So, it’s “Bike To Work” day in Japan on June 11th. I was under the impression that most workers in Japan already biked to work due to an insane population on such a tiny island. I guess not, because surely enough, it’s going on while I type this.

The crew over at Treehugger.com have brought to my attention Bridgestone’s new bike gadget: The “emeter,” is a meter which can be used to record the number of kilometers cycled in one day. It doesn’t end there however; it also records the total CO2 savings made versus car travel for the same distance.  Not only do you get great exercise from cycling, but your emeter tells you how many pounds you’re shedding as well as how much CO2 you’re conserving by staying away from your automobile.
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Talking about consumption and conservation is great and all, but how many people actually know how much energy they use? We have those meters connected to our homes, but no one but people who work for the power company knows how to read them. Power Consciousness is a device made to explain how much energy we use, without having to be a state worker to understand.

The device gives you up to the minute stats on your energy use and even calculates your current energy bill. The designer also added in a visual cue to help you read your consumption with one quick look. The more energy you use, the more LED leaves that are lit. We don’t mean to be picky, but shouldn’t that be the other way around? — Andrew Dobrow

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There are 2 situations you never want to be in with a parking meter: first, when you get to one only to realize you have no quarters, and second, when you come back to your car, arms loaded with bags, only to find you got a parking ticket for being 5 minutes late. What’s great about the Parking Meter Alarm is that it solves both of those problems, or rather offers solutions for those who aren’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Restoration Hardware saved city slickers potentially hundreds of dollars with this neat little device. All you have to do with the alarm is set how long your meter lasts, and the alarm will go off a few minutes before the meter expires, a life-saver for those who go shopping crazy and don’t even have time to look at their watches. If you leave if it on your key ring then you solve the other problem (no quarters) because there is a spring-loaded coin holder inside the alarm with enough room for 10 quarters, which equates to plenty of time for lounging in massage chairs in the Sharper Image. If you live in the city, this $12 wonder is almost a must considering 12 bucks is way better than just 1 parking ticket. — Nick Rice

Parking Meter Alarm [via Shiny Shiny]