Electronics are once again dominating holiday shopping lists this season. In fact, analysts with the Consumer Electronics Association predict shoppers will spend six percent more on electronics this year compared to last – or about $250 per consumer. And for every new laptop, tablet, phone, TV, gaming system and scores of other gadgets, an outdated device likely will be replaced. For those old electronics, the question is, “Now what?”

• First off, do not throw replaced electronics in the trash. Electronic devices are comprised of a range of toxic components that can be harmful to human health and the environment if discarded in the same waste stream as the rest of your household garbage. Trashed electronics, or “e-waste,” contain heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which can leach out of landfills and into groundwater or nearby waterways. The good news is that there are several alternatives for disposing of your e-waste, including reuse and recycling. (more…)

For the apple of your eye … iPad, iPhone and Macbook cases, skins and covers made of easily renewable, 100% Moso bamboo. Beautifully handcrafted and finished in Portland, Oregon. Order a custom design … details and purchase @ grovemade.com

Related: more green gadgets on The Alternative Consumer.

For those power hungry individuals who spend much of their time off-grid…

Solio’s BOLT portable solar charger is a new addition to the Solio family of solar charging products. This pocket-sized charger and battery back-up stores the sun’s energy to provide power to all manner of USB powered gizmos and gadgets – including: compatible smartphones, MP3 players, head lamps, lights, GPS,  iPods, PDA’s, e-readers and cameras.

The BOLT’s nifty design allows a pencil or pen to be inserted into the center of its two portable panels enabling the BOLT to act like a sundial.  For maximum charging speed simply face the BOLT toward the sun and rotate it until the pencil no longer casts a shadow. Turn the BOLT toward the sun each time the pencil casts a shadow to maximize the efficiency of the charger.

Available @ amazon.com and the solio.com website for around $70.

Related: more green gadgets

I found these novel ‘Jerrycan’ speakers over at reestore’s online shop. Ben Parker creates these portable speakers from old-school, recycled ‘jerrycan’ fuel containers. The speakers also contain recycled insulation. No specs on fidelity or audio quality seem to be available.

Related: more design on The Alternative Consumer

Do you have a music lover on your gift list? The solar-powered party in a box Soulra XL boombox is a portable, solar-powered sound system – perfect for all you poolside sexy beasts. Check out the specs – it looks great. You can find it on amazon.com for $249.36.

The definition of a ‘sexy gadget’ is definitely in the eye of the beholder. How about a high-tech thermostat that will help save cash for that favorite someone in both hot summers and cold winters? The Honeywell FocusPRO 600 – pictured above ($55) has some nice features:

• 5-1-1 or 5-2 day programmable
• Wireless
• Built-in instructions
• It can help you save up to 33% on annual heating/cooling costs

(photo above) Make listening to your favorite tunes a greener, more sustainable experience with these Vers eco earbuds.

Designed for high performance – these PVC-free earbuds with microphones offer sound isolation, blocking 90% of ambient noise – and the solid wood acoustic chambers deliver richer sound than their plastic counterparts. They’re nicely handcrafted and sourced from sustainably sourced walnut, bamboo and natural cherry. available @ versaudio.com $49.99

Voltaic solar bags, backpacks and chargers make a great gift for students or travelers who need to keep all their vital electronics constantly charged. Given that most of us are tied to at least one electronic gadget, it’s almost essential to have an electrical outlet nearby at all times. But considering the hobbies and professions of some people, this isn’t always an option. The Voltaic series bags by Solar Power Generation gives us the means to recharge our essential electronics while on the go.

The Voltaic bags and backpacks have rows of small solar cells on their exterior, allowing you to recharge nearly any electronic device in your inventory without needing an outlet. Whether it’s a cell phone, PDA, MP3 player, or camera, Voltaic bags can recharge them all by plugging in a basic car charger. If a car charger is not handy, each bag comes complete with 11 standard adaptors to recharge just about any device.

Each bag features a Lithium Ion battery pack that will store any surplus power gained through the day, and they are obviously a great way to ease our reliance on basic electricity. You can find Voltaic’s full line of off-grid solar chargers @ amazon.com.

