“Ray” is  solar charger for small electronic gadgets that features a unique suction cup design. Inventor Brandon Craven created “Ray” to provide a portable power source for individuals who are constantly draining the battery of their phone, PDA or iPod.

The charger features an interesting suction cup design that allows the solar panel to be attached to any window – including car windshields and airplane windows. The tilting kickstand can be adjusted for maximum solar exposure when the unit is on a surface. (more…)

Halloween is going to be here before you know it. This solar pumpkin lamp will add a smidgen of class to any ghoulish fall event – from your annual “Night of the Living Dead” costume party, to the obligatory evening barbecue, or spontaneous ritual dismembering.

The light consists of a repurposed glass pumpkin with a handmade, upcycled mason jar solar light inside. It charges via the sun during the day and creates a lovely Halloween atmosphere after dark.

$28.50 @ the treasureagain Etsy shop

Vindicated Vinyl has created a line of handcrafted iPad and MacBook Air cases that feature vintage album art like Led Zeppelin’s “In Through the Out Door (1979)” – pictured above. The album center and cover art are coated with durable, UV-resistant acrylic. The whole deal is double-lined with fleece to prevent any of the case’s hardware from scratching your precious device. The case also features a surround of deep brown leather.

You can find a variety of cases to choose from at Vindicated Vinyl’s Cargoh shop, or choose from the designer’s stash of vintage albums to create your own custom case.

The Finnish company, Suntrica has created a nicely compact solar charger for the iPod and iPhone. Attach the portable SolarStrap to your messenger bag, bike, belt or coat and it will charge itself while you go about your daily travels. You can then connect it to your iPod or iPhone (certified for iPhone4) when those energy-hogging gadgets need recharging.

The charger stores the solar energy it gathers on an internal battery for instantaneous later use. (more…)

Winter will be here sooner than you think. If you plan on using a wood stove to reduce your home heating bill you might want to consider this little heat-activated fan. The stove top Ecofan silently redirects the heat produced by a wood stove via thermodynamics – no electricity involved. The manufacturer estimates that this fan will help make a wood-burning stove up to 30% more efficient by moving the hot air around the room. The hotter the stove, the faster the fan spins.

comes in 2 size @ gaiam

Plants are Mother Nature’s super-efficient air filtration system. The ANDREA system utilizes award-winning technology to accelerate a plant’s already potent capacity to remove airborne toxins from the air. The gadget employs active plant filtration in concert with layers of water and soil to provide a multistage system that cleanses indoor air of harmful toxins that can irritate and be harmful to your lungs.

It naturally purifies air by drawing it in and propelling it through the leaves and root system of a plant, then out through water and soil filtration and back into the room environment.  (more…)

This portable little solar panel can charge many Nokia, Samsung, or Sony Ericcson phone models in about 3 hours in direct sunlight. The pocket-sized charger also comes with a USB adapter for charging other small devices.  $29 @ nokero.com

note: not compatible with iPhone

Given that most of us are tied to at least one electronic gadget, it’s almost essential 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.

Who needs one more thing? For the party entertainer looking to shed a little light on their next evening soiree — these free standing bubbles of light capture the sun’s energy by day (about 2.5 hours) and emit a nice warm glow for about 8 hours. Pink, Clear, Orange or Green. Waterproof. Designed to travel from path or poolside to bedroom with a light heave-ho. $35/each @ poketo.com

related: green gadgets