First, the mission: Get to Know aims to provide folks – both young and old – with a simple and enjoyable way to get engaged with local green spaces. Ironically, Get to Know realized that one of the best ways to get people outside was to use something that ties most people to their desks…technology. The result is something they aptly call National Treasure. By incorporating technology in a truly different and unique way, they’ve created a fun and interesting interactive program that enhances the nature experience of the individual, while at the same time expanding their knowledge of the world’s wonderful biodiversity that exists beyond the computer screen. To learn more about Get to Know and all the great things they do, please visit www.gettoknow.ca.

Speaking of national treasures, the beautiful Okanagan Valley and the award-winning wines from Summerhill Pyramid Winery should be on everyone’s must-have list.  That list, along with the bottle of Summerhill Pyramid’s 2007 Riesling Ice Wine we were tasting at the IzztGreen Corporate Headquarters went mysteriously missing last Friday.  Coincidentally, Izzit was witnessed leaving work a bit early (but after sipping a little of this elegant wine from a renowned vintner, who could blame him if he indeed made off with it). We’re sure there’s a good explanation!

Although the stunning Okanagan Valley region of British Columbia produces many delicious wines that rival anything coming out of Washington State, Summerhill Pyramid is rightly famous for their Ice Wines.  What makes these wines so unique is that they can only be made in cooler climates. Because the grapes are left on the vine to freeze before fermentation, only the water freezes, leaving the sugars intact.  The resulting  harvest output is smaller, sweeter and more highly concentrated.  Both the 2007 Riesling and Pinot Noir Ice Wines are beyond excellent and worthy as daily sippers as well as make perfect holiday gifts. For more information please visit www.summerhill.bc.ca and for our American customers located in states that allow wine shipments, please visit www.summerhill.bc.ca/Wines/USA-Customers.

As if producing stellar wine isn’t enough, Summerhill Pyramid Winery also has a longstanding commitment to the environment.  About 80% of the total grapes used in production are Certified Organic, and their stated goal is to reach 100% in the near future.  They have achieved Certified Production status in their cellar and their Kelowana vineyard is in the process of applying for their Demeter Biodynamic certification.  So beyond the fact that the wines are elegant and delicious, you can rest assured that in buying Summerhill Pyramid products, you are supporting a business that truly cares about the environment.  They’re partnership with Get to Know is just “icing on the vines!”

So, please join Izzit (wherever he is) in raising a glass of Summerhill Pyramid in toasting and supporting the Get to Know mission!

Diaper Dude Digi Dude Eco Technology Case

Don’t let the name mislead, the Diaper Dude Digi Dude Eco Technology Case is one tough cookie. The durable case and solid design, made from recycled materials, can take a beating while keeping your iPad or laptop safe – yet another layer of security for your tech guru dad. Not to mention, not a bad looking case for a name with diaper in it.

Solio Rocsta Charger

If a technology case is not in store this year, but your gift needs still require a tech side, check out L.L. Bean’s Solio Rocsta Charger portable power source. This solar charger, which works for thousands of electronic devices, stores power for an entire year! And if the sun rarely shines where you reside, you have the option to USB cable or wall charge. This nifty solar charger is the perfect eco-friendly gift for the active Dad that craves a little power for off the grid adventures.

Reclaimed Ballpark Seat Cufflinks

Take your sport infused Father’s love of the game a step further with reclaimed, authentic ballpark seat cufflinks. Uncommon Goods has a slew of stadium seats to choose from, from Fenway to Wrigley! A flawless reclaimed accessory for Dad that gives new life to gone, but not forgotten stadiums.

TOMS Eyewear

TOMS Shoes is taking their one for one business plan a huge step further with TOMS Eyewear. TOMS Eyewear gives sight to a person in need for each eyewear purchase. Essentially one purchase at a time, one person receives the eye care that he or she needs. Check out their new initiative and snag a pair of hip sunglasses along the way. Not bad for a purchase that you and Dad can continue to feel good about.

