Wind-up Eco Media Revolution Player
A wind-up media player might sound like a joke, but in fact it is a cutting edge eco-solution. The Eco Media Player Revolution combines the latest in media technology with the energy efficiency and power-on-the-go freedom of wind-up power. The Eco Media Player Revolution is powered by winding the integrated handle and offers 24-bit Hi Fidelity playback of all the major music formats including Apple AAC, Microsoft WMA, mp3, and OGG Vorbis. You can also watch video clips and movies, as the device supports formats such as MP4 and Windows WMV and it includes a stereo FM radio and built-in photo album and e-book reader. You can even use it to recharge your phone if you’re stuck without a charger – use the attached connectors and the Revolution’s hand-crank.
The Eco Media Player Revolution is the latest green solution from Trevor Baylis Brands. Trevor Baylis OBE is a former stuntman who, moved by the plight of AIDS victims in Africa, recognised that radio broadcasts could be a useful tool in promoting health education and halting the spread of the disease. Unfortunately, the need for batteries or electricity – everyday items we in the West take for granted – made radios too expensive for many people. Trevor’s solution was to develop a prototype wind-up radio. Initially met with universal rejection, the idea was brought to wider recognition via a showcase on the BBC programme Tomorrow’s World in 1994. The following year, BabyGen Power Industries was set up in South Africa, employing disabled workers to manufacture the groundbreaking Freeplay wind-up radio. In 1997, with the realisation that a wind-up radio could also be successfully sold to Western consumers increasingly looking for energy efficient products, a smaller and lighter model was developed. It was later updated to include a solar panel, making it an even more eco-friendly option.
Doing Business the Green Way
The environmental plight of the planet is a subject that has been brought to almost everyone’s attention. Indeed, it is now commonplace for plastic, glass, cardboard and other recyclable materials to be separated from the main household rubbish, whilst more homes than ever before have improved their heating efficiency in order to reduce waste. A number of households have even installed solar panels at home or have purchased their mains electricity from green renewable sources. In short, as a result of endless public awareness campaigns, people have begun to do their bit for the environment. Of course, whether this is sufficient remains to be seen, as current estimates continue to predict that the Earth is heading towards an environmental crisis. Indeed, it may not be possible to prevent global warming worsening although, if it is, it is likely that greater efforts need to be made now. Therefore, whilst people continue to consider how they can improve their Eco-friendly activities in the domestic sphere, they should also pay attention to what can be achieved in the workplace.
In fact, businesses are known to produce some of the largest and most significant carbon footprints, so it is only right that steps are made to reverse this trend. In the UK, mechanisms such as the Green Grants Machine are in place to help businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. In fact, many grants are available for businesses of all sizes if they are able to install solar panels, improve recycling, purchase hybrid fleet vehicles and so on. Additionally, employees are urged to adopt the same standards in the workplace as they do at home in so far as recycling is concerned, which is commonly neglected during office hours. For more advice on how to make your business greener, there are a number of books available, such as The Green Guide for Businesses.
Innovative SolarVoice 908 solar charged Bluetooth handsfree headset
SolarVoice 908 is a new solar-charged Bluetooth handsfree headset created by i.Tech Dynamic offering a wireless and eco-friendly solution to a number of everyday problems. Whether you happen to be in your car on the way to work (assuming, of course, that cycling is simply not an option!) or making your way through a crowded high street, holding a mobile phone to your ear is not always convenient or sensible. You may want to listen to some music whilst on a bus or train but your headphones might be uncomfortable or the wires might get in your way. The SolarVoice 908 is useful in these respects because it supports Bluetooth A2DP, which means the device can wirelessly connect to your mobile phone or mp3 players (or some other Bluetooth enabled device requiring a headset). Also featuring noise-cancelling technology, the SolarVoice 908 makes an excellent headset device providing clearly audible communications in difficult and noisy environments. Because the SolarVoice 908 features solar-charging, it is eco-friendly in the sense that it can be powered up by the freely available energy from the sun – there is no need for toxic batteries or an electricity mains connection to make this gadget work, although both mains and USB connections are included as an alternative. Furthermore, the included base or cradle unit comprises optimal positioning for increased sunlight exposure, with a maximum charge time of around 15 hours. Whilst the headset itself boasts talk time of around 5 hours, this is considered to be sufficient for typical everyday use. The SolarVoice 908 is currently only on sale in the US. However, while you may have to wait to get your hands on one of these, there are a number of eco-friendly ways to recharge your current portable electronic devices so that you can start being more eco-friendly – and save money – today. Solar powered chargers that are suitable for mobile phones, iPods and similar equipment are available in the UK – for example the Power Traveller Explorer Power Charger, which retails at under £50.
