There is no doubt that a new economy technology boom is under way and the main driver for this recent tech boom is innovative companies eager to find the next big thing and making strong investments in research and development to do so.  But much of the technology that’s really sophisticated and comes with a huge wow factor is not yet market ready or affordable. 

However, when it comes to consumer products, there is some really cool technology that is affordable for the average Joe, or Jane and it’s also green. This is evidenced in Popular Mechanics November issue which awarded the top 10 most brilliant gadgets, tools and toys that you can buy in 2009.  Not all have a green angle such as Palm Pre or Loggerhead Bionic Hydrant but here are some of the green consumer products that made PM’s top 10 list.

Honeywell Wind Turbine

According to Popular Mechanics, in a typical wind turbine, air moves the blades, which turn gears to spin a generator and produce a current. Those mechanical linkages siphon off a good deal of wind energy before it can be converted to electricity.  The Honeywell Wind Turbine, eliminates the separate generator, and therefore the gearing. The blades are tipped with magnets and enclosed in a wheel that contains coiled copper—in other words, the turbine itself is the electrical generator. The new system, which weighs 165 pounds and costs about $5500, works in 2-mph winds.

Andalay AC Solar PV Panel

Solar photovoltaic systems must be paired with inverters to convert the panels’ DC power to the AC power used in homes, states Popular Mechanics. So installing a solar array involves sizing an inverter to fit the panels’ output and running a bunch of wiring—not that easy. New panels from Andalay incorporate microinverters, along with racking and wiring—and take a big step toward true plug-and-play solar power for the home. Andalay says future products will be even easier to install.

Quikrete Asphalt and Green Concrete

Every year about 45 million tons of old asphalt get torn up and pulverized in the U.S. Most of it winds up in landfills. Meanwhile, 81 million tons of fly ash and slag are produced as coal is burned in power plants. Quikrete has started putting that waste to work in DIY construction supplies. By using recycled roadway material in its Asphalt Cold Patch and coal-burning byproducts in its Green Concrete Mix, the company increases efficiency while helping to clean up other people’s messes.

 
Hustler Zeon Electric Mower

The Hustler Zeon, the world’s first all-electric zero-turn radius mower, shows what an environmentally friendly piece of yard machinery can do. The four 12-volt lead-acid batteries power twin DC deck motors, driving a pair of blades for a 42-inch-wide cut. The batteries also power twin AC hydrostatic drive motors, one at each rear wheel. The machine can turn on a dime or zoom along at 6 mph. The run time is 80 minutes, long enough to cut an acre. The Zeon costs about $7000.  

Commentary and pictures sourced from Popular Mechanics article.

Filed under: Good Green Stuff, Green Technology