Go Green With Gadgets

Last week I wrote about the Power the World campaign to raise enough money to deliver 100 Solar Suitcases to medical centers in Uganda and other parts of Africa which do not have a reliable supply of electricity. Their campaign is admirable on several levels; not only will these state-of-the-art solar suitcases be helping to save lives in places where every day people die needlessly because of a fundamental lack of something that we in the western world take for granted, but they are also addressing this lack in an environmentally friendly way.

Sometimes when people are in dire need of something like electricity it is easier for charities or governments to meet this need with the cheapest option rather than the most environmentally friendly one. Power the World are leading by example, showing that you can do both – help people in poverty whilst still caring for our world.

But it shouldn’t just be about big organizations like Power the World making grandiose gestures like this one, we can all do our bit to be less wasteful with resources and opt for eco-friendly alternatives and it doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice the things we love or change our lifestyles that dramatically. These days there are eco-friendly alternatives to pretty much everything, so for those amongst you who are keen to go green, here are some of the best environmentally friendly gadgets that are on the market today…

Solio Mag

This solar powered hybrid charger is an ingenious invention, it is both highly versatile (suitable for most portable electronic devices) and is a very powerful portable charger.

It is made from a magnesium alloy casting which ensures it is durable and sturdy. It has three solar panels that can be positioned to best capture the light and these panels then charge the internal 1800Amh Lithium-Ion battery. Compatible with more than 3000 electronic devices from mobile phones to iPods, it can be fully charged in approximately 10 hours. Many of us will look at purchasing devices like this when we are going away on a camping trip, or to a festival but it needn’t only be useful for Glastonbury-goers. The Solio Mag can be used in everyday life and it isn’t exceptionally expensive either.

You can purchase a Solio Mag for around $100/£60. I definitely need to get me one of these!!

Stainless Steel Blue Deck Lights

I must admit I am a big fan of outdoor atmospheric lighting and now with the invention of solar powered outdoor lighting, you can illuminate your garden, pathway or the outside of your business without being wasteful with electricity.

These awesome LED blue-toned lights usually come in packs of 4 that are available for the incredibly reasonable price of $40/£25. Installing outdoor lighting that comes from a connected electricity source is far more expensive and these LED solar lights are environmentally friendly too! Each light has its own solar panel which absorbs the sunlight that is available during the day, the light will then automatically activate when darkness is sensed.

They work as individual units so they can be placed as far apart or as close together as is desired and guess what, there is absolutely no need for complicated wiring missions or to pay for an electrician to do it for you!

The Solar Airship

This one is mainly for the kiddies but I reckon there is probably more than a few adults out there who would enjoy watching this solar airship take to the skies.

The Solar Airship was created by the British Science Museum as a way in which to demonstrate to children the powers of the sun and the way that they can be utilized. The airship is a little bit like a cross between a hot air balloon and a kite. It measures 8 meters from nose to tip and is made from heat attracting ‘Absorba’ plastic which draws in the suns rays and uses these to enable the airship to fly.

It comes with a 50 meter line to tether the ship and enable it to be flown like a kite. It only costs around $17/£10 and is a great, exceptionally fun way to get your children interested in science.

The Solio Mag, Decking Lights and the Solar Airship are just a couple of the thousands of super-cool eco-friendly gadgets available, if you have come across any that you feel are absolutely brilliant and deserve to be featured, leave a comment and I will do my best to get them reviewed.