Related: more holiday green gift guides on The Alternative Consumer

With the weather turning colder and the economy showing little, if any, heat, more and more folks may be hitting their local streets as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement. We thought we’d put together a fun list of items to make protesting a more pleasantly green and productive enterprise. Below we’ve listed a few green gift ideas for the protester in your household:

• No lights, no electricity, no TV…no problemo!  The Etón American Red Cross Microlink radio and flashlight features a multi-band radio that can be charged via hand-crank, solar cell or USB port. The radio features AM/FM and seven NOAA All-Hazard Alert and weather channels. Additional features include: cell phone charging capabilities and a handy LED flashlight.
• Buy your protester a t-shirt that will clearly proclaim their support, affection and affiliation with the Occupy movement. This shirt, made by Colorado-based Occupy Shirts, is made of green stuff too – combed ring spun organic cotton and post-consumer P.E.T. recycled polyester. Occupy Shirts donates proceeds to the city of your choice and the tee costs a very reasonable $20.
• Hygiene is a major issue for any long term, outdoor occupation and protesters always make a better impression on reporters and media types when they smell like a fresh mountain breeze instead of a urine-soaked billygoat. The solar shower (pictured at right) can provide a quick cleansing spritz before that next on-camera opportunity. The shower holds five gallons of H2O which it heats via a small integrated solar panel.
• Hot food is always a mood lifter in an outdoor protest situation and, given the fact that most police and fire departments frown on open fires in public places, innovative cooking solutions are probably required. One option, go all Ed Begley Jr. and break out a solar cooker like the one pictured on the right – all you need is some strong sunlight and a little bit of time…a commodity that, unfortunately, may be in great supply.

Related: more green gifts previously on The Alternative Consumer.

Nice idea – this handmade, portable USB solar charger is stored in a recycled Altoids tin, and it will charge all your little Apple iProducts. The (included) 4V solar cell charges two, high-capacity rechargeable AA batteries — the batteries then charge your gadget.

When you need some emergency juice for your iPhone or iPod just plug your device into the batteries via the three foot retractable USB cable, (included). Buyer has their choice of Altoids tins.

$29.99 @ the Brown Dog Gadget Etsy Shop

Related: more green gadgets

Architecture graduate students Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta were asked to design a product to assist post-earthquake relief efforts in Haiti, they pondered the dangerous nighttime conditions in the tent cities and turned their attention to developing an affordable, off-grid lighting source. The process led them to design LuminAID: a solar-rechargeable, inflatable lamp that packs flat and inflates to create a lightweight, waterproof lantern.

The eco-friendly lamp is safe, sustainable and portable. The light can provide up to six hours of LED light not only for disaster relief situations, but also camping, first aid kits and everyday use. The lamp won first prize in the Columbia Venture Competition and the 2011 Echoing Green Fellowship, among others.

Today, November 1st, LuminAID Lab is launching the “Give Light, Get Light” campaign on IndieGoGo.com.  The goal: Distribute lights to community projects through a forty day pledge-drive ending December 3rd. Visitors to the site will be able to purchase LuminAIDs for personal use, donate lights to community projects, or both, giving the gift of light to rural schools, homes, and small-business owners in need.

Pledge packages range from $10 to $1,000 (to receive 5 personal lights and outfit an orphanage with lights donated in the name of the buyer or his/her company or organization, custom printed with the logo of choice).

For more info visit IndieGoGo.com

Water is becoming one of the world’s most precious commodities, particularly in arid, developing nations. Designer Gabrielle Diamanti has created a prototype for a solar still that could help people with access to salt water convert it into up to 5 litres of fresh water per day.

Diamanti calls her device “Eliodomestico”. Salt water is poured into the top chamber of the device and heated into steam by the sun – removing the salt. The resulting steam is then forced down through an expansion nozzle to condense as fresh water in the lower basin.

The simple still is constructed of cheap, readily available raw materials; operates off-grid – with no electricity; and is low maintenance.

Eliodomestico was a finalist at the 2011 Prix Emile Hermes competition. It is an ‘open’ design and intended to be shared.

via: notcot.org