Environment, humanity and architecture are not separate entities; they are interconnected and can even interact. That is the substance behind Living Light, a structure built in Peace Park in the heart of Seoul, South Korea.

Living Light functions as an interactive canopy and is a bit reminiscent of the Solar Night Garden in Jerusalem and some solar tree designs. But Living Light has no solar power panels. No, this unique piece of architecture by David Benjamin and Soo-in Yang is “alive” in a different way. Its translucent skin glows and blinks in response to air quality data and public interest in the local environment. (more…)

Wireless cell phone chargers would just be heavenly, wouldn’t they? I can’t think of how many times I’ve been stranded in the woods, city or elsewhere with no way to power my dying call.  Good thing is that portable electric packs do exist.  Even better news?  They come in solar electricity varieties in addition to the charge-before-you-go kind.  This technology could revolutionize telecommunications for emergency teams, such as rural firefighters fighting a forest fire.

Here are the best solar cell chargers and how they work:

Suntrica

#1 – Suntrica is the leading worldwide producer of portable charging devices.  Suntrica’s products charge at 5V and many feature battery storage, making them quite a bit more versatile than any other listed here.  The picture to the left is of the Suntrica SolarStrap, which clips onto a strap or backpack while not in use.  It features a flip top that makes it “splash proof” and also comes with an AC adapter to charge from the wall before you leave home.  It looks like the easiest to-go charger on the market. (more…)

Can you remember a day where you didn’t use your cell phone? Even those of us who spent years in the “analog age” have a hard time remembering rotary phones or 8-bit video games. Nowadays, so much of our lives depend on power cords, chargers and outlets, while we simultaneously wrestle with a growing energy crisis that demands more conservation even as more electrical devices enter our homes.

Can we get those products we simply cannot live without off the grid? Well, the obvious solution is to install a home solar power system. But that’s not yet an option for many homeowners who can’t pick up the initial cost of solar electricity. Fortunately, home solar power is not an all-or-nothing proposition, and it’s fairly easy to get those indispensable home devices out of the energy foray.

Solar Chargers

Handheld solar chargers are growing sleeker and more powerful. All you do is charge your cell phone or iPod on the windowsill, patio or dashboard. Popular solar chargers include Suntrica’s flexible designs that can charge in place or on your body as a clothing accessory. The SolarSurge charger is specifically designed for today’s avid iPod listener. (more…)