Recycled Bike Tube Belltown Card Case

If a money storage device is on your Father’s Day list then a recycled bike tube wallet may fit the bill. The Recycled Bike Tube Belltown Card Case is said wallet that has it all – 99 percent recycled content, handmade, durable and water-resistant. Not too shabby for an accessory made from some old throw away bike tires. Not to mention it’s simple and slim design is bound for any mans back pocket.

Citizen Eco-Drive Watch

Citizen’s Eco-Drive Watch is in an entire worlds of it’s own. This time piece not only uses the most advanced technology in watch making, it’s black dial and scratch-resistant mineral crystal alone is enough to trigger drooling. The technology harnesses the power of light, natural or artificial, and converts it into energy that is stored in a permanently rechargeable lithium-ion cell. The Eco-Drive has I want, I want, written all over it.

Image Credits: Zappos.com,  L.L. Bean, Uncommongoods.com, TOMS

Let’s not dwell on the irony that the man who died that year is still culturally important, while “the future” represented by the baubles launched at Winter CES 1981 have long since suffered their demise at the hands of iPhones, HD Flips and Honeycomb tablets.  Instead, let’s start more simply, as in: Bob Marley branded headphones? Seriously? What would Bob think of that?

About the Products & Brand

Before diving into the deep end of this philosophical pool, some details about the brand and its products may be helpful. For starters, the brand’s mission in their own words:

To create a better world and spread Bob Marley’s vision of one love, one world through eco-conscious products that embody the values of equality, unity, authenticity, charity and sustainability, all while giving back to the people and planet

Hopefully production quality, sound and overall design of the products meet the brand’s quality commitments, but Marley designers made sure to include a range of the best features you’d expect from great headphones, including inline/on-cord controls and comfy padding on headphones.

If first impressions count, Marley’s onto a winner. Every product in the line looks unique, well-built, designerly and sexy. The iPod docks are alternately sleek and rugged, the earbuds range from cute to slick to chic, and the over-the-ear headphones range from grungy to sophisticated. Despite the stylistic range though, the products hang together as a coherent product line with prices to match the different folks likely to buy them. Prices range from $30 to $100 for earbuds, $60 to $300 for headphones and $50 to $500 for the range of docks.  Bottom line: There’s something for everyone.

House of Marley is currently taking pre-orders for the products, though no specific shipping target has been given. When they do, Izzit will try to get hand-on with them for a full review.

So What Would Bob Think?

Guessing what a long-deceased iconoclast would think means striding onto dangerous ground. Add the passion with which many people revere Marley, the “controversy” of his political beliefs, the current state of our socio-political climate, the simple incongruity of “consumer electronics brand Marley” and the massive technological leaps made in the 30 years since Marley passed, and the predictor will almost certainly make an absurd and anger-inducing prediction. Right?

Then again, look at it this way: We live in a world where deceased anti-Babylonian (aka anti-western capitalism/imperialism) music star Bob Marley is competing with Sony to sell us headphones for our 4G mobile smart phones, on which we’ll store hundreds of apps, stream thousands of songs, and use Google to find all manner of things in “the cloud,” including HD movies that our Netflix prediction algorithm and social media “friends”’ forgot to suggest for us. So anything’s possible. In that spirit, here goes.

How Could He Not Despise the Idea?

House of Marley must be considered in the context of Marley’s core passions — namely human rights, personal freedom and anti-imperialism — and specifically through the lens of African and Caribbean cultures. While some argue that important progress has been made in these areas, it’s unlikely Marley would agree. He’d be sickened to know of how little progress has been made since his death.

Marley would most certainly define the failed states of Africa and the Caribbean, the West’s “War on Terror” and the anti-scientific rhetoric against climate change as troubling symptoms of relentless imperial interest. All of this would horrify him, though it most certainly wouldn’t surprise him.

As a child of the fifties and sixties, and as a musician, Marley clearly believed in the power of artistic messages to educated and force social change. He’d hate that we’ve not used the “democratizing power” of the Internet and other technologies to drive more improvements in the human condition.

