Another device discovered on my obsessive pursuit of all things solar. The lovely, ultra-light PowerMonkey-eXplorer will keep your cellphone, iPod, Blackberry, PDA, digital camera and other small devices humming happily without sucking juice from the local power grid.

The Solar PowerMonkey-eXplorer is a rechargeable battery storage pack and solar panel combo.

One nice feature is an LCD screen that displays battery power and level of charge.

Maximum reserve power available:
iPods – 40 hours
cellphones – 96 hours
PSPs – 5 hours
PDAs – 48 hours

Each kit contains:

• PowerMonkey battery pack
• Solar-slave
• Universal charger for UK, US, Australia and Europe
• Connectors for Nokia, Motorola V66, Samsung A288, Siemens C25 and Sony Ericsson
• Mini USB for Motorola Razr V series, BlackBerry and Bluetooth head sets
• USB for iPod, smart phones, PDA and other devices
• Connector for Sony PSP and most digital cameras
• Travel pouch and case

$129.99 @ compusa.com

Another Friday post from Seamus, The Eco friendly Dog.

It’s Friday and I’m a little anxious about seeing Matilda the maltese up the street when I take my 5:30 walk. I think I’ll have my main man Max, spray me with a shot of my Chill Dog Anxiety Spray and maybe a hit of Peppermint Breath Spray for the old doggie breath. As everyone knows, proper comportment and grooming are the mainstays of any good environmentalist.

Some ingredients: pure essential oils of lavender, clary sage, green mandarin, and ylang ylang blended into a base of distilled water, organic aloe vera, and natural glycerine.

They have a bunch of other organic sprays for the alternative dog.
each spray goes for $11 @ spotorganics.com

Thanks to the inspiration and artistic whimsy of young children, iconic fashion designer Vivienne Westwood launched one of the most original, nature-loving collections to hit the Paris catwalks, stilts included.

See the video

wonderful photos
via: telegraph.uk

If you’ve ever sat on your darkened, post-party patio, fumbling in the dark for that last goblet of sangria, you might want to consider investing in this outdoor accessory. This 9′ umbrella has a solar panel that screws into the top to power 8 hub mounted LED’s and 18 LED’s mounted on the umbrella’s ribs. You can turn on the the hub-lights, or the rib-lights, or both. The lights and rechargeable battery are replaceable. Charges in 6 to 8 hours of sunlight, no electrical cords needed.

$99 @ lowes.com

If you’re not familiar with nau (if you’re a steady altCon reader, you are), now’s the time to get up to speed. Nau’s high-performance fall/winter collection will be available @ 40-75% less than usual at this 4 day event in nyc. A great time to pickup a stylish, naturally wicking top – (the outdoors are all about fresh air. who wants to be stinky after trudging crosstown or up a mountain, right?)

5% of every purchase will be donated to Kiva, the world’s first person to person micro-lending website. check it out.

OPEN HOUSE GALLERY – 201 Mulberry St, bet. Kenmare & Spring
thurs 11a – 7p
fri & sat 12n – 8p
sun 12n – 6p

• I don’t believe it. I guess $4 a gallon had an impact. (audio) House Votes to Tax Big Oil, Fund Renewable Energy – npr
• It’s rough on tomatoes. Study: Bacteria Common in Snow – usa today
• Lighter cars will burn less fuel. Mitsubishi Chem. Plans Carbon Fiber Auto Parts – reuters
• The Bush Interior Dept. is the enemy of the environment. Groups Challenge Gray Wolf Delisting – livescience
• No Impact From U.K. Energy Saving Day – bbc

Chicago-based Lauri Apple is a modern day trashionista. She’s a collector of discarded clothing & such – and posts about these treasures on her blog, FoundClothing. Her site features contributions from other “finders.” Above (pix) are examples of “saved” threads from Scotland. There’s a flickr pool where anyone can post pics of their free-stuff finds. Now everyone can post about their beloved keepers on this site. These recyclers are a busy bunch. They save clothing and accessories from the trash and on the streets, then take the items home, wash/fix them up, catalog them, archive them and of course, wear them again, too. Abandoned threads are given a new life. How undeniably useful. But who knew there’d be such a following of fellow posters?

Apparently, GAP and Old Navy garb is disposed of quite frequently. Not too surprising, eh? With such a vast amount of accumulated stuff, some are wondering if Lauri should start selling the goods — and she wants you to weigh-in on the idea. Check it out @ foundclothing.typepad.com

I’m with ya, Lauri. My friend Chris and I love combing transfer stations (don’t you love that phrase), and we’ve fetched many a fine “find.” We’re talking East Hampton, so I do mean fine.

btw, I like Lauri’s “An Intern Must Have Made This” post.

