Besides a reduced monthly power bill, there’s a certain smug satisfaction to recharging your gear with solar energy. It’s almost like you want everyone to know how eco-conscious you’re being, and with the Changer solar charging system, you’ll actually be rewarded for bragging about it.
I’m going to knock off a few points for product naming, as I’ve no idea how to pronounce the kit’s included Kalhuohfummi battery, and will make a fool of myself whenever I refer to the Maroshi solar module. But the two work together, with the solar panel providing up to four watts of power an hour in ideal sun bathed conditions, enough to charge the battery in about four hours. The Kalhuohfummi can then be used to recharge any USB-friendly device, with enough juice to top off a couple of iPhones.
But free, slow energy is just the beginning. The battery module also tracks how much power the solar charger has generated, calculating and sharing the CO2 emissions you’ve reduced on the Changer’s website. Your do-gooding can even be tweeted to your followers, though their praise and adulation isn’t the only reward.
The more energy you produce using the Maroshi solar module, the more Changers Credits you’ll earn, which can be redeemed for yet-to-be-revealed perks, which we’re assuming are going to be just as Earth-friendly. The Changers starter kit is available for pre-order for $US149, and ships sometime around the middle of November.
Unfortunately, they don’t ship to Australia yet, but we’ll let you know if they add us as an option, or find a local distributor.
[Changers Solar Charger via Wired]