Moreover, he’d likely recognize that the accelerated pace of technological change and rampant consumerism in the West have contributed to both the continued subjugation of the developing world and the selfish disinterest of the developed world citizenry. He’d see our gadgets and tech baubles as the enabling narcotics of a negligently complicit public. Given all of this, Bob would certainly despise the idea of using his name to hawk electronics.

Right? Maybe not.

Ask Yourself These Questions

Did Bob Marley understand that rock/popular music was the medium of his day, and best way to give reach to his voice and amplify his message was by partnering with the record industry and the “corporate system” it used to distribute both? Did he accept the inherent conflict of that union as necessary to spreading his message? Did he believe that he could maintain his idealistic footing within that imperfect arrangement by adhering to his core principles? Do you think he saw the idealistic concession as worthwhile?

Has there been a popular artist who better understood or employed the power of symbol to express his message? To this day, spliffs, dreads and the green-yellow-red of Haile Selassie’s lion king flag all evoke Marley first. Would Marley recognize his enduring resonance throughout the world as a function of the symbolism he cultivated?

Despite his likely trouble with consumer culture, would he see how the modern deluge of information has fragmented the mass audience and created a connected soup of social media, memes and “brand me” in its place?  Would he understand that in many senses the strongest cultural symbolism of our day is “branding?”

More importantly, would Marley agree that the packaging of product, process and message developed by House of Marley is closely equivalent to the combination of music, lifestyle and message he lived? Viewed this way, using brand Marley to produce great products the “right” way and in support of a bigger cause seems like an exceptional way to lead by example and extend Marley’s principles.

To be sure, we’ll never know if Bob Marley would like the House of Marley concept, though the best indication that he would may lie in the fact that members of his family are behind the product line, and the 1Love is involved in the development. And if Marley’s family believes he’d support the brand, then that’s might just be all the evidence the rest of us need.

Hopefully the brand lives up to its promise and the memory of its namesake, but as we all know, only time will tell . . .

Image credits: House of Marley and Island Records.

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, it’s coming down to the wire to think of ideas for your tech savvy friends and family. There’s so much to choose from so how will you pick the right one and stay environmentally conscious? Do they want something practical? Or the latest technology? Or what about just something cool? We at IzzitGreen have made it easy for you to decide.

For the Practical Folks: Fantom GreenDrive

Let’s start with a gift for the practical person on your list. Perhaps it’s Dad or Grandpa, always insisting on products with a purpose. It can’t have any of the bells and whistles that adorn the newer gadgets which only get in the way and cause complications. So, how about getting them a box that sits neatly by their computer that does essentially . . . nothing . . . that is except for storing everything they can think of without taking up space on their computer’s hard drive.

The Fantom GreenDrive offers just that while minimizing their carbon footprint and saving energy in the process. The GreenDrive is a 1 terabyte (which equates to 1,000 gigabytes) external hard drive that can store literally anything. To give you an idea on the amount of available space on this hard drive here’s a quick breakdown: It can store 250,000 photos, 200,000 MP3 formatted songs, or 128 full length DVDs. This one external device alone has the storage capabilities of six and a half laptop computers.

Okay well that’s all well and good, but what could Dad or Grandpa possibly need that much space for? And how is it eco-friendly? Well, external hard drives have become increasingly popular as a way of unclogging the memory in your laptop or desktop computer. By relocating files to this massive storage device, you can ultimately increase the performance and speed of your computer by freeing up its memory.

The GreenDrive lives up to its eco-friendly name as well. It features the latest in power saving technology, and complies with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive (ROHS). This allows the GreenDrive’s total carbon footprint to be significantly less than normal external hard drives, without sacrificing performance. It will save Dad four to five watts of energy and up to 60 kilograms of CO₂ emissions per year.

Throw in its sleek design — which takes up only a fraction of the space a laptop or desktop would with dimensions of 4.75”x1.25”x8” — as well as its affordable price ($84 featured on Buy.com), and the GreenDrive will be the most practical green-tech product you can give this Christmas season.

For Early Adapters: Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard

So now it’s time for the person on your list who has to have the latest-and-greatest technology out there. But those products tend to be extraordinarily expensive. Well, how does 80 bucks sound for a product that can be used with multiple devices while remaining eco-friendly?

