New “green” inventions are sprouting up everywhere. Energy efficient light bulbs preserve bulb life, better insulation leads to lower energy bills, and solar panels use renewable resources to harness energy. One of the most unique and innovative new products is a design by Vivian Muller, a French designer. She created the Electree, a solar panel bonsai tree that can charge device batteries. Instead of leaves on the branches, there are 27 miniature solar panels, which need 36 hours of sunshine to be able to charge anything from a cell phone to an iPod.
Vivian Muller isn’t the only person designing “green” technologies, this spring Ralph Lauren unveiled a solar panel backpack that can harness the sun’s energy to charge mobile devices while people are on the go. Another European designer introduced a solar panel t-shirt that can also charge mobile phones.
Although these are positives efforts toward a greener environment, there are still some minor setbacks. First, the Electree cost almost $400 and so far there are less than 500 being produced. Second, the backpack and t-shirt are not as aesthetically pleasing as one might hope. However, once the design is perfected and made more affordable, solar panel inventions will be a consumer favorite.
