Just as intended, the 44th annual celebration of Earth Day will prompt talk about our environment, our impact on it, and what we can do to better live in harmony with it. More of us are realizing that, if we all do what we can every day, collectively we will make a tremendous difference.

People carrying reusable grocery sacks, quitting the plastic water bottle habit, heating their pools or houses with solar panels—that’s what we should be celebrating this Earth Day.

On another positive note, this year’s Gallup Environment poll found that 42 percent of Americans believe the outlook for the environment has improved, up from only 26 percent in 2008.

As a student of the science behind green technology, I’m fascinated by the new innovations that allow us to continually shrink our individual carbon footprints. Here are four devices that would make a nice gift for Mother Earth on her day:

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