• I know some of the trees involved. ‘Cloning’ Comes to Trees in Preservation Push -cs monitor
• Wind Farms May Threaten Whooping Cranes – myway
• The upside to warmer weather. Record Warm Winter in Finland May Boost Crops – reuters
• Top 5 Alternative Uses of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch – ecorazzi
• Scientists Advance ‘Drought Crop’ – bbc
• I needed a large black coffee just to get through this post. (video) How Coffee Gets Us Through the Day – redorbit
• Making Solar Cells is Pretty Green – msnbc

Small urban and residential windpower installations are eventually going to be a common, happening thing. The Helix system from New Earth is just one of many designs for low wind speed residential and commercial applications. The avian friendly design catches wind from all directions creating torque to spin an electric generator. Mounted up to 35 feet high, in winds as low as 10 mph the system is designed to provide electrical power for your home or business.

(from the Helix site) “The basic concept: As the wind blows, the long helical blade scoops wind from any direction forcing it through the turbine. The turbine generator is connected directly to your home and as electricity is generated your home is powered. If the wind isn’t blowing your home is powered by the energy grid as usual. If the wind is blowing strongly then your energy produced can exceed your energy consumed and, depending on your local utility, your meter can spin backwards rolling back your energy bill.”

They offer 1 and 2kW models. Although no pricing is listed on their website, sources say the turbines run from $6,500 to $16,500 pre-installed. Installations should start rolling out this year. Click here to make a purchase inquiry.

helix video

Andre Kovel and Justin Parker of Esque Studio create these eye-catching vases from recycled glass in their electric, wind powered furnace.

Sustainably produced.

these one-of-a-kind art objects start at $314 @ branchhome.com

(via: cleansingblog.com)

No, No, No…don’t have a hairdo that is taller than 47% of the people in Asia. Amy Winehouse has taken high hair to another level. Rumor has it that it takes a minimum of 4 cans of Extra Hold Hairspray to maintain the structural integrity of this hairdo – enough aerosol propellant to create a gap in the ozone layer as big as Bermuda.

Don’t wear a get-up that sends all the orangutans in the Bronx Zoo into heat. The overabundance of fur and leather, not to mention the over processing of each to reach this “desirable” shade of what shall we call it, blood red or vapid blue simply raises the bar on the already over the top “ICK” factor. Inspired by a certain simian wardrobe from the ‘Wizard of Oz’ perhaps? We will just call it the Monkey Love Waiter’s Jacket. Sharing the blame are designers P Diddy and Jill Stuart.

Don’t buy a shoe that can’t go up a 20 degree incline. Fashion designer Antonio Berardi’s spring 08 RTW heel-less shoe is the picture of pain. Paltrow, Beckham and Uma have reportedly shelled out the big bucks for these heeless monstrocities. For those ladies aspiring to reach an ‘unnatural’ high. Don’t try to ‘kick-back’ in these $3300 pumps.

Don’t start wearing that wolf fur vest just because G.W. took canis lupus off the endangered list. Perhaps a sandwich might be a good idea instead…

Don’t wear anything that has killed more cattle than Hurricane Katrina…no matter how good you look.

Don’t wear feathers and fur hats unless you actually are a pimp. Faux rockstars like my man Dave Navarro should stick to nipple piercings, scrotum rings and leotards and leave the birds and furry creatures alone.

• States rights anyone? EPA Chief Pressed On Calif. Waiver – msnbc
• Mainstream Adopts Greenpeace Colors – reuters
• Now this is a good use of military resources. Troops Sent to Stem Amazon Loss – bbc
• The jet stream blows west to east, or as in my case, here comes some crap from Ohio…Study: Contaminant Levels High in Western Parks – ap/myway
• We have our wolves…South Africa to Kill Elephants – natgeo
• None of the Candidates are Talking About the Environment – enn
• A bamboo bag for your hallowed loaves – Foodstuffs – nytimes
• (pix/espanol) Funny Signs – ueba.com

While cleaning the kids’ playroom for what must be the umpteenth time today I spied the bag of Tree Blocks that our entire family loves to build with. These unusual building blocks are cut from tree branches and make the most beautiful sculptures, keeping little hands busy for at least long enough for me to get a shower. The “elves” at Tree Blocks identify abandoned or end of productive cycle plots of apple, cherry and hazelnut trees and contact the farmers. They then push the old trees over removing the roots. Tree Blocks bridges and blocks are made from the wood purchased and processed by the “elves.” This leaves the farmer clean soil and seed money, so he can get back into production. (more) (more…)