Chocolate is a global delight that many consider to be a favorite indulgence. Opening the packaging and releasing the rich aroma, not to mention the whole melting in your mouth sensation, is enough to halt a chocolate lover momentarily in a sensory-heightened escape from the mundane. But do we always think about where our sweet treats travel from in order to get into our hands? Some of the highest cocoa producing commodities are found in the Western African countries of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. These regions produce over 70% of the world’s cocoa. These areas are reportedly also responsible… read more

Not everyone has the time or space for gardening. Picking your dinner straight from the backyard plot or container garden is definitely rewarding and healthy, but it does require a designated area and continual maintenance. For horticulturists that want to have all the benefits of fresh grown produce but without the worry of weeds, insects or having to keep up an outdoor area, hydroponic growing can be a perfect option. One indoor system has covered all the bases when it comes to a home hydroponic garden. The Niwa is a kit that works along with an app to grow fresh produce simply,… read more

The United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, is an organization that began in 1946 in order to assist women and children in receiving basic nutritional and humanitarian services. There are a reported 768 million people worldwide who do not have enough water, according to UNICEF statistics. On a daily basis, 1,400 children lose their lives from diseases that are tied to a lack of clean water. UNICEF’s presence can be seen in countries all over the globe, where the organization has helped to provide sterile water and sanitation services. The UNICEF Tap Project is a nationwide fundraising event held by… read more

Imagine a light bulb that is energy efficient and that you can control with your iPhone or Android phone. Launched on the creative funding website Kickstarter, is a light bulb reinvention project. LIFX, which is a Wi-Fi enabled, multicolored, energy efficient light bulb, has successfully raised its funding goal and consumers eagerly wait its arrival for purchase. You can preorder on the website now. LIFX is an LED bulb that is self-contained for easy installment. There is no need to call an electrician as this bulb can easily screw in and works perfectly on its own. The LIFX can control lights by… read more

Reducing our electricity use can help us live a little greener, by decreasing our overall energy consumption, and it can also help us to save money on our bills. But how do you know what’s using the most electricity and costing the most money? It’s one thing to know what the appliance sticker says, as far as how much electricity it uses, and another thing entirely to know exactly how much money it will cost you every month. But a useful little gadget can help make that information a lot more transparent, by telling you exactly how much juice each… read more

People use cosmetics to enhance the appearance of the skin and to address issues, but sometimes products that are purchased to help actually can be harmful. Some of the chemical components found in cosmetics and beauty products may not be regulated, and can cause a range of problems from allergies to hormone and reproductive disturbances, among other health concerns. Parabens can be found in a wide range of products. They are commonly used as a preservative and fragrance, and an approximate 75-90% of cosmetics contain low levels of parabens. They can easily be absorbed into the skin, and are able… read more

In a cross between a city bus and a private taxi, a new bus service in Helsinki, Finland, allows riders to set their own routes and pay for them, right from their smartphone. Kutsuplus is the name of the service, which prices its trips somewhere between the cost of a taxi and that of a public bus, and ten of their minibuses are currently in service from 7:30am to 6:30pm in the city. “The ordering and control system of the Kutsuplus service is fully automated. It allows you to order trips even only a few minutes before you want to… read more

We may think that the smart home of the future will eventually spring into existence, fully finished and integrated and built from the ground up to be wired and optimized, but the reality is that it will probably happen bit by bit, as the technology and hardware get cheaper and easier to install. And in that case, the smart home is getting closer and closer every day, with more new interconnected gadgets and appliances hitting the market, and more home automation solutions, such as this one, which is billed as an “intelligent heating app”. tado° is not just an app,… read more

In a challenge to app and web developers, Ford aims to help drivers get the best, most reliable, personal fuel economy data so they can optimize their fuel usage. At the New York International Auto Show, Ford announced a $50,000 Personalized Fuel-Efficiency App Challenge, asking software developers to create the best apps to help customers easily access their personal fuel-economy performance data. The Challenge is designed to “create an app to improve everyone’s fuel economy”, according to Jim Farley, Ford Executive vice president of global marketing. The independent developer that produces the best application for measuring fuel economy in the… read more

Water conservation is an important part of learning how to live more sustainably, but other than looking at a water bill once a month, there isn’t an easy way to see where the water goes. But now you can easily get more waterwise by gaining awareness of just how much water your household consumes with this new free app. The Water Use Calculator, from the National Ground Water Association, is a free iPhone/iPad app designed to help consumers build a better awareness of their own water use (and costs), and then help to reduce them. The app offers a simple… read more