Conference Explores Cutting Edge of Green Tech

The first-ever Greener Gadgets conference and design competition in New York focused on environmental sustainability and rapid innovation in the consumer electronics industry. The event was sponsored by Inhabitat and Marc Alt Partners to address product life cycle management, energy efficiency, recycling, design, materials, and ecologically-minded lifestyle and product marketing.

Keynote speakers included Mary Lou Jepsen, former Chief Technology Officer of One Laptop Per Child, artists Chris Jordan and Natalie Jeremijenko, and John Solomon, Vice President of the Imaging and Printing Group at Hewlett Packard. Several products were represented at the conference, including solar device chargers from MiniWiz and Voltaic, and Nokia's 3110 Evolve mobile phone.

According to Inhabitat, the consumer electronics industry is worth 150 billion dollars, and leads to the disposal of 400 million devices every year. These products are accountable for 25 percent of household electricity use, and are in the fastest growing category of municipal waste.

[Greener Gadgets]