The Golf can be a long game. And whether you’re using an app to assist your swing, or calling your significant other for the third time to beg for just one more hour, a mobile device running out of juice on the greens can be a real downer.

The Patriot Solar Golf Bag allows you to harness the power of the sun during those hours you spend on the green to charge your favorite gadgets and is the perfect companion during an afternoon game or a weekend tournament. Depending on weather conditions, the bag receives a full charge in four to six hours thanks to the 2.0-3.0W solar panels. The bag also comes with charging tips for the most popular phones and handhelds from Nokia, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson, Motorola and Research In Motion, while the iPod adapter will cost you a little extra. So now while you are swinging your way through 18 holes, your gadgets are re-charging in a very eco way.

The Perfect Gift

While solar panels make this golf bag very functional and way above par, Patriot has not overlooked your game. The Solar Golf Bag also packs in some great golf features like an extra padded, adjustable shoulder strap to sit the bag perfectly on your shoulder if you’re walking. And if you’re driving, Patriot has designed the bag so that all of the pockets are easily accessible when your bag is resting in a cart. The Solar Bag is made from lightweight and durable nylon, but is also offered in a premium leather option for that special gift.

While the Patriot bag offers a plethora of benefits, I guess you can’t use the, “Sorry honey my phone ran out of batteries” excuse any more. On the other hand, now you can use the, “But honey, I have to charge my cell phone the green way” excuse instead!

Follow Alina on Twitter for the latest good-green stuff in sports, fitness and outdoors!

Image Credit: Patriot Solar Group, MorgueFile

We need forward-thinkers who can look outside of the box, creative entrepreneurs [...]]]> With Earth Day rapidly approaching, thoughts turn toward some of our country’s worst vices like our national obsession with the quick consumption of disposable stuff which needs a real reworking. Not only is it wasteful, but it’s completely unsustainable at our current rate.

We need forward-thinkers who can look outside of the box, creative entrepreneurs with foresight and the ability to see the big picture, companies that are daring enough to challenge the disposable mindset with product life cycles that eliminate waste . . .  a company like TerraCycle, for example, which recycles consumer waste and donates money to charities at the same time.

TerraCycle

For one ingenious start-up, all it took was a little creative thinking and some help from Mother Nature. The idea for TerraCycle was born in 2001 when Tom Szaky, a 20-year-old Princeton University freshman, observed near-miraculous results when he nourished some indoor plants with a fertilizer he had produced by feeding table scraps to some red wiggler worms.

This young fertilizer producer began with empty pockets and long hours spent shoveling rotting food behind Princeton cafeterias. But with the help of a little cash and media attention, TerraCycle began to distribute its plant food packaged in recycled soda bottles through major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot. 

With a new factory in Trenton, NJ, TerraCycle wasted no time in addressing the company’s social responsibilities and quickly became a second-chance employer for ex-convicts, veterans and parolees. The company also offered up the building to local artists as a blank canvas for urban expression.

After seeing the success of their Bottle and Can Brigade to collect used soda bottles for the fertilizer packaging, Szaky saw a real opportunity. TerraCycle soon launched the Drink Pouch Brigade, followed by the Yogurt Container Brigade, the Energy Bar Wrapper Brigade and many other product-specific “Brigades” to find new uses for specific types of waste.

How It Works

Today TerraCycle works to eliminate our idea of “waste” through 40 Brigades that facilitate collection programs for hard-to-recycle materials. Many of these Brigades offer free collection as TerraCycle pays for the shipping. The company turns the waste that it collects into affordable green products.

For most items, TerraCycle will donate $0.02 per unit collected to a charity or school of your choice. Some of the products that TerraCycle collects include energy bar wrappers, used flip-flops, yogurt containers, Ziplock bags, ink cartridges, cell phones and Huggies diaper package wrappers.

To start a Brigade in your neighborhood or at your organization follow these simple steps:

1. Sign up at TerraCycle.net.

2. Choose a waste type to collect and join a Brigade.

3. Put out a collection box and promote it to your friends, neighbors and colleagues.

4. Download a free shipping label and send your waste to TerraCycle.

5. Waste is turned into products.

6. For most items, TerraCycle also donates $0.02 per unit to a charity of your choice.

These initiatives have spurred TerraCycle to become one of the fastest growing green companies in the world with over 1.9 billion waste units collected, 260 waste products produced and over $2.3 million raised for charity!

Image credits: TerraCycle.

