green living Archives | Cool Mom Tech

The most gorgeous, modern lighting is sustainably made from…corn.

Sometimes I discover a new company at a tech press event that I’m so excited about, I run right over here to tell you about it. And sometimes, that product is so perfect that I first make a quick stop at the company website to buy one for myself. That’s...

The new VW minibus: It’s electric! Boogie woogie, woogie.

by Caroline Siegrist | Green Tech

I never believed them when they said it would happen to me, but it’s true. I officially want a minivan. Luckily for reluctant parents like me, Volkswagen is releasing an all-electric minibus called the I.D. Buzz that could give growing families like mine an...

Tado offers smart climate control, now for homes without central heat or air

by Kate Etue | Smart Appliances

We do our best to save energy at home, but it is easier said than done with three kids who like to leave lights on all day long. (Even in the closets. Just, why?) That said, smart thermostats have been making it easier for so many families to conserve on heat and air...

5 smart ways to live greener without making major changes to your life. (As in, no turning your bathtub into a hydroponic garden.)

by Cool Mom Staff | Tips and Tricks

We are always looking for ways that we can live a greener lifestyle with our families, but trust us, we know how overwhelming it can be. As we’ve discovered over the years, it’s the small things that can really add up — in effort and attention...

Earth Day 2015 picks: 5 cool tech gadgets to get you excited about solar power

by Cool Mom Staff | Green Tech

It’s Earth Day 2015, and this is always the time we stop and think of ways that we can save energy — and money — in our everyday lives. One of the trends we’re really starting to see blow up, at last, is the use of solar power. There are so...

Solpro takes solar chargers to a whole new level. And speed.

by Kristen Chase | Green Tech

I’ve seen no shortage of solar chargers, many of which we’ve featured here on Cool Mom Tech. But the new Helios solar charger from Solpro that we discovered at CES 2015 lets you charge smarter and waaaay faster. Yep, the new Helios only needs 90 minutes in...

Juse: The solar powered mobile phone charging case we’ve all been waiting for.

by Jeana | Green Tech

We have covered hundreds, if not millions (Okay, probably not millions) of mobile phone cases over the years, and loads of mobile phone chargers too. But this super cool Indiegogo project I just learned about named Juse is the first solar-powered mobile phone charging...

9 of the easiest steps towards more sustainable living, thanks to tech

by Cool Mom Staff | Tips and Tricks

As fans of the planet–and yeah, humanity in general–we’re always looking for ways to live more sustainably and to help our kids be more aware of it too. And as we’ve all discovered over the years, it doesn’t have to be about massive life...

Solarpod Buddy portable charger review: Is it worth it?

by Nicole Blades | Green Tech

The idea makes perfect sense: a portable, high performance solar charger for my smart devices that — best part — is actually compact enough to carry around. That’s the gist behind the Solarpod Buddy solar charger. It sounds kind of new-age and...

Cool light bulbs get even cooler with the Nanoleaf Bloom

by Liz Gumbinner | Green Tech

Last year we discovered the Nanoleaf LED light bulb which, besides looking super cool, actually is. It’s a safer alternative to CF bulbs, projecting light 360-degrees like a traditional incandescent while saving money and energy. The one drawback, as I noted,...

NEW: The podcast that helps you be a savvier digital parent in under 15 minutes a week

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make our increasingly digital lives easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun, however old your kids may be.

We love that it's grown to become the go-to source for millions of parents who want commonsense info about tech delivered with a smile.

We even have the privilege of sharing our tips + tricks with The TODAY Show, CNN, HLN, GMA, Nightline, newspapers and magazines around the country, and our favorite -- regular parents who stop us at PTA meetings and ask us how old kids need to be to get a smartphone, and whether they really need to panic about Snapchat.

(Answer: It's complicated.)

We're so glad you're here! And we hope we can help you too.