It seems that virtually every product on the shelf is touting green benefits and materials. However, few products and technologies actually list their energy and carbon benefits. Here are 10 ways that green technology advancements are helping reduce energy consumption and promote green lifestyles.1. Tank-less Water Heaters Reduce Waste While Adding ConvenienceTraditional tank water heaters hold water at a specific temperature. Whether water is needed or used, the water is held constant to be available. Ambient temperatures and other factors can also increase energy requirement. 2. Smart Climate Control Reduces Heating and Cooling WasteHeating and cooling are some of the largest sources of energy consumption in the home. Smart thermostats, such as the NEST learning thermostat, learn your routines and allow remote access to make it simple to optimize your climate control schedules and reduce energy use.3. Smart Grid AppliancesFrom Wi-Fi enabled clothes dryers to smart televisions, Smart Grid technology allows appliances to balance energy loads within a home or even schedule operation during off-peak hours to reduce costs.4. LED LightingLED lights have improved drastically in recent years. From brighter lights to a more natural color balance, LED lights offer substantial savings over traditional incandescent bulbs or compact fluorescents. 5. USB Power Delivery Works to Optimize Electrical UsageMany mobile devices and home electronics are built to utilize DC power. As most homes utilize AC power, this means that adapters must convert the power before charging. This process is often inefficient. USB Power Delivery provides 100-watts of DC power from a standardized port for streamlining charging and powering of a variety of devices with improved efficiency.6. Water ReclamationFrom rainwater collection for outdoor gardens or toilets to grey water processing within the home, reclaiming water is a simple way to reduce water consumption and save energy while keeping all of the comforts of modern living.7. Wind and Solar Power Allow Greater SustainabilityLower prices and improved efficiency in wind and solar technologies are making it easier for homes and businesses to tap into these near-endless sources of energy for reduced energy costs and greater sustainability. As technologies continue to improve and prices drop, use of alternative energy sources is likely to increase.8. Smart Power Adaptors and Strips Reduce Vampire EnergySmart power adapters and strips sense when a room is empty, a device is idle or a battery has completed charging and cuts all power to the device. This prevents a problem known as vampire energy loss and can greatly reduce wasted energy.9. Improvements in Rechargeable Batteries Reduce Costs and Improve ReliabilityDisposable batteries are costly to dispose of and have a high impact on many non-renewable energy sources. New rechargeable batteries, such as Sanyo's Eneloop batteries, have made drastic improvements from previous models. They now feature many more charge cycles, improved battery life and many are easily recyclable. http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4113/5072089018 2b6077d072 o.jpg10. Home Automation Goes MobileWhether you are sending a tweet to your Belkin WeMo outlet or logging into your thermostat with NEST's dedicated app, many new green technologies offer ways to use your smartphone to not only increase comfort and convenience, but save energy and reduce your carbon footprint as well.Green technologies are an excellent way to reduce both the monetary and resource costs of daily living. From reducing your lighting costs to ensuring your devices waste as little energy as possible, these 10 technologies offer simple ways to go green and save energy.Willie Pena is a freelance writer, video producer, visual artist, and music producer. He prefers the Oxford comma. In addition to writing for firms such as Icon Identity Solutions, IBM, Colgate, Transunion, Webroot and a multitude of private clients and websites, he also shoots, directs, and edits the hit celebrity web series "Teens Wanna Know". Catch his rare blog posts on williepena.com, and connect with him on Google+, LinkedIn.