From 2006 to 2009, the team was able to reduce their natural gas usage by 60 percent, their electricity by 30 percent and their water use by 15 percent. Then, last year the team adopted an aggressive [...]]]> The Seattle Mariners have a strong history of evaluating and controlling the environmental impact of their franchise.

From 2006 to 2009, the team was able to reduce their natural gas usage by 60 percent, their electricity by 30 percent and their water use by 15 percent. Then, last year the team adopted an aggressive recycling program to limit their waste. By the end of the year using these green initiatives the Mariners had reduced the amount of trash that they were sending to landfills by 70 percent, saving the team an incredible half million dollars a year. Earlier this month, the team actually skipped their bobblehead give-away and instead launched a compost bag fan giveaway which provided game goers with a way to take part in the eco-movement at home using things discarded at past Mariners’ games.

If one team can enjoy such environmental and economic success, why hasn’t impact evaluation turned into an eco-phenomenon? Recent events instill some hope.

The Green Sports Alliance

While the Mariners have been taking eco-friendly steps for years, a new collaboration could provide the team, and others like them, a better vehicle to measure and share their progress. The Green Sports Alliance is a non-profit formed by six professional teams in the Pacific Northwest: The Vancouver Canucks (NHL), the Seattle Storm (WNBA), the Seattle Mariners (MLB), the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) and the Seattle Sounders FC (MLS).

This type of collaboration is the first time that so many professional sports leagues have collaborated on any type of environmental agenda. The Green Sports Alliance aims to utilize the popularity and influence of professional sports to bring the green message to sports fans everywhere by engaging and inspiring fans in a new way.

The Alliance enjoys a strong backing from each of the teams’ commissioners as well as the support of the National Resources Defence Council (NRDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Impact

At the Alliance kick-off, members discussed city transportation issues and how people commute to events as well as their aspirations to eventually filter the eco-karma along to collegiate, high school and club sports leagues. The Alliance hopes to provide a reliable structure to help professional sports teams reduce their environmental impact. Some of the steps that have been discussed include:

• Exerting pressure on concessionaires and manufacturers to yield significant and immediate improvements
• Replacing cups and plates with compostable versions
• Removing some trash cans at venues and replacing them with recycling bins
• Performing energy audits at stadiums
• Encouraging the use of renewable energy at sports facilities
• Installing water efficient fixtures and water conserving measures
• Promoting the professional players as “Eco Warriors” who can demand equipment that is eco-certified

Looking forward, a Green Sports Summit, which is scheduled to take place in August, plans to further educate sports leaders on how they can take steps that will improve their environmental impact and maybe even their bottom line.

Image credit: Green Sports Alliance

We all have our own personal goals for this holiday season: To avoid gaining seven pounds, to be civil to our in-laws or maybe to finally win the coveted house decorating contest in our neighborhood.

I wish you luck on any of these honorable aspirations, but I’m afraid I [...]]]>

We all have our own personal goals for this holiday season: To avoid gaining seven pounds, to be civil to our in-laws or maybe to finally win the coveted house decorating contest in our neighborhood.

I wish you luck on any of these honorable aspirations, but I’m afraid I can’t do much more than that, unless of course your aim is to give the best eco-outdoor gift . . . ever. Here’s our list of the top five green presents for the outdoor enthusiast on your shopping list:

Patagonia’s Nano Puff Pullover

A real favorite of mine, the Nano Puff Pullover Jacket by Patagonia, is a sure hit this winter. This jacket is so warm you have to test it out on a Minnesota winter morning to believe it. The toasty Primaloft insulation is not only lightweight and warm when wet, it’s also incredibly compressible. It even stuffs down into its own chest pocket for easy packing. The durable shell is made from 100 percent recycled polyester with a handy DWR finish to repel wet snow storms. Plus, the jacket is recyclable through Patagonia’s Common Threads Recycling Program. Available in men’s and women’s models.

Battery-Free, Pedal-Powered Bike Lights

For the bike commuter on your list, you know that safety is paramount. The 360 Degree Visibility Pedal Lights by Pedalite are totally battery-free and powered only by the rotational motion of the pedals. These unique pedals even save a small amount of energy to keep the lights going for up to five minutes after the bike has stopped moving. The unique light set up allows motorists to see your loved ones from any angle, including from the side, day or night.

‘Barefoot’ Running Shoes

Include your friend or loved one in the biggest buzzed-about product since collapsible tent poles: The Vibram FiveFingers Classic Smartwool minimalist running shoes help your athlete connect with the earth in a whole new way. Let them experience the joy of barefoot running with the protection to keep them cruising along. The Classic Smartwool has an upper and insole made from a Smartwool Merino blend to always keep them dry and at the right temperature. The Ecostep + outsole also uses 50 percent recycled scrap rubber for a reliable, eco-friendly ride. Available in men’s and women’s styles.

