A recent Midtown exposition displayed many devices that perform household chores with a minimum of wasted energy. NY1's Technology reporter Adam Balkin filed the following report.

There now are environmentally-friendly versions of just about any household product, from table settings to cleaners to faucets and crayons, and many of them use recycled, natural or organic components.

Some of the products on display at the recent Green Products Expo in Midtown reach their energy-efficient ends through high-tech means. For example, the Kiwi, seen above, is either a stand-alone unit or iPhone app that tells drivers how fuel-efficient they are as they drive, based on factors like acceleration and braking.

"It allows drivers to reduce their use of fuel, lower their miles per gallon and lower their greenhouse emissions by giving feedback in real time as they're driving the car," says Paul Goldman of JuicedHybrid.com. "We have lessons that allow the user to learn how to use the device to drive more efficiently."

Lots and lots of household cleaners are turning to natural enzymes rather than synthesized chemicals to kill germs, but the Activeion cleaner, which physically only uses ionized water.

"Basically we're putting a little electricity through it. You put electricity through water and you restructure it, it attracts dirt better and kills bacteria -- kills 99.9 percent of all harmful bacteria including 100 percent of H1N1 [flu virus]," says Chris Deets of Activeion. "You just pop the reservoir out like that, and when you pop it back in and spray, what comes out is clean and sanitary water."

Finally, when it comes to the future of lighting, giant street lamps may soon be replaced by a bulb the size of a Tic-Tac, which developers insist is not only more energy-efficient but also more powerful.

The light uses so-called "light-emitting plasma," which is similar technology to that of a plasma TV.

"We replace typical 400-watt metal Halide systems and save about 50 percent energy, have three times the life, better color and more light," says Randy Reid of Luxim. "We're working close with many fixture manufacturers and we have several cities now that are beginning to install these as beta sites."

Environmentalists can get enthusiastic about the new lights, and one can the imagine the workers who replace the bulbs will appreciate them as well.