Green Daily

Although solar energy is again making waves decades after its introduction to the consumer market, alternative energies like wind power are becoming just as popular for that personal power production some of us crave. It would not be a stretch to imagine the roofs of many cars in the near future be outfitted with solar panels to charge those in-car batteries. Well, once electric vehicles reach the mainstream, that is.

Until then, we'll have to start on a smaller level and prove the concept. As Don Adams used to say, "would'ja believe" -- a backpack outfitted with a miniature solar array for powering that laptop you take with you each morning to the coffee shop and to the subway? Voltaic Systems recently unveiled a rather neat backpack that has just this feature.

It's never a bad thing to begin alternative power consumption with the personal electronics market that could lead to larger and more forceful green power in many marketplaces. The backpack model to the right pumps out four watts -- enough to charge that laptop PC or iPod if you give it a few hours in direct sunlight. It also comes with 12 adapters for a wide variety of personal electronics. Chances are your laptop PC's charging port will work with it. And the backpack fabric? It's made from recycled soda bottles.

Personal alternative power products like these are a great way to introduce the concept of being green to those that really have not had experience with green energy before. A great next step would be to contact your electricity provider and see if it offers green credits for buying power generated by the wind (if available).