The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is famous for introducing life altering electronics. Getting more for less, easier, and quicker – that’s the name of the game in today’s consumer electronics markets. What’s even better is when electronics cut your bills in half by being more energy efficient.
Below you’ll see how one product could reduce your energy bill by 95%. Use all five at once and you’ll be floored the next time you see your electric bill. I’ve collected a few CES inventions that will help keep your budgets low and your business more energy efficient.
1. BoostSolar – Solar Powered Charger
Take a look around you and see how many of your electronics are within arms reach. Now see how many of those energy suckers are plugged in. We’ve all experienced that moment of panic when we have too many devices, and not enough charging systems – especially when we’re on the move. The BoostSolar, Eton’s portable solar panel charger, serves as an energy efficient and budget-friendly solution.
As spring approaches and sunny weather prepares to bask us in it’s rejuvenating rays, not only do we rejoice, but our electronics and budgets can too. The BoostSolar features a rechargeable 5000mAh lithium battery. When charged up, you’ll have enough backup power to fully charge most smartphones twice. This product also features a 2.1A USB for charging your tablet and a Micro-USB DC input for use with most smartphone chargers.
The BoostSolar has a rugged rubber exterior and an IPX-4 rating, making it sturdy and splash proof, ideal for any entrepreneur on the go. This outlet free energy saving gadget costs $99.99, and will be available early in Q2 this year.
2. 3RO Pro Computer
Each year we hear about new and improved electronics that are smaller, lighter, and more energy efficient than ever before. That’s when Xi3 decided to push the limits of, “great things come in small packages,” with their desktop computer the size of a paperback book.
Of course, that wasn’t far enough. This computer is a 3-in-1 deal; three users can simultaneously plug in to this desktop and significantly reduce the power usage of an organization. Operating on 15 Watts, the Xi3 Z3RO Pro Computer minimizes your power bills by almost 95 percent per user. This computer has the smallest footprint for a 64-bit dual-core computer, allowing your business to tap into energy efficiency that lasts for a minimum of 6-10 years.
3. The Iqua SUN Solar-Powered Bluetooth Headset
If you’re a business professional on the go, you probably have a Bluetooth headset. If one of your New Year’s resolutions was go “go green,” then make the simple switch by using an Iqua SUN solar-powered bluetooth headset. This headset weighs 14 grams and fits into the ear without a hook. Once it’s powered up by the sun, the device lasts 200 hours standby time, or 9 hours in complete darkness. The Iqua Sun is compatible with several Bluetooth enabled devices, including smartphones, PDAs, and computers.
4. GE Green Mobile Power Station
Power strips are great when they double as a surge protector, and offer a USB hub, but the icing on the cake is when they control your power usage, too. The GE Green Mobile Power Station manages power from multiple devices, including computers and monitors to peripherals and desk lamps.
This device is boosted by a lithium-ion battery, which helps to manage the individual sockets. Each socket is turned off individually after the gadget is fully charged. For the small price of $119, you can charge up printers, servers, laptops, lamps, and more.
5. ThinkPad Helix
If you just can’t give up your electronics, then a dual purpose electronic is one of your best options for cutting down energy usage. Instead of buying three energy suckers like a laptop, tablet, and projector, you now have three in one. Unveiled at the CES 2013, Levono’s ThinkPad Helix combines all the high performance features of the Ultrabook with the light, compact convenience and mobility of a tablet computer.
The ThinkPad Helix is equipped with an 11.6 inch, 1920 x 1080 IPS display, and weighs just 1.8 lb as tablet only and just 3.8 lbs with keyboard attached. This dual purpose laptop allows you rotate the tablet and dock it for “Stand” mode, which makes it useful for office presentations, or viewing media.
The Helix offers a robust 10 hours of battery life and is compatible with Windows 8 Pro. No more stressing how much energy your multiple electronics are sucking, now your laptops can be a three in one station.
Although this product was just announced at CES 2013, the ThinkPad Helix will be available in the US starting next month.
Kelsey Libert is a speaker, entrepreneur, and Internet enthusiast. She’s a chief development officer for a diverse website portfolio, where she runs the content development strategy and execution for several websites, and counting.
