For those of you fortunate enough to have grown up with Talkboys, you know the power of this cassette player and recorder. Its only downfall was that it took four AA batteries, and we were constantly begging my mom for more.

Solar panels for the home are coming down in price as the demand for them rises, and both local and federal government tax incentives help alleviate cost.

My electric bill is slightly lower per square foot with central air than it was when I lived in an apartment with a window unit (which, I have to add, was a new Energy Star appliance).

There’s a very simple way to save hundreds of dollars every year and help save the planet. The catch? You have to unplug your unused electronics and make good use of the ones that are plugged in.

You can save far more energy and money by switching to a newer fridge, but what do you do with an old one that works just fine?

So, you go to shop for new gadgets, devices and appliances and you see Energy Star labels everywhere, but you don’t know what they mean. You may know you’re making a good choice for the environment and for your electric bill, but what’s the big deal?

There are a few really cool solar-powered devices that I think are the beginning of what’s to come.

My TV is great for watching movies and high-definition TV shows, but how much electricity is it taking just to run the thing? The answer is, probably a lot — but not as much as some TVs.

I’m not about to go and buy up the latest and most energy-efficient electronics when the products I currently own serve me just fine.