Techy Gifts

Techy Gifts Gone Green!

We’ve all got the “techy” friend in our life who is constantly spewing off speeches about bizarre objects that just get weirder and smaller with each successive story and that apparently otherwise perform fantastical miracles on a daily basis.  99.9% of the time we don’t know (or care) what they’re talking about, and even if we did, these gadgets are generally too much for our little minds to comprehend.  These little techy things are also often synonymous with power suckers.  This year, impress your tech friend with a ridiculously cool gift that is not only sure to impress but that’s eco-friendly as well.   No idea where to even begin?  Here are five quick and easy options:

Voltaic Generator

Know a friend who lives on his laptop?  Who doesn’t really?  Track down a Voltaic Generator Solar-Energy laptop case.  This little number is made completely out of recycled pop bottles and it can store up to 15 watts in its solar battery pack, enough to sustain laptop use for about 5 hours.

 

Espresso Machine

Got a friend obsessed with high tech coffee makers with bells and whistles?  See if you can convert them with a Handpresso espresso maker.  It looks awesome, it produces fantastic espresso, and it consumes zero energy.  It uses a handpump that can actually get up to 16 bar, just as high as any fancy techy, energy sucking espresso machine, but it works just like a bicycle pump.  Energy to heat? No.  24-hour “standby” energy drain? No.  Purely awesome? Yes.

 

H20 Alarm Clock

Slightly closer to the affordable side, give the gift that keeps on giving day after day.  Just pour in a little water in the top for up to three months of use.  If you have a friend who consistently relies on “my alarm clock didn’t go off,” they may or may not appreciate this gift.  Only $20!

Leopard Plus Solar Remote    

Forget reliance on batteries that always die at the most inconvenient time.  This remote uses solar technology with an innovative solar panel that can power up even without direct sunlight.  Any artificial or daytime light works   All techy die-hards will love it, and you’ll love it even more at just $15.

Solar Charger

 Whenever possible to convert your tech friend from batteries to solar, go for it.  The well-known Solarmonkey solar charger is available for just about $70 and boasts the ability to obtain instant power under the sun and to charge a variety of devices, including: phones, iPods, PDAs and MP3 players. 

Eco Mouse

To go along with the computer theme, consider the mouse that’s powered entirely by laptop heat.  Rather than wasting that heat and energy, the DORmino mouse pad extends under the entire computer, absorbs the emitted energy and transfers it directly to the mouse.  (Side note: I loved this so much I had to include it, but it’s actually more of a  “stay tuned” idea till it hits widespread market.)

 
There you have it.  Go find one for a friend, and maybe one for yourself while you’re at it.  And, just in case I happen to be writing this to you (where you = the tech guy), this article may be best forwarded on to your friends.  Just sayin.

 
Tara Alley is a freelance writer native to Montana, now living in Orange County, CA, and living and writing all things eco-friendly.  You can reach her at: alley.tara[at]gmail.com.