Recycled, Three-Season Sleeping Bag

The Adrenaline +20° recycled sleeping bag from Golite is the perfect three-season bag for when the nights cool down. Weighing in at just over 2 pounds this bag is light in a pack and on the environment, thanks to the 800-fill goose down, recycled polyester shell and recycled polyester microfiber lining. It also comes in a women’s version.

Sustainably-Made Snow Boards

Maybe it’s time that you stop scolding that family member or friend for crossing over to “the dark side” and embrace their choice to choose one plank over two on the slopes. With the Wasteland Snowboard by Arbor at least you can now show your tolerance for the snowboarder in your life in an eco-friendly way. The Wasteland is a versatile twin board with more power in the park than you can shake your finger at. Better yet, this board uses Arbor’s lightest wood core that is also certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Plus, the sustainably harvested, inlaid wood top-sheet reduces weight and increases durability in a very green way.

There you have it. Prepare to go down in family history as an eco-gift giving legend! But don’t worry about having to best yourself next year. I’ll be back with another unbelievable green gift guide to help you with all of your outdoorsy recipients.

Image credits: Patagonia, Pedalite, Vibram, Altrec, REI.

Staying informed on the trail is becoming easier and easier as the world becomes smaller and smaller. Often, this additional access to important information means carrying and throwing out a sac of batteries after each adventure.

With three charging methods, the Etón Scorpion Radio is ready [...]]]>

Staying informed on the trail is becoming easier and easier as the world becomes smaller and smaller. Often, this additional access to important information means carrying and throwing out a sac of batteries after each adventure.

With three charging methods, the Etón Scorpion Radio is ready for anything. Keep the music and news going anywhere with the large solar panel, hand crank or DC power adapter. Just use the sturdy aluminum carabiner to clip-on and go. Built with the adventurer in mind, the Scorpion sports a rugged skin, light water resistance, and a surprisingly bright 3 LED flashlight to use as a back up or your go-to torch. This multi-purpose radio is conveniently tuned into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather band for instant and accurate weather information. Weather information that could make all the difference in a outdoor emergency. And you can rest assured, the Etón Corporation is no novice to emergency situations. The company produces an entire line of emergency radios with their partner the American Red Cross giving people in disaster relief areas all over the globe access to news and information.

On the lighter side, the Scorpion has a clever audio line input so you can play music or podcasts outloud. The Scorption also provides a headphone jack, allowing you to listen to the radio anywhere and not ruin someone else’s quiet day in the woods. Plus, if you’ve brought your cell phone or mp3 player along, you can use the Scorpion as a USB charging station for any of your portable devices! The digital radio tuner makes it easy to find your favorite station, and also brilliantly offers a time and battery charge readout. And thanks to the built in bottle opener, the Scorpion can officially solve all of your outdoor problems.

The Etón Scorpion Multi-Purpose Radio really does cover its bases making it the perfect all-inclusive outdoor accessory. Well, everything but the batteries that is, but don’t worry you won’t be needing those.

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 [...]]]>

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.

It’s the must-have Papa’s Day gift of the future for the greenminded Dad in you life – The Husqvarna Panthera Leo.  The Panthera Leo is a ‘concept mower’ by Husqvarna that’s intended to demonstrate the company’s ‘commitment to sustainability’ as it echoes consumer preference for ‘self sustaining’ gardens – whatever all that means. [...]]]>

It’s the must-have Papa’s Day gift of the future for the greenminded Dad in you life – The Husqvarna Panthera Leo.  The Panthera Leo is a ‘concept mower’ by Husqvarna that’s intended to demonstrate the company’s ‘commitment to sustainability’ as it echoes consumer preference for ‘self sustaining’ gardens – whatever all that means. Wouldn’t a ‘self sustaining’ garden mow itself?  Then again, maybe a ‘self sustaining’ garden is really just an all-white garage near Wimbledon where you admire the Panthera Leo while sweeping a small pile of leaves.  But I digress!

