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Save your energy
I don’t pay enough attention to the amount of energy my family spends. I’m not proud of this: I catch a glimpse of the bill, I can raise an eyebrow, in the winter months I can grimace slightly. But I also know that it is up to all of us to take a more active interest in our energy consumption, think about reaching personal net zero, and perhaps gaining a little independence from the grid. A system that allows you to accumulate, store and manage energy is key to making these types of changes, and EcoFlow’s newest residential offering – a single-phase system designed for UK homes – makes a strong case for doing so.
Visually, the PowerOcean is nothing spectacular: it consists of an inverter along with one, two or three 5 kWh LFP (lithium ferrophosphate) battery packs that are waterproof and weather-resistant, meet strict safety guidelines, and stack perfectly against a wall (the battery can rest on the floor or be mounted on the wall). What’s clever is the way they integrate with a home energy ecosystem, which could include solar panels, immersion heaters, heat pumps and electric vehicle chargers, as well as grid connection. Maybe charge it when it’s sunny, or even from the grid during off-peak hours, and use it when you need it.
The interaction between all of these elements can be managed with a surprising level of granularity using the EcoFlow app, so certain energy sources can be prioritized over others and specific appliances can be configured to turn on when, for example, there is an excess of solar energy. The semi-open API means third-party appliances (smart washing machines, lighting systems, smart thermostats, and Matter-enabled devices) can be added to the app for management and monitoring, although you’ll need to purchase EcoFlow’s 10-inch wall panel. PowerInsight panel mounted for added functionality.
EcoFlow works with local installers to analyze your energy usage and tailor the installation to your property. The only real danger is becoming too obsessed with the complexities of your consumption patterns. But maybe that’s not a bad thing.
An open and shut case
One of the ecological black marks of technological products is their irreparability, which leads us to assume that any defective device is a dead device. Danish company AIAIAI is on a crusade for the right to repair and makes products that can be disassembled with just a spudger and a screwdriver. In the case of these portable wireless speakers, parts that have a shorter lifespan (e.g. batteries, controllers) can be changed without breaking a sweat. Sonically, they are exceptional reference monitors; There’s a Bluetooth option for streaming from your phone, but if perfection is your thing, connect an audio source to the included transmitter and you’ll soon be streaming uncompressed audio with solid stability.
Does that sound fair?
Fairphone has, for more than a decade, championed ethical manufacturing: conscious supply chains, using post-consumer recycled plastic, and raising wages for factory workers. Now it’s channeled this ethos into an unpretentious pair of headphones that come with minimal packaging, a matte case and no extras save a selection of ear pads. But they’re more impressive than their appearance might suggest: the tap-and-swipe controls respond perfectly, the noise cancellation is excellent, and the sound, while not flawless, is very good (and can be improved to “excellent” with a few tweaks equalization in the application). The replaceable batteries in the charging case and earbuds also make it a long-lasting product.
power plants
The hard work in most air purifiers is done by the HEPA filters that need to be replaced every 12 months. Italy-based Vitesy is waging a more sustainable war on pollutants by using plant energy, specifically phytoremediation, where air is filtered through the soil around a plant’s roots. You supply the soil and plant (Vitesy advises you which type is best), place it in the unit and plug it in. The soil, along with a washable ceramic photocatalytic filter, gets to work filtering out VOCs, viruses, and bacteria, and at that point, you can largely forget about it (the plant waters itself for about a month). The accompanying app informs you of contaminant levels using carefully designed alerts or graphs.
balancing act
I see a lot of flashy plastic balance bikes coming in and out of my son’s daycare, and Choppy is healthy by comparison: It’s made in Latvia from Baltic birch plywood, assembles quickly and easily (no screws!), and arrives in glue-free FSC packaging. -Certified box printed with an attractive toy car racing track that also doubles as a board game. The curved seat has a natural spring (that’s where the strong, flexible plywood comes into play) that acts as a suspension system. You can also adjust the handlebar and seat positions to suit your child, whether they’re toddlers or terrifying four-year-olds. Available in black, brown or green, Choppy has won numerous design awards and deserves them all.