SunnyBot uses the Sun to Light and Heat Homes

       Developed by Italian startup Solenica, SunnyBot is approximately the size of a large desk lamp and equipped with an on-board mirror that continuously adjusts to reflect the sun's rays on a chosen area. The idea is to exploit sunlight and recycle it as a light source for other gloomy rooms or to reflect the sun's heat to warm the room, heat a swimming pool or nurture indoor plants.
       SunnyBot is actually integrated with a dual-axis microcomputer that's powered by a row of solar cells and comes with an optional feedback system. The device redirects 7,000 lumens (equivalent to a single 500-watt halogen lamp) with a range of nearly over 656 feet.

Solar Chaser Toy Uses Sun to Play (for Cats!)

      Even little things in life can spark a joy in a cat's life, especially those laser toys or even a piece of string, but consider this new toy powered by the sun to let the cat have some fun. Known as the Solar Chaser, this device is essentially a cat toy on a wand that happens to stick on the window with suction cups. When it absorbs enough light, the toy, with an accompaniment of a string attached, will be able to  move, encouraging the cat to chase it.
      If you may want some time to relax, this Solar Chaser only costs $40 (solarchasers.com). Hey, it may come in handy sometimes when you want to sit back and relax in peace while the cat enjoys its new toy.

Happy Easter!

This Easter as you reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus may you again be reminded of what his sacrifice has meant for you.

5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
John 9:5

More and more solar gadgets to look into in 2013

Are you tired of constantly trying to buy batteries for your keyboard because it just keeps on dying after a period of time? Well, problem solved with the new anticipated Logitech Wireless Solar-Powered Keyboard!

Oh, and did I mention there's one in black too?

This keyboard is compatible with mobile devices such as tablets and phones accessed through the bluetooth function. Don't worry about buying batteries for this one because it's charged through the solar cells on top as shown. Full charged capacity can obtain functionality up to three hours.


Next off, do you have a kindle? If you do, this is maybe something you ought to consider getting for your Kindle.

Solar Focus had created a leather case over for the screen and they also inserted a flap on the top right hand of the case to charge the case from the sun. Not only this but there is a LED reading light built in to read outdoors and indoors.


Battery-powered flashlights can get lost in luggage easily and anything battery powered can only last for a period of time. Battery-powered lanterns can eat up all those D-size batteries in only a few days but, here's an invention that is worth keeping.

Featuring the Woods Solar Powered Tent, it is a tent with solar-powered LED lighting inside. This tent has many LED lights strung, all of them which are connected to a panel on its outside that can charge from the sun in 6 hours. At night, you can access lighting for 2-4 hours.

So, when you decide to go camping with a few of your friends or family members, don't hesitate to buy and pack this invention for it'll save the hassle!

When you go somewhere for a vacation and there is just that one thing that always slips your mind in forgetting to pack? Well, mobile chargers are usually forgetful when traveling somewhere but, that's where the Goal Zero Sherpa 120 Kit comes in!

This kit runs at a high-efficiency rate, in which it has enough power to charge an iPhone for 133 hours, an iPod for 400 hours or even a laptop for 5 hours. It actually is not heavy as expected (6.5 lbs) when it carries a panel, cables and a power pack. When the pack reaches its full charging capacity, it can hold 120Wh, which is enough to charge the average laptop twice or more.

For people who enjoy decorative lights or even gardening, consider this: Mohzy Petal Solar Light.

This solar light can be a cute and fun way of decorating your garden for it can absorb sunlight through the small solar panel featured on the left and illuminate the garden outdoors at night. 

How to build a Solar Panel

1. Treat yourself to some powdered doughnuts and herbal tea. The powdered sugar on US-style doughnuts contains titanium dioxide (TiO2 or E171). This is a semiconductor that can be used to make solar cells. To extract the TiO2 in a useful form, first scrape off all the powder and put it in a cup of warm water. Stirring this will dissolve all the sugar (there is a lot of it).

2. Running the whitish water through a coffee filter will leave behind a white blob -- this is the precious TiO2, along with some unwanted fat.

3. Because the fat is useless for solar cells, you'll need to put the residue in a hot oven for a few hours to vaporise it. The TiO2 remains as nanoparticles, each around 100nm wide.

4. Throw these particles into high-proof ethanol (vodka will do: use 1ml per doughnut) and shake.

5. Now conductive glass is needed (tough to find, but indium-doped tin oxide is best). With an eye dropper or syringe, drop ten layers of the nanoparticle spirit on the glass, allowing it to dry with each layer. Then put it back in the oven.

6. This is now a solar cell, but it will work only with UV light (the bad kind). Here is where the tea comes in. Leave the nanoparticle solar cell sitting in a cup of hibiscus tea for a couple hours, and soon it will have absorbed the colour, shifting its useful range from UV (useless) to visible light.

7. To collect energy from this solar cell, you'll need a counter-electrode. Take another piece of conducting glass and use a dark pencil to cover the surface with graphite.

8. To get your electricity to your counter-electrode, a generous amount of iodine in high-proof alcohol works well as an electrolyte. Use one part alcohol to three parts Lugol's solution -- available from health stores and aquarium suppliers.

9. Cut a hole in some thin plastic or tape to use as a spacer, and place it on the nanoparticle cell. Drop some electrolyte on top, and quickly sandwich the two electrodes together with some bulldog clips.

10. You're done! A multimeter connected to both of the conducting electrodes should show about half a volt when in the sun.

This article was taken from the March issue of Wired UK magazine.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here is a great gift for your loved ones. Roses bringing light in your garden at night powered by solar energy! Check it out here!

African huts glow with solar power

KIPTUSURI, Kenya - Sara Ruto's yearn for electricity began with a purchase of her first cellphone for receiving money transfers, contacting relatives, or even calling nearby markets for the prices of chicken. However, powering her phone was no simple matter, due to the fact that there is no electricity to begin with in farming villages residing in Kenya. Therefore, Ruto walked 2 miles to hitch a 3 hour ride on a motorcycle taxi bound to Mogotia, the nearest town with electricity  to charge her phone for 30 cents. It doesn't end there; with such high demand of locals needing to charge their phones, Ruto has no choice but to leave her phone there for 3 days before returning home. However, Ruto's distressful routine ends in February when the family saves up their money as well as selling their cattle for a solar panel made from China costing them $80 but well worth the investment. The solar panel provides enough electricity to charge their phones and also running 4 overhead lights with switches. Ever since Ruto had hooked up her solar panel, her children of six drastically improved their school grades from having light in their home as well as avoiding burns from kerosene lamps.

Sara Ruto holds a small solar-powered LED light, part of a system that also charges cell phones, at her home in Kiptusuri, Kenya. Ruto, who used to travel miles to charge her mobile phone at the nearest town with electricity, purchased a solar panel for about $80 to charge her phone and power several lights.

Ed Ou / New York Times News Service

Thanks to this solar panel, Sara Ruto no longer takes a three-hour taxi ride to a town with electricity to recharge her cellphone.(Ed Ou/The New York Times)

G-shock beyond any doubt goes green

For people, who may not know what a G-shock is, it's a digital watch brand, manufactured by Casio, designed for high shock and water resistance. Here's a picture of one of G-shock's models.

In recent news, G-shock had been developing digital watches, engineered with no battery source, but is powered by the sun's rays as well as fluorescent light. The watch is equipped with a large power storage capacity in which it performs stability throughout all functions of the watch. For the ladies, Valentine's day is coming up, here's something to look into, yeah?