Green Daily

EnerJar.

Doesn't sound like much, does it? Well, it could soon be a household name . It was the grand prize winner at the Core 77/Greener Gadgets green design contest, and its a DIY gadget that measures the electrical draw from appliances.

Simply plug the jar into a wall outlet, and plug your electric device - toaster, hairdryer, vibrator, whatever - into the other jar's outlet, and the electronic screen will register how much energy you're using in either instantaneous power, average power, or cumulative energy consumption in kilowatt-hours.

Even cooler? The eco component doesn't stop at the design. You can't buy this in a store; instead, the instructions on how to make an EnerJar will be available for free online, and you can buy the parts yourself and use an old jar as the main component. It's a perfect example of how a design doesn't have to be flashy or all that aesthetically appealing to be green and innovative. (If you're really concerned, you could decorate the jar with stickers and puffy paint, or something).

Second place in the competition was snagged by Clay Moulton's "Gravia," a LED floor lamp lit by the energy of a passerby dropping a heavy object next to (not onto) the device. Nice if you're an able-bodied person who only wants to, say, read a book for half an hour (the device is supposed to light to the intensity of a 40-watt bulb for several hours, as long as it is continuously provoked), but not so great for the elderly or those with disabilities.

Curious about the other winners and the runners-up? Check 'em out here.

Want to make your own EnerJar? Go forth, intrepid DIYers. And when you do, tell us your story - were you successful? If we compile enough responses, we'll write an update post in another few weeks.