Logitech has a solution for your favorite techie this holiday season. They introduced the K750 Wireless Solar Keyboard just in time for your last minute shopping spree. The keyboard is Windows-PC compatible for any device that uses a Windows operating system. Its 2.4 GHz wireless capabilities allows the keyboard to work reliably from any comfortable spot in your home.

Say you have a computer hooked up to that fancy HD TV. Now you can relax on your couch or favorite chair and browse the web, work on that paper or just play “World of Warcraft.” The real beauty of the K750 is its battery-freeing technology. The keyboard is powered by solar cells that pick up ambient light from sunlight, lamps, you name it. The Logitech Solar App actually allows you to see how much power you are getting from a particular light source in addition to your remaining battery life so you can see which light source gives you the best bang for your buck. The K750 is also responsibly constructed using PVC-free materials and even comes wrapped in a recycled box to minimize your harmful waste that will take over your living room floor this year.

For the Younger Eco-Conscious Techies: Thinksound Wooden Earphones

But what if these gifts aren’t quite good enough for the younger ones? Sure they are practical and useful, but where’s the wow factor? And they’re not exactly stocking-stuffer material.

Well thinksound has the perfect gift to solve these questions. They have introduced their line of ts01wooden earphones. These earphones are compatible with any music device be it an iPod, iPhone, BlackBerry, laptop, etc. The ts01 model offers a warm, rich and booming sound that delivers the best bass sound quality an earphone can offer. The bass in these earphones will not distort, even at maximum volume. Thanks to the extra large 10 mm dynamic driver in the earphones, thinksound can provide any listener with the best experience possible. The ts01 also features thinksound’s Comply Foam Tips for soft comfort and enhanced audio.

What makes the ts01 earphones so unique is their environmentally responsible construction. The housing of the earphones are made out of wood and not harmful plastics. The tangle-resistant cables are made from non-PVC materials that give it a lightweight design. Thinksound even went a step further and packaged the ts01 using recycled materials, and the wood used in the earphones is from renewable sources. Advertised at $75 on thinksound’s website, the extraordinarily unique ts01 provides unparalleled sound and resonance while maintaining a minimal footprint. From Elvis Costello to AC/DC, whatever the music lover in your family likes, they’re sure to love hearing them in a crisp, clean, and unique way.

Image credits: Google Images, Logitech and thinksound.

If an e-reader is in your future — or you’re planning on buying one as a gift — IzzitGreen has done some research for you:

Are E-Readers Really Green?

Consensus is that yes, e-readers are indeed a green reading option because of the fact that they do not require the paper and fuel-consuming processing that dead tree books, magazines and newspapers require, plus there are no shipping/packing worries.

A study done by Environmental Science & Technology’s Erika Engelhaupt  found that if one person subscribed to two electronic newspapers instead of buying them in the paper format and purchased 20 e-books that individual would save upwards of 700 pounds of newsprint per year and 20-40 pounds of paper books per year.

The CO₂ emissions from a printed newspaper are “up to 140 times more” than their electronic counterparts.

The manufacturing of these e-readers contributes to their eco-friendliness as well. In its lifetime, an e-reader generates only 77 kilograms of solid waste compared to printed books which generated 94 kilograms, Engelhaupt reported. In addition, she reported that the CO₂ emissions from a printed newspaper are “up to 140 times more” than their electronic counterparts.

The New York Times said: “With respect to fossil fuels, water use and mineral consumption, the impact of one e-reader payback equals roughly 40 to 50 books. When it comes to global warming, though, it’s 100 books.”

Kindle by Amazon

Nook by Barnes and Noble

iPad by Apple

What Kind of a Reader Are You: Izzit’s E-Reader Recommendations

If you’re a bookish sort, or are buying for someone with those telltale inky fingers, Izzit recommends a true black-and-white e-reader.  Both Kindle and Nook offer great features and content catalogs, but it never hurts to go with the leader.  So Kindle it is.  With no glare, no backlight, month-long battery life, and a simple, mature design that will have The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest looking current long after it is, the Kindle is your go-to e-reader.

