Best of the Green Web | posted on August 21, 2008

Using nanorobots to build circuits is so last year’s fantasy. The latest technology of tomorrow uses viruses to construct everything from transistors to tiny batteries to solar cells. Researchers at MIT published a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week describing how they’ve successfully created tiny batteries …read full discussion

Andrew Liszewski | posted on July 10, 2008

Solar powered lighting for your deck or backyard is pretty popular these days, but here’s another eco-friendly solution to illuminate your next BBQ. While the Firewinder looks like the kind of kitschy outdoor wind chime you’d find at an arts & crafts sale, the spinning motion of its upward spiraling helix is actually used to power a generator which in turn illuminates a set of 14 ultra bright LEDs. The helix design allows the Firewinder to harness the wind no matter what direction it’s blowing, and it features an ultra-light design so even the lightest breeze will keep it going. The LEDs are also located along the edge of the helix which produces a unique lighting effect as it spins. …read full discussion

Andrew Liszewski | posted on July 3, 2008

Citizen has a line of watches known as the Eco-Drive series that are constantly recharged by light which means you never have to wind them or replace the battery. …read full discussion

BusinessGreen via RK | posted on July 1, 2008

No sooner did we write about Orange’s wind-powered recharging station at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival, than one of our spotters alerted us to another eco-innovation for charging cellphones—also at Glastonbury, and once again by Orange. …read full discussion

Becky Stern | posted on June 25, 2008

From the MAKE Flickr Pool: Flickr user 3D King made this nifty solar bench for charging up batteries used for remote astronomy. The photoset has some pretty nice closeups of key aspects of the construction.

Evan Ackerman | posted on June 3, 2008

Rechargeable batteries are the bee’s knees. The only downside to them is that you have to, like, charge them and that requires, like, an outlet. The Powerfilm solar battery charger is designed to charge 2 or 4 AA batteries in 4 or 8 hours. …read full discussion

Sheila Franklin | posted on May 2, 2008

We want some! We still adore oureneloop batteries that we haven’t had to charge in months, even though we use them almost daily, but we really admire the ingenuity of the ReUSaBle Batteries. When their juice starts to drain, simply plug them into any USB port or 250mA Ni-MH charger. An LED will let you know the status of the charge. A pair of the 2 x AA size batteries (1.2V at 1450mAh) will cost you $19.15, well worth the amount considering that they will eventually save you money and the planet.