And charging it couldn’t be easier.  Just remove the solar panel, put it in the window and charge. Charging takes about nine to twelve hours on a bright and sunny day and a bit longer on a cloudy day.  But once the lamp is charged, it will stay lit for about four hours.   The lamp not only saves you money on electricity, the LED bulb lasts at least four times longer than traditional bulbs as well.  When bad weather strikes, you can always count on your solar lamp when the electricity goes out!  Available at IKEA stores, the lamp includes three rechargeable AA batteries and retails for under $20 each.

But wait, there’s more!  IKEA and UNICEF are working together in the SUNNAN Lamp Campaign.  For each lamp that is sold at IKEA, another will be donated to a child without electricity.  The project provides the SUNNAN lamps to children who would otherwise be in the dark.  This means they are able to do their homework at night. The sturdy solar lamps include batteries that can withstand high temperatures.  Beginning in June 2009, the first lamp donations will go to children in Pakistan, victims of the 2008 earthquake.  The SUNNAN Lamp Campaign is lighting the way for the children around the world without electricity.

So why not get rid of all those annoying electrical cords and plug into the free energy of the sun instead?  You’ll save on electricity, help the environment and help a child in need at the same time.

Sources: Ikea & Unicef

For many of us, summer means many outdoor activities and overnight adventures. Whether you are heading to a music festival or family camping trip, “roughing it” out in the woods may never be the same again!   The Orange Solar Concept Tent won’t be your average run-of-the mill tent.  This tech-savvy tent is sure to be a camper’s dream-come-true.

As the name suggests, the tent is solar.  The energy from the sun will provide heating, lighting, recharging and communication to the tent.  Instead of using traditional solar panels to capture the sun’s energy, the tent is fitted with a revolutionary material.  The photovoltaic fabric is made by weaving specially coated solar threads into an outer fabric.  The three glides can be easily adjusted and rotated to capture the most sunlight and maximize efficiency.

Besides being solar powered, the tent is equipped with 3G wireless too!  Since most of us are joined at the hip with all sorts of electronic devices, this is great news!   The central wireless control hub provides the wireless signal and displays the energy level on a flexible LCD screen.  The hub also includes a nifty wireless charging pouch for portable devices.  Instead of having to fiddle with all those messy cords, just drop your device into the pouch.  That’s it!

And you won’t have to sleep on a cold, damp floor either.  This tent includes a heated groundsheet that automatically starts to warm up when the temperature goes down below a certain temperature.

Since many tents tend to look alike, this particular tent features something awesomely cool.  If you are out for a walk or picnicking by the lake and you can’t locate your tent, just send an SMS message or use the RFID technology and the tent will glow with “Glo-cation”  technology.   So no more worries about sleeping in the wrong tent!

The only downside?  True to its name, the Solar Concept Tent is still a concept and is not available – yet.

via PopSci

This Father’s Day, why not give dad an extra special gift he is sure to love that is environmentally friendly too?   Dad’s friends and coworkers will be “green” with envy when they spot his quality made, handcrafted Father’s Day gift.  Perfect for that hard-to-buy for father or for the man who has everything, dear old dad is sure to cherish these unique eco-friendly cufflinks for many years to come.

The good folks at eco-artware have assembled a collection of brilliant reused materials that not only make for great style, but also for great conversation.  Their collection includes links made from:

Typewriter Keys
These totally unique and awesome cuff links are must-haves for dads who are journalists, writers or office managers.   The cufflinks are handmade from honest-to-goodness manual typewriter keys that those of us of a “certain” age, used to type on!  You know the ones – bulky, black machines that used ribbons and didn’t need electricity!  The cuff links come in white, black or a combination of both colors.  Designs include “back space”, “shift key” and more, depending on availability.   These particular cuff links are ¾ inch in diameter and retail for $38 a set.

Motherboards
If dad is programmer, gadget lover or computer geek, he’ll flip over this set of cuff links!   Designed by Ward Wallau, the Motherboard Cuff Links are actual recycled motherboard chips, set in lovely sterling silver findings.  The cuff links measure ¾ in diameter and retail for $128 a pair.

Stadium Seats
Is dad a baseball fan?  Is he still waiting for the Cubbies to clench that elusive title?  Well, hang onto your catcher’s mitt; dad can now own a piece of baseball history with these totally awesome Stadium Cuff Links.  Crafted from recycled wooden stadium seats from well-known American ballparks, these beautiful diamond-shaped links are set in sterling silver and come with a certificate of authenticity.   The hard part is deciding which set to get; New York’s Yankee Stadium, Chicago’s Wrigley Field or the RFK Stadium.   There are two available color choices as well.  The “natural wood” color from the stadium chair’s core or the painted color from the chairs outer surface.

All the Stadium Cuffs measure 5/8 inches each side and retail for $150 a pair.  And each set is engraved with the name of the stadium on the back side.  Please note that actual texture and color may vary.

Fountain Pen Nibs
Pen collector Milan Micich designed these beautiful cuff links out of recycled pen nibs.  The Esterbrook nibs, from the 40s and 50s, are set in sterling silver findings and mounted on a gold-plated silver base. The nibs are 1 inch long and retail for $125.

