apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We just can't get enough of easy, DIY laptop stands. Laptop stands, coupled with an external keyboard and mouse, can really help keep away the bad neck and back juju. For those who would rather make do with what you have lying around the house, here's one stand that requires cardboard and scissors.

One of the more bogus things that can happen when you're out of the house is your phone dies -- more so if it's a smartphone. Not only do you no longer have a phone line at your disposal, you don't have email, text messages, maps, the web! Totally uncalled for.

Windows are any home's best friend. Natural light not only makes interiors look better, but it's easy on the eyes as well. Problem is, windows aren't the best at regulating a home's temperature. What if your windows could multitask by letting light in and storing solar energy?

While we love compact fluorescent bulbs, it's absolutely tragic (and dangerous) when one breaks. Not only have you lost $3, but you're now inhaling toxic chemicals. Luckily, with a few extra bucks, we don't have to worry about broken bulbs.

Did you know that not all game consoles use the same amount of power? Peter Troast of Engery Circle soon discovered this very fact when he brought a Nintendo Wii and an Xbox 360 to his PS3 household. Guess which one is the power hog?

We're currently struggling to cook via an ancient electric stovetop at our new apartment. It's been a learning experience going from gas to electric, but we're managing. Now, if we owned the place, we would want to upgrade our kitchen, and if we had the money to invest, we may put that cash down on an induction cooktop. This technology uses half the energy of gas and less than half that of an electric stove top. So how does it work?

While living digitally has made us greener in some aspects it also has its eco drawbacks. From the amount of waste created to make all our digital doodads to the amount of power it takes to power them, a home office can easily become an epicenter of waste. So, how do you make your workspace green?

There are some T-shirts you just can't bear to throw away, no matter how many holes there may be in them. No worries. Hello Rewind will take the shirt off your back and turn it into a cozy holder for your notebook.

It's that time of the year again. The annual Greener Gadgets conference has announced its nominees for their Greener Gadgets competition. There are 18 entries you can vote for, with the winners announced at the event on February 25th. We've selected our four favorite entries, which you can read about after the jump.

We all know the trick of putting a pot of water on a hot radiator to humidify a dry apartment, but who knew there were so many more non-electrical options to keeping moist during the winter months.

While we don't know if we'd be able to spend the whole day standing at our desks, we do like John Knox's vision. His entire desk is made of salvaged wood he's found laying around on the streets, and in one case, his basement.

We wonder if these cans sound a bit tinny -- badumbum! Inspired by tin can telephones made by children around the world, Dean Brown figured out a way to do the same but with a portable music player.

So you put the new Motorola Android on your holiday wish list. If you get it, why not spread the holiday cheer by donating, not just recycling, your old phone? There are a ton of organizations -- and people -- out there that can use your old gear. What's not used is recycled so you can rest assured that your donation stays green. After the jump, seven places you can help just by giving up your unwanted gadgets.