Super Eco

Photo credit: Instructables.com

So you really want a solar-powered cell phone, but of course they're not available yet. What's a green chatterbox to do? Why, make your own solar cell phone charger, of course. Instructables show you how, with step-by-step instructions on combining a small box, a solar cell, a car power outlet socket and a few more easily obtained goodies into a solar-powered charger for your cell and other small gizmos.

Before you throw up your hands and click away—we're not the handy type, either, yet this project sounds pretty easy to do. According to Instructables, you can get everything you need at your local Radio Shack. As far as tools go, you'll need a soldering iron, solder and something to use to cut two holes in the project box.

Other battery-saving tips from Super Eco:

• Make your batteries last longer.
• Recycle your batteries once they're all used up.
• Check out our solar charger suggestions. (Psst—we spotted President Obama's photo on the Solio site, using his Solio Classic.)
• Or heck, just ditch the gadgets already and get on with it!