On the other hand, if you’re already Angry Birds-obsessed and want a fully-functioning tablet in the worst way, you can feel good that Apple has finally begun to match solid eco-design with its famous usability in the iPad.

In the coming months, the market will be flooded with new tablets, including entrants from most big PC manufacturers and electronics companies, along with several garage-based start-ups and lesser-known electronics manufacturers.  Some of these tablets will be from companies with environmental records in the “unknown” to “poor” category.  Given that Apple has faced its eco-challenge and passed the test, should lend further credibility to the iPad as your tablet choice.

In the end, the tablet market will likely mature to include plenty of fully-featured models that deliver the energy efficiency and easy-reading attributes of the Kindle for longer reading sessions, along with apps and the multimedia muscle of the iPad.  Until then, you could always buy an iPad for yourself and a Kindle for your partner.  After all, everyone loves to read, but you want to control who plays Angry Birds!

Here at IzzitGreen, we have embraced our inner child and come up with our Top 3 Green Toys for Kids for this year’s holiday season:

What’s more fun than remote controlled cars? How about a wind-powered remote control car? Or a solar-powered one? Or even a hydrogen fuel cell car? Hammacher Schlemmer has a kit that includes all three. This one-of-a-kind gift idea is perfect for ages 5 and up who are looking for hours of extreme racing fun. The best part of the Renewable Energy Racers Set is its two-for-one gift potential. Remember the chemistry sets we all received and promptly sank the rest of our Christmas break into? Well now your aspiring engineering and future speed demon have found a common ground, along with a new weapon for the ongoing war against the family pet.

The Renewable Energy Racers Set has three futuristic looking cars that are powered using three different methods: Wind power, solar power and hydrogen fuel cell power. The set comes with a miniature windmill, solar panel and hydrogen cell for powering your eco-friendly racers. The solar panel and windmill can provide up to 20 minutes of racing from a 30-minute charge. The hydrogen cell can supply five minutes of power from a three-minute charge using the process of electrolysis. This means that only water is needed to power your eco-friendly racers.

The Renewable Energy Racers are sure to be a hit with younger kids, but after hours of chasing their older brothers and sisters, they are going to need something to protect themselves against the onslaught of those renewable racers. Our next gift idea will guard your child tirelessly and vigilantly against their younger siblings with courage and poise . . . that is until he steps into the sunlight.

He may look tough, but Elenco’s Frightened Grasshopper is skittish at his core. Watch him wiggle and jiggle about the room as he does his dance in the sunlight. The life-sized grasshopper model is much cuter than the real life bug, and instead of shrieks and cries of terror, he will bring endless laughter with his antenna twitching dance.

The elegance of the Frightened Grasshopper comes from its simplicity and its hands-on fun. A great stocking stuffer for your children 10 and up who have out-grown the “little kids” toys, they will be thrilled as they get to build their very own solar-operated robot. The kit features snap together parts with instructions that require no tools or batteries to build or operate. The dancing bug is powered either by sunlight or a non-fluorescent light source in the room, making it a safe, fun and hilarious renewable energy alternative to video games.

But alas, its a dog-eat-dog world out there and the Frightened Grasshopper will need to stay on alert for Elenco’s Happy Hopping Frog which might be on its tail. This frog is a excellent choice for the more advanced pre-teen who is looking for more of a challenge in his or her Christmas fun. Oh, and it will make them laugh in the process.

Watch Happy Hopping Frog leap and frolic around the room with the guilt-free knowledge that his fits of joy are because of his eco-friendly power. Using a solar cell similar to that of his prey, he is fueled by natural sunlight. Construction of the frog is slightly more complex than that of the grasshopper, using 25 snap together parts instead of only 10. The added challenge is sure to delight your young model or robot builder. After it is completed, simply bring the frog into the light and watch him chase the Frightened Grasshopper around the room in a live action game of leap frog . . . that is, until the alternative energy racers catch up to them.

Image credits: Hammacher Schlemmer, Cooler Planet.

