GREEN GADGETS

Even if you didn’t earn a merit badge in Girl Scouts, you can still prepare for anything (and save a little money to boot!) with the latest high-tech and eco-friendly gadgets. Look for rechargeable devices, and gizmos that will run on solar power to green your high-tech life.

Solar powered electronics look nifty, come without messy wires, and can often cut costs on your electricity bill. Try the Dynamo solar radio, a compact system that is perfect for a day at the beach or a sunny windowsill, from Uncommon Goods. For a solar powered charge anywhere, try the MicroSolar pocket charger, a tiny gizmo that can charge both your cell phone and AAA batteries when you travel. For those on the road, the new ANYCOM solar-powered cell-phone car speaker system with Bluetooth wireless technology from Sharper Image is even more convenient. If there was an award for the cutest solar charger, however, it would likely go to Solio’s sleek, pocket-sized solar charger. Slightly larger than a flash drive, the Solio charger opens into a three-panel, sun absorber that quickly recharges digital cameras, iPods, cell phones, GPS devices, and PDAs.

If you’re trekking into the great outdoors, consider traveling with a voltaic solar backpack or messenger bag from 21st Century Goods to keep your flashlight and other gear charged. Gadgets for your home office and entertainment systems are also going green, like Brookstone’s rechargeable desk lamps and rechargeable wireless iPod speakers. Want to know your overall energy usage and savings? There’s a gadget for that too “try the PowerCost Monitor from Choose Renewables.