:: Tune in

Cardboard Radio, £25, from sciencemuseumshop.co.uk

Unless it's the box it comes in, cardboard and tech don't normally go hand in hand, but then this product comes from the home of invention, The Science Museum. Made of recycled cardboard, you can keep the trend going and recycle the gadget when it reaches the end of its life, too - you can't really get more environmentally friendly than that! In addition to an FM radio you can connect your phone/MP3 player into the box and play your favourite ditties through it. The speaker is surprisingly good! It's powered by 4 AA batteries (included).

:: Ear about it

Chant In-ear Headphones, Rasta - £29.99 from thehouseofmarley.co.uk

Whether it's their speakers, headphones or fashion accessories, The House of Marley are known for producing beautiful looking products which also come with great technology. What you might not have realised though, is also how earth-friendly their products are. Take these Chant in-ear headphones for example, the wood is FSC certified, the aluminium is recyclable and plastic is recycled - even the packaging it comes in is ecologically sound. In terms of the usability, the headphones have a great tone and the fabric cord has been designed to avoid tangles. There are several colours to choose from, the Rasta ones in turquoise are particularly pretty.

:: Pipe up

Piper NV, currently priced £229.99, from amazon.co.uk

Home security has become all the more hi-tech over the last few years. The Piper NV is no different and through the corresponding app you can have a live HD stream of your house when you're away and want to keep an eye on your property. In addition to this function, this gadget can also control some of the environmental factors in your home, customising the device so its sensors know when you're using unnecessary energy - either that it's warm enough so it turns down your heating, or that it's bright enough so it turns off your lamp. Not only will it save you energy, but hopefully money too.

:: Tick tock

LED Water Powered Shower Timer, £19.99, from ecotopia.co.uk

Whether you have a water meter and want to keep your usage (and costs) down or are more concerned about wasting energy, let this handy little shower timer - powered by the water that runs through it - assist you. Attach it to the shower hose and tap and the LED light will let you know exactly how long you've been in the shower. If you finish when it's green then you'll have only been in 0-4 minutes, if it's blue then it's 4-8 minutes while if it's red it's definitely time to wash that conditioner out as you've been in there 8-12 minutes. If it gets as far as flashing red then it's likely your fingers will resemble prunes; you'll have been under the water for more than 12 minutes.

:: Water great idea

1.7L Eco Kettle, £40, from prestige.co.uk

We're often told that an easy way to save energy is only to boil the amount of water we need rather than filling our kettle right to the top. This device has been designed with that energy-saving technique in mind - the minimum water level is just one cup, so you really can restrict the amount boiled to the bare minimum. What's more, it includes a '3kw rapid boil element' - which basically means your water boils really quickly, and has an instant start and stop to save you more energy in the process - in fact, they claim it can reduce the energy used boiling water by up to 50%.

:: A wise owl

Owl intuition-e Smart Energy monitor, £64.99, nigelsecostore.com

If you're keen to cut down your energy bills and your carbon footprint, this energy monitor will help. You'll receive two boxes; one contains the sensor pack and the other the 'Network Owl', which connects to your router. Once it's all set up and you've created an OWL Intuition account, you can easily monitor exactly how much energy you're using and compare it to your previous use, as well as keep an eye on your carbon footprint (CO2e). For stat fans, there are graphs and tables galore. It's very easy to install and the instructions are straightforward - that said, if you have any concerns, get a qualified electrician to help.

App of the Week

The Green Alchemist, £4.99 (per year) from greenalchemist.co.uk

Set up with businesses in mind, the Green Alchemist allows companies to find out if their recycling is worth anything, and if it is, to auction it off to other local companies (be it old office furniture, paper or electronic goods). For those using the app outside work, you can find out where the nearest recycling facilities are to you.

Top 10 bestselling apps

1. Minecraft - Pocket Edition by Mojang

2. Terraria by 505 Games

3. Tipping Point by Barnstorm Games

4. Paranormal Pursuit: The Gifted One by Alawar Entertainment, Inc.

5. Craft+ by No1 Minecraft

6. Cryptic Labyrinth by 3D Methods

7. AirReceiver

8. Time Mysteries: Inheritance by Artifex Mundi sp. z o.o

9. The Chase by Barnstorm Games

10. Plants vs. Zombies by PopCap Games

T op 10 free apps

1. BBC iPlayer by BBC

2. Netflix by Netflix, Inc.

3. Criminal Case by Pretty Simple

4. Bubble Witch 2 Saga by King

5. Crossy Road by Hipster Whale

6. Demand 5 by Channel 5

7. Prime Instant Video by Amazon.com

8. Sticks by Walkaway Games

9. Spotify Music by Spotify

10. TVPlayer by TV Player

(Both charts courtesy of Amazon Appstore)