances with energy-efficient ones (a potentially wasteful proposition). But when the time comes for a new fridge, it's worth checking out the most eco-friendly options, of course. Consumer Reports has named the LG LTCS20220S as its best energy-efficient refrigerator with a top freezer, with an annual energy cost of just $61. The fridge is also relatively affordable; features an appealing stainless steel finish and a large, 30-inch-wide capacity; and has won a rating of "excellent" for predicted reliability in Consumer Reports surveys.

The LG LTCS20220S Top-Freezer Refrigerator is priced at $999.99.

Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR75UC Dishwasher

Perhaps the time has come for a new dishwasher, as well. Looking again to Consumer Reports, the ratings group has found the Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR75UC to be the top energy-efficient dishwasher currently available, with an annual energy cost of only $33. The dishwasher is also highly rated for reliability and satisfaction in Consumer Reports surveys and offers "superior performance and features" for a budget-class dishwasher, according to the organization.

The Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR75UC Dishwasher is currently priced at $629.10 at Home Depot.

Belkin Conserve Power Switch

It's one thing to use energy when you're actively using appliances or home electronics. But's another to use energy for no reason—which is exactly what we're doing when we leave devices plugged into an outlet. "Phantom energy" has a notable impact on electricity use and bills—estimated at up to $100 per year—but this energy waste can be curbed by products such as the Belkin Conserve Power Switch. The product is a three-prong plug with a switch on the side; flipping the switch means you are drawing zero power from that outlet. Belkin mentions using the Conserve Power Switch on microwaves, coffee makers, heaters and lighting. Importantly, the plug doesn't obstruct multiple outlets, making it easy to integrate.

The Belkin Conserve Power Switch is priced at $6.99.

High Sierra Low Flow Shower Head

Green living is not just about saving power; conserving water is becoming a more important concern with each new year. For those looking to level up their water-saving efforts, High Sierra says that its 1.5-gallon-per-minute shower head provides a spray that feels nearly as strong as a higher-flow showerhead. That's thanks to High Sierra's patented technology around its shower nozzle.

The High Sierra Low Flow Shower Head is priced at $39.95 on Amazon.

Niagara Conservation Tri-Max Aerator

You can also save water from the faucet with ease, with the help of the Niagara Conservation's Tri-Max Aerator, which fits over most faucets. The aerator not only adds air to the flow of water, reducing the amount of water used, but also lets you adjust your flow setting based on the task (soaping, washing or powerful rinsing).

The Niagara Conservation Tri-Max Aerator is priced at $5.20 on Amazon.

Renogy Solar Suitcase

Maybe you're not ready to go all-in on solar, but you’d still like to generate some of your own renewable power. The Renogy Solar Suitcase could be a great way to check out solar for yourself without a huge commitment. The Solar Suitcase is a portable solar panel, with an adjustable, corrosion-resistant aluminum stand and a handle for transportation (the product weighs 27 pounds). A pair of 50-watt monocrystalline solar panels give you a total of 100 watts worth of solar energy capacity with the Renogy Solar Suitcase. While Renogy is aiming the product at travelers, there's no reason the Solar Suitcase couldn't serve as a backyard power source at your home—and a great introduction to the world of generating your own green energy.

The Renogy 100-Watt Solar Suitcase is priced at $246.99 (and is currently 15 percent off for Earth Day).