carbonneutraltourism.co.uk

The mobile phone is something we can never seem to escape from. It seems to be an essential travel necessity.

In light of this I have been thinking whether there are any ‘green mobile’ phones out there. To date I have come across the Nokia ‘Remade’ concept which was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress Conference. The Nokia Remade is built using recycled materials. To find out more visit Nokia’s website.

Webtogs are a new company which specialises in selling outdoor clothing and equipment. I wanted to bring this company to our readers’ attention – firstly on the range of clothing and equipment they stock. Secondly, because they have started a ‘carbon neutral delivery’ initiative. When place your order you have the option of paying an additional 25p (which Webtogs will match) and at the end of the month the money is sent to Carbon Footprint who use it to offset CO2 produced by the delivery vans!

Photo: (C) Webtogs Ltd, used with permission. Do not copy.

The Glastonbury Festival is probably the most well know music festivals in the UK, which attracts over 120,000 people. The Festival is held on a working farm and to reduce injury to the hooves of cattle visitors to the 2008 Festival are being asked to use bio-degradable tent pegs made out of potatoes.

Voltaic Systems, the innovators behind the original solar backpack, announced the introduction of a new laptop bag which generates enough solar power to charge laptops. Laptop users will now be able to unplug from the power grid and power up from the sun. Voltaic expects to be shipping Spring ‘08.

Voltaic’s Generator bag uses a single solar panel to produce up to 14.7 watts of power. This is enough to fully charge a typical laptop from a full day of sunlight. The bag also charges virtually all other handheld electronics.

CEO Shayne McQuade says “customers consistently ask whether our bags charge laptops. With the release of the Generator, we are delighted to be able to say yes. There is clearly a critical need for backup and alternative power sources among laptop users.”

The bag includes a battery pack custom designed to efficiently capture and store solar power so it is available whether the sun is up or not. It holds the equivalent of a full laptop charge, and delivers power at voltages required by laptops and other devices. Adaptors are included for easy connection to common laptops, phones and universal plugs. Devices can also be connected via a car charger or the USB plug built into the battery.

The bag is stylishly constructed from fabrics made with recycled soda bottles (PET) which are tough, waterproof and UV resistant. It includes a protective frame and padded laptop sleeve with ample room for other electronics, notebooks etc. The solar panels come in four color options: a distinctive orange, silver, green and a more discrete charcoal.

The MSRP for the Generator is $599. Other bags in the Voltaic line are priced as low as $199. They are sold internationally through www.voltaicsystems.com and specialty retailers.

Voltaic was founded in 2003 to develop green energy solutions and sustainable products. Through environmentally-intelligent designs, Voltaic solar bags give students, travelers and outdoor lovers the ability to stay powered-up anywhere.

We have blogged about Patagonia in the past well here’s a quick note on their environmentally friendly wetsuits.  They are:

• Made out of recycled polyester;
• Use chlorine free wool;
• Use non petroleum based neoprene and
• PVC free kneepads.

All of which helps to reduce Patagonia’s impact on the environment.

Trying to figure out your carbon footprint when you have been on a journey?  Well Carbon Hero is a new service which helps you to work out your carbon foot print.  The software which can run on most mobile phones calculates your carbon footprint.  The service has been developed by Andreas Zachariah and Nick Burch.  Find out more here.

Voltaic Solar Bags Turn a Darker Shade of Green - new fabrics made from recycled soda bottles.

“New York, NY November 20, 2007 - Voltaic Systems, the company that created the solar bag and continues to lead the market, has taken another step in providing green energy solutions for a mobile society. In time for the holidays, Voltaic’s newest line of bags are manufactured using innovative new fabrics made from recycled soda bottles (P.E.T.). Soda bottles had previously been used to make fleece, but Voltaic worked with suppliers to develop rugged new materials suitable for outdoor bags and extended exposure to the sun. ‘Our objective is to push the envelope in the development of sustainable products’, says Shayne McQuade, founder of Voltaic Systems. ‘Using fabric made from recycled soda bottles is an important step in the right direction. We use significantly less energy to produce the fabric, we help grow the market for recycled materials, and we promote new fabric options which will ideally make it easier for the mass market brands to follow suit.’

Voltaic solar bags are mobile solar power generators designed to charge virtually all hand held electronics including cell phones, cameras and iPods. Three tough solar panels produce 4 watts of power. An hour in the sun will power over 3 hours of iPod play time or 1.5 hours of cell phone talk time. An integrated battery stores surplus power so it is available when the sun is down. A set of 11 included adapters make it easy to connect virtually any device.

Voltaic Systems was founded in 2003 to develop green energy solutions. Through environmentally intelligent designs, Voltaic solar bags give students, travelers and outdoor lovers the ability to stay powered-up anywhere.”

Find out more here. One of the range of bags produced by Voltaic is shown below.