The £23 Solar Panel: a Hair Raising Idea?
An 18 year old Nepalese science student studying in the country’s capital, Kathmandu, has created a stir this week by announcing details of his inexpensive solar panel solution. Whereas traditional solar panel installations are costly, Milan Karki’s invention costs as little as £23 to produce a single fully functional solar panel. As to the main reason why it costs so little, the answer may surprise some people as it is, in fact, hair. Rather than using expensive silicon components that are necessary to conduct electricity in standard solar panels, Karki’s invention uses human hair, which is an excellent conductor of electricity.
Milan Karki’s ingenious solution demonstrates how eco-friendly products can be driven down in costs. Furthermore, it shows natural products can be used to harness renewable solar energy, which reduces the manufacturing process, in turn reducing the carbon footprint left by producing such devices. Moreover, human hair is already exported in massive quantities from countries such as India and China as it is used by a number of farmers (typically to help tomatoes grow bigger) and, somewhat perversely, by the food industry (typically to make pizza doughs) – presumably this has something to do with the amino acid, Lysine, contained in the hair.
Thus, it would appear the somewhat improbable hair business is set to increase further if Karki’s idea can be turned into a sustainable and viable eco-friendly product. Indeed, what started out as a greener solution to generate green power for his home village may just enable communities all over the world to do exactly the same. Of course, in the meantime, if you want to use solar power, there are a number of less ‘hair-raising’ solutions readily available in this country, including easy to use solar panel kits.
The Multi-Purpose USB Solar Charger
Numerous devices that use the sun’s free renewable energy as their source of power are available on the market. In fact, solar powered gadgets are becoming increasingly popular as the technology has made vast improvements to the efficiency of solar cells. Furthermore, solar powered devices can often be used for months without exposure to direct sunlight because, when the sun does shine on the cells, the energy is harnessed and stored in its battery. However, many conventional electronic goods continue to use standard non-recyclable battery packs, so there is still some way to go if the situation is to improve. Nevertheless, the introduction of the ZYRUS Compact USB Solar Charger is set to widen the scope of conventional electronic gadgets as they can now utilise a solar power source. Indeed, the ZYRUS Solar Charger features USB connectivity, which is standard for most electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras and mp3 players. Normally, the USB port on such gadgets would be used to transfer files, photos and audio tracks onto a personal computer. However, the ZYRUS Solar Charger is able to connect to most such devices via USB in order to charge up their internal battery packs.
In fact, the ZYRUS Solar Charger, which has been branded the ‘Sun Drive’, can offer up to 100 minutes of talk time for the majority of USB enabled mobile phones. Furthermore, on average, it can power up such a device for around 30 hours on standby. The Sun Drive ships as a standalone charger or, for an additional cost, can comprise 4GB of internal storage.
Camping needn’t be a dirty business with an eco-friendly solar shower
Although the summer is not officially over for some time, the reliably miserable British weather has pretty much dissolved any hopes of a barbecue summer. Whilst the early indications were such that the summer of 2009 would be hot and dry, the initial fortnight of unseasonally good weather is now all but a distant memory. Nevertheless, the school holidays remain in full swing – as if that could be forgotten – and many people will have time off work, so what better way to spend this period than to head off on a camping adventure?