Back to business – a few preemptive answers to the questions you’re undoubtedly asking yourself about this little slice of eco-vative brilliance right now: 

A) Yes, there apparently is such a thing as a ‘concept mower’ and this is what one looks like – it’s kind of silly and I wish it had gullwing doors, but given all the bad news out of Detroit these days, we’ve got to hang our horsepower hat somewhere;

B) Yes, the name Panthera Leo is fantastically goofy and was probably coined by a guy who spends his weekend seeking another Leonard Nemoy autograph for his collection;

C) Yes, the mower is equal parts far-out cool and absurdly ridiculous, but aren’t all wonderful innovations – think Wii Fit – and;

D) No, I don’t think the good folks at Husqvarna stopped to consider the fact that ride-on mower requiring suburbia is, by definition, one of ‘the problems’ when it comes to unsustainability – so the old Pantera Leo is a bit like our old pal the Hybrid Yukon.

But is any of that really the point?  Absolutely not.  The real point here is that no matter what I say or do, and no matter how eco-pious I’d ever attempt to be, as a fella I freakin love this thing – and I want one very very badly.  It’s a lawnmower with an LCD display for heaven’s sake!  This thing would induce Steve Jobs to cut his own lawn.

In fact, I’m probably going to spend the remainder of the afternoon writing begging emails to Husqvarna to develop concept weed whackers, concept chainsaws, concept rototillers, and some kind of really cool concept helmet/headgear for me to wear while working in the yard.  After all, there’s nothing cooler than pretending you’re John Connor while cutting the lawn, right?  Right?  I wonder if they’ll make one with a light saber holster so I can mix geek genres while I mow.

One last thing – Engadget’s post on the Panthera Leo includes a video showcase of the lawn-mowing badboy, and the video reveals the real pronunciation for Husqvarna.  It’s HYOOskvarna, not HUSKvara like I’ve been saying all along.  My Swedish friends will now accept me.  We’re just getting cooler by the minute…

As a guy who’s spent a good chunk of his career running through airports with suitcase, laptop and other assorted heavy stuff, I (and my back) find myself a little jealous every time I come across another device that used to weigh ten pounds, came in a cumbersome case and now [...]]]>

As a guy who’s spent a good chunk of his career running through airports with suitcase, laptop and other assorted heavy stuff, I (and my back) find myself a little jealous every time I come across another device that used to weigh ten pounds, came in a cumbersome case and now fits in the palm of your hand or jacket pocket.  Ten years to late.

These days, business travelers can seemingly get away with just a pocket full of gizmos.  Most important laptop functionality has been replaced by a iPhones, Blackberries or some other tiny genius phone.  And now this – the world has recently been inundated with tiny, ultra-portable presentation projectors, like the Dell109S and Optoma’s tiny Pico.

There was a time not long past, when the projector – an expensive, hulking, delicate mess of a machine with a $400 light bulb in it – was the bane of many a business traveler’s existence.  If you lugged the projector with you, you were stuck carrying an extra twenty-five pounds on your off-shoulder, and the ringing of the office manager as she cried, ‘don’t lose it! don’t not break it! We only have two of them and the other has a bad bulb!  The CEO has a meeting on Wednesday!’  This was the existence of a technology business development executive.  But no more – and that’s why I’m envious.

The new generation of tiny-projectors literally fit in the palm of your hand – with dimensions commonly around 3.5” by 4.5”.  So with smart phone in one hand and mini projector in the other, business folks have literally all they need for a big presentation.  You almost don’t even need the conference table anymore.  The horror!

As you can imagine, top-end performance for pocket projectors isn’t nearly as good as the big guns.  The pocket competitors have lower resolutions, lower light output (so you need a fairly dark room to make ‘em work), and typically only scale up to a 60” projection.  Whereas, traditional projectors can scale to more than 300” projections, are HD capable and work well in well-lit rooms.

What pocket projectors lose in performance, they clearly make up for in price, weight and eco footprint.  The market price for pocket projectors hovers around $300, and unlike its earlier cousins these projector use energy efficient mercury-free LED light sources with a claimed usage life of up to 10,000 hours – as opposed to about 3000 hours claimed for traditional bulbs (300 hours?  Sure!).  Pocket projectors are light, energy efficient, use fewer materials and are easy to share.  Over the long haul adoption of these babies should help companies save significant money, resources and energy.   Having one may also make you one of the coolest parents on the planet too – since watching YouTube on the ceiling is one of the least dorky things a dad can do….for now…

There are several competitive offerings available, including the aforementioned Dell 109S and Optoma’s Pico , along with 3M’s Micro Professional Projector.  So grab a pair of cargo shorts, your iBerryDroid (aka iPhone, Blackberry or Android phone) and a Pocket Projector – you’re know ready to fly!

My back forgives you for how easy you have it.