Three new things that make your life easier

Ever been in the grocery store and wondered if you still had milk in the fridge? Or realized in the middle of your vacation that you forgot to ask a friend to water your plants? And who hasn't wished that take-out pizza boxes were easier to get rid of?  

Luckily, new inventions have been designed to deal with all of the above dilemmas. Some are available now and others are coming soon. Here's the lowdown on these three new things that will make your life easier:  

The FridgeCam

How cool would it be to have the ability to see what's inside your refrigerator without having to open the door? The FridgeCam would allow you to do just that, whether you're standing in front of it, sitting at your desk, or walking through the grocery store. A picture is automatically taken when light is sensed. The image is then stored and you can see it on an LCD screen just outside your fridge or view it remotely from your computer, phone, or personal digital assistant.

Not only would this be incredibly convenient, it would also save you money on your energy bills. A lot of cold air escapes every time you open your refrigerator door so your compressor has to work hard to cool it down again. Think about how many times a day you peek inside without actually taking something out or placing something inside, like when you're making a shopping list or trying to figure out what you have on hand for dinner. This product is still in development.

The Garduino

This gardening computer helps you take good care of your plants. It gives plants water (when moisture levels in soil are low) and light (when it's dark out). It will also warn you when air temperature drops too low. Use it when you're away from home or every day so that your plants can grow in optimal conditions. You can buy a DIY kit for $60 or purchase the finished product for $200.

The Green Box

Almost everyone loves eating a take-out pizza every once in a while, but dealing with the leftover box can be a real pain. They're too big to just toss into your trash or recycling bin, and many curbside programs won't recycle them because of the oily residues left behind on most used boxes.

The Green Box looks like your typical cardboard pizza box, but it's so much easier to deal with because it's pre-perforated. Tear the top of the box (which is made from 100 percent recycled cardboard) into four disposable plates or fold the bottom into a storage container to fit any extra slices. It's designed to keep pizza fresh and take up less space in your fridge. It's coming soon to pizza shops across the country.

More ideas...

Wouldn't you want one of these cool new inventions too? And, do you have any ideas for products that will improve people's lives in some way that you'd like to share? If so, submit them by June 30 to Make It Green, a program created by Yahoo! and Edison Nation. It's a great way to get your best ideas in front of experienced people and possibly have the opportunity to turn them into marketable products.   

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Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno shares green-living tips and product reviews with Yahoo! Green's users. Send Lori a question or suggestion for potential use in a future column. Her book, Green Greener Greenest: A Practical Guide to Making Eco-smart Choices a Part of Your Life is available on Yahoo! Shopping and Amazon.com.