Of course, Disney World, Australia, Hawaii or Barbados would be much better answers to such a question, but when financial times are difficult expectations must be kept in proportion and a British camping trip is something of a national treasure. However, camping can be a difficult adventure to endure when the availability of warm water for showering is in dearth supply. Moreover, remote camping spots will not usually comprise shower facilities, so the requirement for a portable shower unit becomes important.
Nonetheless, remote locations offering no hot water supply will not usually provide electricity, so any such shower must power itself. In this respect, the eco-friendly solar shower is the perfect companion for an end of summer camping trip. Using the sun’s free, clean and renewable energy, the solar shower is simply filled up with water and hung out in the sunshine (if any can be found) for around three hours, after which time the device will be ready to provide a lovely warm shower! You can make your camping trip even more environmentally friendly by using recycled sleeping bags (made from recycled fabric and insulation) and recycled backpacks. And proving that ‘camping’ doesn’t mean roughing it, you can even make a decent cup of coffee on the move with the Handpresso coffee maker.
Green Flashlights: Make Hay While the Sun Shines
Well, not so much hay as energy. Indeed, the new generation of eco-friendly flashlight will only work if it has been exposed to sunlight. The Verilux ReadyLight is a superb new flashlight that uses totally free and renewable solar energy to charge up three NiMH rechargeable batteries, which can then be used to power the torch.
This stylish new flashlight comprises a relatively large solar panel on its side, which, when fully charged, will offer around four hours of continuous use. Providing the same brightness as a conventional flashlight, the Verilux ReadyLight also features a sturdy and robust construction that is designed to withstand considerable shocks, impacts and water exposure. Furthermore, the ReadyLight is an aesthetically pleasing hand-held torch that is also easy to use and not overly heavy or cumbersome.
Of course, the real benefit of using a solar powered flashlight is that it can charge itself throughout the day at absolutely no cost to the user. The entire torch including batteries (although these can obviously be replaced very easily) is designed to last at least twenty years, so there ought to be no issues in respect to wear and tear or electronic faults. Moreover, the flashlight is a reliable tool that can be kept close to a source of direct sunlight, such as on a window sill, to provide emergency lighting whenever it is needed. Thus, the next time a thunderstorm knocks out a pylon, users will be content to reach for their Verilux ReadyLight in the knowledge that this eco-friendly tool was charged up at no cost to the user, planet or atmosphere.
Solar Power & Atomic Time from Casio G-Shock
Check out the Casio G Shock watch now! Although wrist watches are entirely useful and practical, traditionally they have suffered from low battery life and poor time-keeping (which is obviously a bit of a problem for a device that aims to tell the time).
Furthermore, as conventional cell batteries, which contain heavy metal components that become toxic when they start to degrade, are less popular among environmentally conscious consumers, standard wrist watch manufacturers have sought to make fundamental changes.
Indeed, Casio has produced the G-Shock GW-2000BD-1AER which is thought to be the world’s first worldwide atomic solar watch, which not only benefits from solar energy but is able to maintain the time accurately for the lifespan of the watch.
The Casio G-Shock GW-2000BD-1AER has traditional photovoltaic technology incorporated into the face of the watch, so sunlight can be captured and converted into power on a continuous basis. The watches battery can even store the solar energy for use up to seven months, which is excellent news for consumers who must endure a miserable British Autumn and Winter!
While it makes every bit of sense that the watch should comprise solar technology, which is able to harness a completely free and renewable source of energy, this did not solve the problem of keeping the time up to date.
Innovations by G-Shock enables the wrist watch to update itself six times each day from time signals that are broadcast by radio clocks located across the world (UK, Germany, Japan, China and the US). Obviously, this is extremely beneficial to users who ought to no longer be concerned with finding tiny cell batteries or resetting the time and date every week or two. This product will likely appeal to eco-friendly consumers.
More on the Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic watch or buy now.
First published 24 July 2009. Please note that blog posts remain live, and any offers or information may no longer be current when you view this page.