Other designs are made from dice, wine barrels, watch innards, scrapped Boeing 707 wings and Scrabble tiles.  So no matter what dad’s into, you won’t be handcuffed into choosing a pair he won’t dig completely! (guffaw)

As electronic devices become smaller and more affordable, many people are finding themselves strapped to their cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players and other portable devices.  If you are joined at the hip with a gadget or two, chances are pretty good it takes all your internal energy just to remember to keep them all charged.  If you have a drawer full of cords and chargers, finding the right cord to go with the right device can be trying at best.  And when your cell phone is on its last leg with no electrical outlet in sight, then what?  These devices are supposed to make our lives easier and less complicated, aren’t they?

Noon Solar bags, created by the talented duo Jane Palmer and Marianne Fairbanks, are so much more than your average, run-of-the mill bag.  The 100 percent biodegradable bags are made out of organic, non-toxic materials.  The products are dyed by hand with sustainably harvested natural plant substances.  The leather products are free from heavy metal and are dyed with natural substances such as nuts and rhubarb.  These handcrafted bags are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, styles and colors for both men and women.

More than just a pretty face, the bags are so much more than being eco-friendly and functional.   Each Noon Solar bag is fitted with a thin, removable solar panel. The panel attaches to a lithium-ion battery pack which is tucked inside a zippered pocket on the inside of the bag.

Just plug those electronic devices into the battery pack and you are good to go!  No more cords or chargers to fiddle with. No more running all over to find an available electrical outlet!  Just imagine the possibilities. You’ll have your very own renewable energy in an attractive and functional bag.

Just face the solar panel towards the sun in the car, at work, on the train or plane and you are good to go, day or night.  Even in inclement weather, UV light still shines through and charges the battery pack.   You’ll need about six to eight hours to fully charge the battery on a sunny day while cloudy days will take a bit longer.   The panel is completely water and weather proof, so no worries if you get caught in the rain or snow.  Just think.  Now you have the perfect excuse to go out and buy another fabulous bag!

A user manual is included in the purchase or can be downloaded online.  Currently, Noon Solar bags do not charge laptop computers.

Coloring and drawing activities are almost certain to be great big hits in your household.  After all, most kids love to color, right?  This summer, why not try environmentally friendly crayons or coloring pencils and combine your child’s love of coloring with eco-friendly products?  The following five products offer environmentally friendly coloring products your creative kids are sure to love.

Crayon Rocks
Crayon Rocks, well, rock!  These uniquely shaped crayons are made out of natural soy and are colored with natural mineral powders.  The non-toxic crayons were actually designed to strengthen children’s grip muscles and help with handwriting and fine motor skills.   Crayon Rocks are packaged in a variety of ways and in a variety of colors.  Depending on what package is chosen, they range in price from $5 to $20.

Crayon Rings
Created by designer Timothy Liles, Crayon Rings are crayons you can wear!  Made out of washable crayon, these fun and colorful crayons are available in sets of eight and come packaged in a beautiful wooden box.  Currently, Crayon Rings are sold in ladies sizes 6, 7 and 8 and men’s size 10.   These unusual crayons would also make a great gift for an art teacher, wouldn’t they?  Unfortunately, the crayons don’t come cheap; they come with a hefty price tag of $50.

Smencils
These super-popular pencils are not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill pencils.  Smencils are “gourmet scented pencils” made out of 100 percent recycled newspaper!  Smencils are created by tightly rolling newspaper around # 2 graphite to form the pencil.  Next, the pencils are soaked in an award-winning fragrant gourmet liquid scent.  Once dried, erasers and stickers are applied and the pencils are placed in a corn-based biodegradable plastic tube to keep them nice and fresh!

From Bubble Gum and Cinnamon to Cotton Candy and Grape, Smencils come in all sorts of delicious scents that kids are sure to love!  And you don’t have to worry about the smell fading away as soon as you open them.  The pencils are guaranteed to keep their fragrance for two years!   Smencils are sold in a variety of colors and packages.

Twig Crayons
These crayons are not only eco-friendly, they are downright adorable.  Twig Crayons, from Inntrax, are made from actual willow, elm and ash twigs.   In accordance with the sustainable forestry practices, the wood comes from mature forests in Poland.  And each crayon is lovingly handcrafted too.   The sets are packaged in a beautiful handmade birch basket made from recycled brush.

Can’t you just envision Twig Crayons sitting in the middle of your harvest table or fireplace in your summer cottage?  And what a perfect gift for your favorite art teacher!  The non-toxic crayons are sold in sets of 8, 12 and 60 in a variety of colors and prices.

Stockmar Beeswax Crayons
These colorful crayons from Germany are petroleum-free.  The non-toxic crayons are all-natural and made from pure beeswax. The Stockmar Beeswax Crayons are renowned for their quality and brilliance and are packaged in a variety of choices and prices.  Stockmar Beeswax Crayons are recommended for children 3 and up.

If you’ve been putting off talking to your children about the environment, what better way to begin a candid conversation than by using an eco-friendly product like crayons or pencils?   Your kids will see that going green not only helps our environment, but can be loads of fun too.  This summer, inspire the artist in your children with fun and entertaining eco-friendly products listed above.