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Latest by Simon Sage

EV battery

What’s the environmental impact of EV battery manufacturing and recycling?

Like anything, making an electric vehicle has an environmental cost. Let's find out how an EV battery is made and where it goes when it dies.
A solar panel affixed to the rear of a backpack.

Skip tiny solar on your next camping trip. There is a better, easier way

Solar power is great, but it's not worth spending a long time babysitting a tiny panel just to get a decent charge.
Woman having glass of wine with Govee Smart LED light bulb on.

How to automatically light up a room when you enter

Smart lights can figure out when you're getting close and automatically turn on. Learn how to make this feature work for you.
Govee Glide Hexa Pro light panels installed above a shelf.

Govee Glide Hexa Pro review – fun lighting with few hiccups

The Govee Glide Hexa Pro light panels deliver a colorful splash to your living spaces. There are still a few bugs to squash, but they're still a great addition.
Nanoleaf Shapes light tiles installed next to a desk.

Nanoleaf Shapes review: a decade in the making

Nanoleaf is shipping a special version of its Shapes tiles to mark its 10-year anniversary. Let's see what all that experience adds up to.
Amazon worker packaging products.

Why you should opt for slow shipping this Prime Day

By voluntarily opting for slower delivery during Prime Day, you'll help give the environment (and Amazon employees) a bit of a break.
best smart outdoor lighting blog state of home security light 1024x1024

How to position outdoor lights

Having great lights for your front yard and patio is one thing, but positioning them for maximum coverage is another. Here are some helpful tips.
Razer Chroma gaming PCs with Govee lights installed behind them.

Govee smart lights now play nice with Razer Chroma

Govee's Glide Hexa Light Panels, Glide Wall Lights, Neon Rope Lights, and LED Strip Lights are now all plugged into the Razer Chroma RGB experience.
A 42ft Denali XL Tiny House by Timbercraft Tiny Homes set up in the woods.

Best smart tech for a tiny home

Make the most out of a tiny home's limited space with these smart pieces of tech.
SwitchBot Curtain controller mounted on curtain rod.

SwitchBot Curtain review: Noisy solution to a non-existent problem

The SwitchBot Curtain looks like a great way to help keep your home cool over the summer, but getting it to perform reliably is a challenge.
Philips Hue Go Lamp on a patio table where friends are sitting together at night.

Philips unveils new Hue Go lamp, Tap switch, and app upgrades

The Philips Hue family is expanding with a batch of upgraded products. A new portable lamp, updated physical switch, and downlights are among the announcements.
A car on a forest road in the winter.

How does weather affect EV battery life?

Extreme cold and heat will reduce your EV's battery life, but why? Battery chemistry and climate control help explain this fact of EV life.
Mitsubishi i MiEV review exterior plug charging electric vehicle plugged in

Why do EVs charge slowly? Lithium battery limits explained

Electric vehicles take so long to charge compared to gas cars. Why? The limitations of lithium-ion batteries help explain this frustration of modern EVs.
a sapling grows in the forest

The most eco-friendly smart home companies

Upgrade your smart home responsibly with these eco-friendly manufacturers.
Adjusting the temperature on the Google Nest Thermostat.

Five must-have eco-friendly products for your smart home

Make your life a little greener with these eco-friendly smart home devices. We look at everything from bidets to smart composters.
Electric GT e-Crate Motor Tesla battery

How do electric cars work? EV motors and batteries explained

Electric cars may seem impossibly complex, but motors, batteries, and electricity are in many ways simpler to understand than gasoline engines.
ChargePoint Home EV charger plugged into car.

EV glossary: All of the electric vehicle jargon you need to know

If you need to know obscure electric vehicle terms or want to educate yourself about EVs we have a handy reference with loads of EV definitions.
Pile of old phones.

How to responsibly recycle old and unused phones

Your old phones have had a good life, and now it's time to recycle them responsibly. Let's run through the steps.
A Proposition 65 warning label on a graphics card box.

What is Proposition 65 in California and will my phone kill me?

Proposition 65 warning labels are bound to catch your eye when buying a new phone or other gadget. What does it mean? Will my shiny new purchase give me cancer?
Bird-X laser deterrent cast against a garden at night.

Best tech for keeping pests at bay

Skip the pesticides and go with these high-tech options for keeping birds, raccoons, and bugs out of your garden.
A bidet on a toilet seat.

How much toilet paper do bidets actually save?

Is the best option for a squeaky clean butt also the best option for the environment? Let's learn about bidets.
Govee Hexa Glide Light Panels installed on wall behind desk.

Govee Glide Hexa Light Panel review: Great lighting, cluttered app

The Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels provide a colorful backdrop for your home, complete with music sync out of the box. Are they worth taking the plunge?
An old iPad being used as a picture frame.

5 creative ways to repurpose your old and unused tech

Rather than simply tossing out your old electronics, it's actually quite easy to find alternative uses for them. Here are some of our favorites!
A pile of old iPhone batteries.

How to responsibly recycle old and unused batteries

Figuring out how to recycle batteries can be a bit of a challenge depending on where you live, so we put together this guide to help out.
Woman mixing smelting aluminum.

Apple to use zero-emission recycled aluminum in iPhone SE

The iPhone SE will use aluminum that only produces oxygen in its smelting process. This is thanks to Apple Green Bond investments into new processes.
Philips Hue Iris table lamp green

How to change your smart light colors

One of the greatest features of smart lights is being able to change them to all sorts of colors. Here's how you do it.
Cana One smart drink appliance in a kitchen.

Cana One aims to one-up SodaStream with bevy of smart features

Cana One is promising a smart beverage system for your kitchen that can mix thousands of different drinks while minimizing waste.
Computer circuit board.

5 technologies you didn’t know came from Ukraine

Ukraine is a country of resilient, smart people. They've made countless contributions to the world of technology. Here are just a few.
Tuya Ambient Light Bars on a glass coffee table.

Tuya Ambient Light Bar review: Functional but not secure

These inexpensive Tuya Ambient Light Bars do the job, but a lack of brand recognition shakes confidence.
Electrical power lines cast against a blue sky.

How does direct current power work?

Despite the dominance of alternating current in our day to day lives, direct current still has some very useful applications.
Nanowerk diagram demonstrating smart wood in the home.

This wooden smart home sensor doesn’t need batteries

Researchers have drummed up a new kind of smart home sensor that is powered by simple pressure with no need for batteries.
Solar panels sit hillside.

Are solar panels recyclable?

Solar panels are great for generating renewable power, but what happens when they reach the end of their life? Find out how solar panel recycling works.
Two men installing a solar panel on a roof.

How much money can you save with solar panels?

Solar panels are a big investment, but they can also save money on your electrical bill. Is it worth it?
Tradfri smart plug connected to a bathroom outlet.

HomeKit smart plug installation guide

Manage smart plugs with your Apple devices by tying them into HomeKit. Once it's done, you'll be able to manage them alongside your other smart home devices.