Traditionally, taking personal action to protect the environment involved inconvenience: recycling trash, riding a bike to work, carpooling.

Researchers working on environmentally friendly innovations have been more than inconvenienced. Innovative start-ups with environmentally friendly products used to beg unsuccessfully for venture capital crumbs and government investment.

Pro-environment has often meant "antibusiness" in some political circles, so politicians pushing environmentally friendly policies have had difficulty getting elected.

Helping the environment has been hard for everyone. But thanks to three quiet "revolutions," it's about to get a lot easier.

The gadget revolution