How To Get Your Own Solar-Powered Bag

You’re in the middle of an important call and your phone dies. Or you’re on an airplane when your iPod runs out of batteries. If you’re like most gadget-carrying people, these scenarios are familiar and can leave you feeling helpless.

But never fear, the solar-powered bag is here! With flexible solar panels attached to small batteries, these bags allow you to charge your electronic devices where ever the sun shines. There are a few companies that make solar-panel bags like Eclipse and Voltaic Systems but the most stylish ones we’ve found are from Noon Solar.

From their website:

All of our collections at Noon Solar are inspired by the need to rethink the way things are made, and what they are made with. Each material used in our bag is specially chosen for its longevity and its ability to biodegrade. The other materials, such as the hardware and the solar panels can be reclaimed and reused for many generations of bags.

By integrating solar panels into our bags, we offer not only the convenience of portable power, but also a means for all of us to incorporate renewable energy into our daily lives.

[Photo by Joe Wigdahl]

Great Green Job of the Week – Junior Electric Engineer at Solar Design Associates

Solar Design Associates of the Greater Boston Area are seeking a Junior Electric Engineer.  Solar Design Associates is a leading renewable energy firm, specializing in renewable energy systems for buildings. The 25-year-old company has earned an international reputation for the pioneering integration of renewable energy systems, especially photovoltaics, with buildings.  Past projects include the first solar powered Olympics, the US Mission to the UN, the SF Giants AT&T Park Stadium and the first solar powered neighborhood.

Job Description:

SDA offers motivated Electrical Engineers the opportunity to join a fast-paced, creatively challenging design team in the rapidly growing field of renewable energy. Responsibilities will depend upon skill level and may include design/engineering of solar electric and wind energy systems, engineering calculations, production of detailed construction documents, field assessments, feasibility reports, installation oversight, and systems commissioning. In addition, you may interface with clients, architects, utility representatives and code officials, as well as hardware suppliers and installation contractors. Project involvement will include the design of building integrated and non-integrated photovoltaic systems for residential, commercial, institutional and retail projects. Travel opportunities may arise within and outside the US.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits, a stimulating work environment that is smoke-free, team-oriented, and committed to client satisfaction.

Qualifications:

You’ve earned an Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and have coursework or professional experience in the design of building power or renewable energy systems. You have a high level of computer skills and CAD capabilities as well as accomplished communications skills - written and verbal. Direct experience with renewable energy systems and knowledge of National Electrical Code are a strong plus. Professional registration is not required, but desirable. US citizenship is required. You thrive on making a contribution and taking on responsibility, while learning and employing new skills.

Apply for this job at the Treehugger jobs board, or get more information about Solar Design Associates at SolarDesign.com.

Link [Treehugger Jobs] + [Solar Design]

Donate $100 of Somebody Else’s Money to Green & Humanitarian Causes

It would be great if we could all afford to regularly give money to organizations that promote green causes. Unfortunately, many of us just aren’t able to donate much due to our own budgetary limitations. Luckily for us, sometimes those people who have plenty of cash to spare are willing to pony up for the rest of us in exchange for some non-monetary effort of our own. That’s what the Hinkle Charitable Foundation (HCF) is willing to donate $100 to the Solar Electric Light Fund for every person who reads three primers on energy usage and makes a commitment to change.

From TheHCF.org:

To encourage each reader to become an agent against global warming, we are again issuing a challenge. For each person who reads these three primers and commits to pursue them, we will make a $100 donation in his or her name to the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF). SELF is a truly worthy non-profit organization that simultaneously fights global poverty and climate change. SELF’s primary mission is to install local solar electric power generators in rural third-world areas. In many instances, SELF’s installations are directed to education, health and irrigation facilities and can include joint ventures, where local participants invest in a portion of the project. Providing solar electric power to remote, off-grid people frees them from the unpalatable alternatives of either using kerosene-generated power (which is both bodily and environmental dangerous) or living with no electricity, no lights, no irrigation possibilities, and no connection to the outside world.

As with last year’s challenge, to accept the challenge below, you only need to send us an email. Tell us you will commit yourself (on the honor system) to move forward toward more climate-friendly living and that you’ll try to complete the steps below. The $100 contributions to SELF will be limited to the first 1,000 responders.

The three primers are on compact fluorescent lights, tankless water heaters and reducing idling. It’s one of very few changes you’ll ever get to have that much money donated on your behalf without having to spend a dime of your own, so take it now!

Link [TheHCF.org] via [The Action Blog]