Unlike our little green Sasquatch Izzit, who legend has it was home schooled, it’s almost time for kiddies of all ages to get back to school and further their education.  To help students do everything from staying organized to getting their lunches, books and other supplies to their temples of learning in an eco-sustainable way, IzzitGreen has found a bunch of cool, environmentally friendly school products from our partner BuyGreen.com.  And as part of IzzitGreen’s efforts to help educate all youngsters, and through them hopefully their parents, Izzit will donate a portion of our proceeds from August 18th to August 25th, 2010 to help the non profit “e”inc. continue its mission of bringing environmental learning right into the classroom.

How about those cool back to school products?

Well we found a lot of items that we feel are practical, unique, and quite frankly pretty hip, we would love your personal take on them through feedback and reviews.  Here are our top five. . .

1. The Laptop Bento Box

Even the name is cool.  The Laptop Bento Box is a take-off on a childhood classic.  This updated lunchbox offers many great features such as removable compartments, 3 sealable lids; a dip container for sauces, salad dressings, hummus etc.  And like an all-in-one survival kit (hey, middle school for me was like a 2 year episode of Survivor) it comes equipped with inner containers, utensils, and a book of healthy lunch ideas and recipes.  Everything is reusable, recyclable, and dishwasher safe.

Laptop Lunches are manufactured in California using plastics (polypropylene and polyethylene) that are FDA-approved for food use. There are no binding agents or plasticizers used in the manufacturing process. In addition, there are no materials used that are suspected carcinogens or endocrine disrupters.  They are also lead-free, microwave and dishwasher safe.

The convenient size fits in almost any backpack which brings us to our next item…

2. Voltaic Solar Backpack

This versatile Backpack is the perfect eco-friendly choice for students to carry everything they could possibly need to get through their busy day. The backpack is solar powered, so as you carry your water,  lunch, books, and supplies, you can also use the solar pack’s pockets and wire channels to keep your devices (any kind of cell or smart phone) charged while you’re on the go between classes. The Voltaic Solar Backpack is lightweight and is also ideal for outdoor activities such as field trips, hiking or camping.  It’s a green option that allows you to conserve electricity without being left chained to your home when your personal gadgets are out of batteries….).

Now, how about some green options for the everyday supplies that will be transported in your new backpack?  Luckily there are plenty of options.

3. Ban the plastic bottle!  SIGG Swiss Engineered Aluminum Reusable Water Bottles…

SIGG bottles save money too! Assuming you drink 1 liter per day, you’d spend $500-$1,000 in bottled water a year. Many SIGG bottles are still being used 10-20 years after they are purchased so you get good bang for your buck!

4. New Leaf Binders

Now to reading, writing and arithmetic. These 3 Ring Binders are simple, durable and eco-friendly.  Why consume virgin material when you can use a New Leaf binder.

100% recycled with 35% Post-Consumer content and processed Chlorine Free.  3 Ring Binders are Craft Colored with White New Leaf Band and Recycled Corrugate.

Two sizes:
- 1/2″ thick and Cases have ten (10) items
- 1″ thick and cases have eight (8) items

Paper with a past and a future. New Leaf has a vision for a sustainable paper industry, inspired by nature. Natural systems are cyclical: waste from one process is food to another. Natural systems are sustainable: they create beauty, abundance, biodiversity, and are life-supporting. They do not pollute the water we drink and the air we breathe.

5. Autonomie Project Ethletic  High-top Sneaker

And the best part about going back to school? Hey, throwback shoes!

The Autonomie Project Ethletic Black & White High-top Sneaker has a sole produced and stamped with Forest Stewardship Council-certified all natural and sustainable rubber. It is 100% vegan and entirely cruelty-free, plus it is imported from a Fair Trade certified workshop in Pakistan.

The Deal

In an effort to support the critical mission of “e”-inc., IzzitGreen will donate 50% of our proceeds on any back to school item purchased through Izzit from our partner BuyGreen.com.  Simply click on any BuyGreen item on this page or our in our product catalogue and you will be directed to the BuyGreen site to complete your purchase.

