Editor’s note: This article was first published in January 2013. Prices ($25 a pair for USBCELL, $36 for the Bondidea mouse), availability and the state of biophotovoltaic research are from that time; the products may no longer be sold.
1. USBCELL
USBCELL batteries are considered eco-friendly because they can be recharged many times using energy we’re already consuming: they have a USB plug, so you can connect them to your computer and let them charge. The idea has been patented in the UK.
The aim of these batteries is to finally replace ordinary disposable batteries and do away with conventional chargers. They have an LED light that shows the charge level at all times. We don’t know for certain how many times they can be recharged before they stop working altogether, but when that moment comes you can send them back to the manufacturer to be recycled. They cost $25 a pair and are sold at www.usbcell.com.
Watch: A video about USBCELL batteries
2. Solar mouse
This invention might have had its heyday before the wireless mouse came along, although wireless mice batteries have caused a few headaches of their own.
The Bondidea mouse can be powered from two sources: a small solar panel on its side, and a single AAA battery which, according to the company, can last for years if the mouse gets enough solar charge.
It costs $36 and is available from www.bondidea.com.
3. Green lighting
The Moss Biophotovoltaic is a lamp that doesn’t need to be plugged in. It has a device that captures the bio-photovoltaic energy that plants generate before photosynthesis takes place, turning chemical energy into electrical energy. It typically uses algae, mosses, cyanobacteria and other small plants.
For now this eco-invention can only power small devices, but researchers are already looking into whether it could one day power all kinds of household appliances.
More information: http://biophotovoltaics.wordpress.com/
Watch: A video about moss biophotovoltaics
Source: Esquirelat
Further reading
Featured image: Alan Levine, CC0 1.0, via Flickr.
