Why most green gadgets suck (and how to make them better) DVICE
It's mostly symbolicThat hybrid badge on a Toyota Prius might make its owners feel like they're saving the world, but in the car's manufacturing process, that nickel-metal-hydride battery pack polluted the environment and required way too much fuel for it to be truly green. Mining the raw materials (usually done in environmentally negligent mines in China) exposed the planet to toxic rare-earth minerals. Then, separating the metal from the ore and shipping all that stuff across the ocean consumed even more fuel. After the car's usable life is over, that nickel-metal-hydride battery could be hazardous unless it's recycled. Ultimately, that hybrid vehicle could be worse for the environment than its internal-combustion counterpart.
In another example, the amount of energy you'll save with a novelty gadget such as a water-powered clock is negligible. Not using any energy to tell the time might give you a cheap thrill, but don't kid yourself. You're not really saving the planet.
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