At Izzit we have a lot of fun finding great green products and educating our followers on the potential eco-benefits of those items.  “e”-inc is a non profit that takes the eco-education piece in a different and important direction; right into the classroom, right to the generation that can have the biggest impact on creating a sustainable world and right to those kids who are on their way back to school.

“e” inc. believes that by reaching young people (and through them their families), it can change the shape of our global future through the use of knowledge and action.  “e”inc combines science education with community action to drive environmental change in urban communities.

They do so by working with after school programs in urban Community Centers, Public Schools, and Charter Schools to bring “Planet Protectors” – their standards-based science programs on energy, habitats, ocean biodiversity, or climate change that culminate in solution-driven actions – to all students.   For more info on how they affect this change check out their site at  www.e-action.us

Here is our uber green, pretty cool if I don’t say so myself, Father’s Day gift buying guide:

For the Outdoorsy Dad

SE 2.0 Portable Water Filtration Bottle ($34.95, BuyGreen), Filtered Water Bottle ($9.95, Bobble)

A water bottle with built in filtration – not only replacing plastic bottles but also ensuring you drink the highest quality water. For the SE 2.0 Portable Water Filtration Bottle (left) each Sovereign Earth water filter produces over 100 gallons of pure water – 99.99% pure, removing contaminants like chlorine, agricultural and industrial pollutants heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals. Bobble (right) has a carbon-based filter that removes organic contaminates from regular municipal tap water and meets or exceeds NSF International Standard 42 for chlorine, taste and odor reduction. This filter you have to change every 2 months or after 40 gallons.

Solar Hybrid Flashlight ($19.95, BuyGreen)

An innovative solar flashlight, the Solar Hybrid Flashlight generates renewable power from sun or room light. An 8-hour charge in sunlight or room light will provide up to 16 hours of continuous light, and it can be charged over and over again. It also holds a single charge for over 3 years and comes fully charged.

Ultimate Hammock ($199, Gaiam), Sling Handmade Hammock ($744, Branch)

A hammock to chillax in. Let’s face it, every Dad deserves a break. The Ultimate Hammock from Gaiam (left) is made from recycled soda bottles. The Sling hammock from Branch, designed by Ting (right), is handmade from 100% unused, reclaimed nylon seat belt webbing.

For the Book Loving Dad

Shirt from Out of Print ($28, Out of Print)

A well designed shirt to advertise his literary expertise. For each shirt Out of Print sells, one book is donated to a community in need through their partner Books For Africa.

For the Fashionable Dad

Blottoe Bag ($75, Simple)

An eco friendly messenger bag with some style points. The Blottoe Bag is made from hemp and recycled plastic bottles.

Jimi Wallet ($14.95, GreenLoop), English Retreads Wallets ($46, BuyGreen)

A wallet to stash his paper notes. The Jimi Wallet (left & center) is manufactured in the US from 100% recycled materials, and 1% of its sales revenue is invested in the environment. The Bi-Fold Wallet by English Retreads (right) is made from recycled rubber inner tubes.

Anchor Embroidered Classics ($54, TOMS), Men’s Gumshoe ($60, Simple)

A comfy pair of slip-ons. For the TOMS (left), with every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. The Simples (right) are made from organic cotton, recycled car tires, scraps and post-consumer foams.

For the Sporty Dad

Organic Polo ($51.95, Football Fanatics)

An organic polo to support his favorite sports team, and well, to look sporty. Three cheers for organic cotton – all the benefits of cotton without the toxic chemicals. These three are from Football Fanatics. They also have a wide variety of other branding options. I would suggest doing a quick search for “organic polo” on their site.

Separated at Birth Golfers BBQ Set ($25, UncommonGoods)

The stainless steel Golfers BBQ Set covers the sporty grill enthusiasts. Stainless steel is a great alternative to plastics that can leach harmful chemicals into your food.

Dixon Earth Eco-Distance Golf Balls ($19.95, Amazon)

A dozen eco distance golf balls to hit. Unlike other brands who use harsh heavy-metal pollutants like tungsten, cobalt and lead, and contain non-renewable synthetic materials and compounds; the Dixon Earth Eco-Distance Golf Ball is made from a proprietary polymer that maintains the playable properties of the ball, but ensures that it is 100% renewable.

