Affordable Solar Power!

I get an e- newsletter everyday from the Sierra Club updating me on all things green. I love opening the email to see what interresting things they have to say today. Sometimes they are useless to me, others are very practical. Just like everything in life, you take the good with the dumb : )
Today's news had a link to a very cool new product called a HYmini. It is a solar and wind powered battery charger for your cell phone, MP3 Player, PDA, hand-held games, etc. Pretty much any 5V appliance you have can be recharged using this little device.
First, you charge the battery of the HYmini. There are a few ways to charge it such as setting out the solar panel ( looks about 3x5 in), setting the device out in the wind ( it takes about 9mph wind to start generating a charge. You can also strap it to your arm when you run, hook it to your bike when you take a ride somewhere which as we know will create wind resistance ) or you can plug it into the wall. When the battery has enough charge you can hook up your appliance to it and recharge away! This is portable, so it would be great for camping or people who are always on the move.
Recharging our 'stuff' takes quite a bit more electricity than we think it does, and then the tendancy is just to leave the charger in the wall ( like I used to do with my cell phone ) which leaches more electricity. This little power generator which is about $80 for both solar and wind capabilities (including adaptor accessories) could easily pay for itself over the course of a year. Not to mention being able to charge your phone or MP3 player ANYWHERE you go! For more information go to hymini.com.