Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

While I suspect the Naturmobil was actually designed for the sole purpose of making ‘one horsepower’ jokes, I guess Iranian engineer Hadi Mirhejazi’s invention is also an eco-friendly way to get around. It’s powered by a single horse tethered to a treadmill inside, which charges the battery on an electric motor and allows it to reach speeds of up to 28mph. To keep the horse comfortable it wears a jacket of cold water, and to keep the passengers comfortable it also wears a colostomy bag to deal with the vehicle’s ‘emissions.’

[ The Guardian - The Naturmobil is the ultimate green car ] VIA [ Inhabitat ]

By Andrew Liszewski

For you clumsy yet eco-conscious types, Transcend has just released a new USB flash drive called the JetFlash V70 which fully meets the U.S. military’s drop-test standards (MIL-STD-810F 516.5—Transit Drop) thanks to its durable eco-friendly silicone rubber housing. The drive is also splash and dust resistant as a result, and even features a hard to lose tethered USB cap. I assume the drives are available now, or sometime in the near future, and will come in 16GB (red), 8GB (orange), and 4GB (purple) capacities.

[ PR - Transcend Releases JetFlash V70 Rugged USB Flash Drive ] VIA [ Fareastgizmos ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I have my doubts the Shweeb will become the defacto standard for transportation in crowded cities, but as an alternative to cars and even bikes, it does have some merit. Each capsule holds a single rider who has to pedal in order to get from point A to point B, and besides the whole eco-friendly aspect of not relying on a motor or electricity, the Shweeb is actually faster than a bike. And since you’re suspended from a rail on a set path, you’re free to make phone calls or check your email without the worry of having an accident.

In a practical sense, setting up a network of rails to accommodate single riders all going to different places is a logistical nightmare, which is why the Shweeb only exists as an amusement park ride at the Agroventures Adventure Park in Rotorua, New Zealand. And if you happen to find yourself in their neighborhood while visiting your Kiwi pals, a 3-lap ride around their course will set you back about US $30.

[ The Shweeb ] VIA [ TreeHugger ]

By Chris Scott Barr

I’m a gamer, which means I like to pump as much juice as I can out of my computer. Overclocking means more heat, which I combat by using a liquid cooling system. Liquid cooling isn’t all that uncommon in high-end computers, however, it’s practically unheard of for light bulbs. Until now, that is.

This small LED bulb uses liquid-cooling so that it can provide full 360-degree lighting. It consumes only 4 Watts of power, while still giving off the same amount of light as a traditional 25 Watt bulb. Sure, it’s not the brightest in the world, but it would be great for small desk lamps and such. Each bulb will set you back $35 and is rated for up to 35,000 hours. You know you want to get one, just to say you have a liquid-cooled bulb.

[ EternalLEDs ] VIA [ CoolestGadgets ]

By Chris Scott Barr

When you’re out playing golf, you usually have two options for getting around. Either you drive around a cart, or just walk your happy self all over the course. If you’re committed to living a “green” lifestyle, then you’ll probably pass up the golf cart. Of course if you don’t want to spend your entire afternoon walking, you could try using this Bicycle Golf Caddy.

This rather simple device hooks up to just about any bike, and carries your clubs along behind you. It seems rather simple to setup, and even collapses to make storage easier. At $200 it’s a bit pricey, but now when you’re getting beat on the course, you can remind your friends that at least you’re not destroying the environment my driving around some electric cart all day.

[ Clean Air Gardening ] VIA [ BoingBoing ]

By Andrew Liszewski

You may think you’re being eco-friendly by shutting off your TV whenever you leave the room, but don’t forget about the peripherals you have connected like DVD players, receivers and gaming consoles which may still be drawing power even when in standby mode. The TV TrickleStar does the remembering for you though, and will automatically switch on or switch off all peripheral devices whenever your TV is turned on or off using “inbuilt current sensing circuitry.” It’s just $34.95 available from the TrickleStar online store, and it seems like one of those investments that will be worth it in the long run.

[ TV TrickleSaver ] VIA [ GoNintendo ]

By Evan Ackerman

You don’t generally expect much from a cell phone that costs less than sixty bucks, and with the Samsung E1107, you don’t get much. It’s got a 128 x 128 display, an FM radio, and a built-in flashlight. The reason that you’d buy it is the solar panel the takes up the entire back of the phone, promising up to 10 minutes of call time per hour in the sun. While not the most efficient way of charging your phone, it’s a million times better than an iPhone 3GS at out of power performance, and at least gives you an option for mobile charging.

The other reason to get this phone is that it’s good for the Earth: it helps reduce global warming. Not in the way you’re thinking, that would be too obvious. No, I’m talking about how having a solar panel out in the sun absorbs photons, preventing them from imparting their horrible energy into the ground and making everything just a little bit cooler. If everybody was using solar powered cell phones, not only would we be saving energy charging them, but charging them would actually cool the planet by some fraction of a degree that I’m just going to go ahead and call significant and important! Yay solar power!

So far, the E1107 is available pretty much everywhere except the US. Why must they taunt us so?

[ Newswire ] VIA [ Samsung Hub ]

By Andrew Liszewski

On one hand it’s nice that this funky looking CD player is completely solar powered, but on the other hand, who really uses a CD player any more? The base of the player hides its rechargeable battery, and after leaving the included solar panel out in the sun for about 4 to 5 hours you can expect to get about 10 hours of playtime. And in addition to traditional CDs it will also play MP3 files burned to a data disc, so it’s not completely outdated, but with a price tag of about $137, it’s still a tough sell.

[ Solar CD/MP3 Player ] VIA [ Apartment Therapy Unplugged ]

By Evan Ackerman

When it comes to charging gadgets, the most important criteria has to be versatility. Maybe you’ll find yourself near an outlet. Maybe you’ll find yourself with some AA batteries. Maybe you’ll find yourself drunk. Or maybe you’ll find yourself out in the sun, in which case a solar panel would be just what you need.

This solar panel comes in the form of a 4 port USB hub. Yes, USB ports generally provide their own power, so most of the time, this thing will be under a pile of stuff on your desk and plugged in and the solar panel will be useless. But there’s also a 700 mAh battery in there which charges up from your computer, sun or no sun, and you can then disconnect the hub and carry it around to charge anything with a USB interface. When the battery runs out, you can leave the hub in the sun to recharge it.

The idea of fusing a solar panel with a battery is certainly not a new one, but it’s a great combination… Solar charging is slow and restricted to midday, but adding a battery means you can store up the power and use it anytime. And why the heck not make it into a USB hub? For only $22, there’s pretty much no reason not to get one of these if you’re in need of a couple extra USB ports and a portable charger for your gadgets.

[ USB Fever ] VIA [ Techchee ]