For the First Time Beer Brewing Dad

Premium Gold Beer Kit ($59.95, Cooking.com), Beer Making Mix Refill Set ($39.95, Cooking.com)

The Premium Gold Beer Kit (left) is a microbrew beer kit that combines modern technology with select ingredients to assure reliable results every time you brew. There are no industrial CO2 cartridges needed. The brew keg is made from an Advanced Rez-Tech Poly Vinyl Chloride, an FDA compliant plastic, and the reusable plastic bottles are made from PET plastic, also FDA approved for food and beverage. All beer mixes, including the Beer Making Mix Refill Set (right) sold separately, are made of 100% natural ingredients with no additives or preservatives.

For the Tech Savvy Dad

Fantom Drives G-Force Greendrive ($99, MacMall)

The GreenDrive features the latest advances in power saving technology and ROHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) compliant materials and process. Your geeky dad will commend you on staying up to date on your green technology.

Vers Cases (Starting at $34.95, BuyGreen), Vers 1.5R ($199, BuyGreen)

A wood accessory or sound system made from renewable resources. Vers not only makes a sweet docking station (right) for your iPhone or iPod, they also have you covered, literally, with their wood cases (left).

Viewsonic announced its newest green nettop-slash-mini-PC this week, the VOT125.  The VOT125 is packed with green cred galore, including form factor and powerplant that consume 90% less plastic and energy than traditional desktop PCs and is fully Energy Star and RoHS compliant.

The VOT125 is built around Intel’s newest ULV (Ultra Low Voltage) processors, and is geared toward the business market, where energy savings across a fleet of PCs can really add-up, and with a $499 MSRP the system’s energy savings turn the tiny beauty in an ROI-positive spend for companies sporting lots of older desktops.  The VOT125 also boasts a 250GB hard drive, 2GB of RAM, Windows 7 and 1080p video output.Home users worry not, Viewsonic will likely soon follow the VOT125 with consumer-focused models to improve the performance and eco-credentials of their existing VOT132 Mini Home PC and other home nettops.  Though existing models already offer a healthy list of green features including lower power, less plastic and RoHS compliance – though more in the 45% less range from traditional PCs than the super-green VOT125.  Get Engadget’s full review of the VOT132 -  http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/24/viewsonic-vot132-nettop-review/

Still don’t know what a nettop is?  Here’s the skinny:

PC manufacturers have begun to develop slim and light computers designed as either secondary home computers (think the kids’ rooms) or to boost the integrated capabilities of the convergent living room – meaning, you plug it into your TV, next to the BluRay and Wii for a fully webified living room experience.   The name of the game for all nettops is cheap and small but with enough horsepower to thrill with multimedia.  So they sport enough processor speed and memory to crush Hulu, YouTube and any other website you can think of.  Most also offer 1080p video output, so your iTunes movie rentals will look sweet, and you’ll be able to join the cool group of folks griping that NetFlix still doesn’t offer their streaming in HD.

When paired with newer generation LED display – like ViewSonic’s 22-Inch LED Monitor – nettops become a very cool upgrade to the wired home.

Via Engadget

Remember way back in 2007 when Greenpeace and other green orgs slammed Apple for their incredibly non-granny-smithish (meaning green) manufacturing habits?  As you may know, since then Mr. Jobs and company have reasserted their commitment to sustainable practices, launched a few i-baubles, ran a big ‘Apple is SO green’ advertising campaign – and then leaped headfirst into the tablet computing abyss with the iPad.

According to Apple, the iPad is indeed a leader in the green electronics space.  With no Mercury, Arsenic, BFR or PVC in the iPad, Apple has achieved its usual designerly objectives without befouling the earth.  At least that’s what Apple is saying – and we’ve got no reason to believe that Apple would risk their brand equity for a little green bathing.

And let’s hope so – otherwise, this guy is in serious trouble.  After all, those handsome glasses aren’t keeping any carcinogenic dust out of his gleaming choppers – never mind his lungs…

Via: Engadget and BlendTec