Charge your mobile phone with your movement

It looks like the ball is finally rolling and gaining speed in terms of developing new cheap and affordable forms of renewable energy; in fact a quick search online for solar chargers will show you just how many cost effective portable solar powered chargers are currently available. The latest offering from a company called nPower is the ‘PEG’, a small 9” long kinetic energy generator made from titanium, unlike many of the renewable energy chargers out there; this little green gadget packs a powerful punch. It boasts a 1000 mAh battery that delivers electricity to your mobile phone or digital camera at the same speed as your home power outlet. It uses a USB connector to transfer energy to your handheld devices and come with a universal iGo tip connector that should be able to attach to most standard electronic devices. So how does it work? This is the best part, all you have to do is pop it in your pocket while you’re going about your day and it will slowly harvest the kinetic energy from your movements. If you’re interested in buying or learning more about this neat green gadget, you can have a look at npowerpeg website.

Make your own ‘solar barbeque grill’

Are you a fan of relaxing weekend barbeques? Sizzling sirloin steaks, herb infused Cumberland sausages and butter topped grilled vegetables……. Though getting the fire started can be a long procedure, you have to wait all that time for a plate of grub and then it’s back to cooking duty again. Well for anyone that is lucky enough to live in a country that sees the sun all year round, you could opt for the latest ‘Solar barbeque grill’

They haven’t really taken off in popularity yet, but the idea seems sound; they are currently selling for abut 125 pounds in the UK of all places. The solar grill works on a very simple design, there is a curved sheet of metal with a highly reflective surface; in the center is a black metal holder bar onto which the suns rays are focused. There’s not lot of mention about cooking times, but one site says it can take as little as 25-30 minutes on a hot day; to prevent burning you simply tip the barbeque into a less reflected angle to the sun.

If you don’t have the money to buy a solar barbeque, they are apparently very easy to make the greeniacs.com website offers up their own step by step guide; check out the finished product in the video below.

Get better with Ringtone medicine from Japan

The Japanese have always been known for their innovative and zany inventions, but the latest craze to come from the East has caught the attention of people from around the globe and it’s called ‘ringtone therapy’. A company named ‘The Japanese ringing tone laboratory’ has developed a range of specialized ringtones for your mobile phone, which they claim can help people to deal with several illnesses and emotional conditions. One of the conditions that these tones can alleviate is hay fever; the idea is that a sufferer of this condition holds his or her hand set in the normal way and plays the ringtone on loud. The frequency of the sound resonates at a level strong enough to shake the tiny pollen particle from the person’s nostrils. If your phone is a more up to date version, you also have the option of adjusting the vibration rate to fit to your facial type, so that the treatment is more affective.

It doesn’t end here; there is a list of ringtones that are supposedly able to help with different forms of ailment. Do you feel a little overweight? 30 minutes of listening to a specific selection of sound is can substantially reduce your waistline and loosen your belt buckle. Are you a woman feeling less than adequate in the chest region? Well not to worry, Dr.Hideto Tomabechi, one of the first researchers involved in the project believes that women are more sensitive to certain frequencies of sound and he has designed a ringtone that can stimulate growth.

However far fetched these claims may sound to you, millions of Japanese and other people from around the world are buying these ringtones in large numbers. Mr. Matsumi Suzuki head of the Japan ringing tone laboratory, admits that there has been limited testing, but comments that there must be some positive affect from his products otherwise why would so many people be purchasing and using them?

Sanwa Power adapter - know how muchenergy you're using

This is a great gadget for anyone trying to conserve energy out there. Designed and manufactured in Japan this multi socket power plug extension adaptor has a built in watt out put reader, so you can see exactly how much power you are using at one time.

So how does that help me save energy I hear you say? Actually I was tryinging to figure that out myself, but if you know how much is going out you can take measures to reduce this number by the only means possible; stop plugging so many things in at once.

Currently this product doesn’t seem to have a main outlet source, after hours of checking I’ve only found a wholeseller on Alibaba.com

Keep your mobile running with YoYo power

This neat little device is a step up from the small portable crank lever wind up models, instead it uses a mechanism similar to a yoyo toy. It’s very compact and can easily slip into your top pocket so is ideal for emergencies, for example if you’re stuck out in the countryside with car trouble and no power left in your mobile. It uses a USB cable with a number of different extension heads to charge your cell phone, games console, MP3 player, camera and many other small voltage devices.

Unfortunately, like the crank windup charger it produces a tiny trickle of electricity so it isn’t really a realistic replacement for home power mains charging. The gadget costs $39.99 and can be found at the Yogen homepage.

Check out the cheesy advertisement video below for more details ;)

Never get a flat battery again with this solar powered laptop charger

I came across this great green gadget while searching the net and thought it was a great idea. Anyone with a laptop knows what a pain in the neck it is to run out of batteries while working on something in a coffee shop; where do you find a power output?

This ingenious products is fitted with a highly absorbent solar panel that charges your laptop for free. On a relatively sunny day the bag can charge a standard laptop battery to full in about 5 hours. The only downside to this gadget is its price at $449 each, it probably won’t see many buyers, but if you think about how much it will save you and the environment in the long run it’s a very good buy.

The company that produces these innovative little devices is called ‘voltaicsystems.com’ and they sell a whole range of solar powered bags, some at much lower prices.

Make your own Bamboo Bicycle

Have you ever thought of constructing a top of the range road bike? How about a bamboo bicycle? It turns out that a lot of people are starting to turn to using strong bamboo for their main frames and body. But why use bamboo? It’s actually been used for years in countries like Hong Kong and China as scaffolding to construct huge skyscrapers, it’s extremely strong , some even believe as tough as steel.

*How does it help? It is renewable and sustainable with a fast growth turnover; as this plant grows in humid climates lie those found in many developing South East Asian countries it could provide farmers there with a lucrative source of income. It is long lasting and when prepared and coated with a protective covering it an easily make it through wet weather without warping. The idea has actually been around since the 80′s and first introduced to biking by Craig Calfree who has his own specialized bamboo bicycle frame for sale. Apparently they are not that difficult to make,  if you’re interested instructables.com have a concise step by step manual.