You just couldn't resist the whistles and bells of that iPhone, but now that it needs a charge, you're feeling a little guilty about plugging into the grid. So don't! Pop your iPhone or iPod into the first Apple-certified solar charger, instead. Two hours of fresh spring sunshine gets you 30 minutes of 3G chatting. The $70-80 price tag is a little steep, but you'll be sustainably styling when you're packing one of these cases.

The Solar Surge case is available now from Novothink.

When it comes to hitting the books, college students prefer to keep hitting the books—this, according to a new study on replacing traditional textbooks with e-readers. Students using Amazon Kindle DX e-readers at several major universities missed the ease of use in flipping through and taking notes in traditional textbooks.

Students' main concern was not being able to open more than one text at a time. According to a report at USA Today, "Students whose curriculum requires them to organize information culled from many different sources are particularly concerned with being able to navigate multiple documents at once, said Michael Koenig, director of operations at Virginia's Darden School of Business, which also ran a Kindle DX pilot program last fall. 'At the point where you need to highlight and notate in a fairly high-paced classroom—to be able to move back and forth between business cases, class readings, your own notations, your own highlights, your own analysis—it's just not as flexible or nimble as having your paper notes or your laptop right there,' he said, adding that the Kindle was 'not quite ready for prime time."

Old-fashioned note-taking techniques also proved hard to duplicate. With backpacks traditionally bristling with neon-colored highlighters for color-coding different types of information in different texts, students were unhappy with the difficulty of highlighting text. They also disliked the clunkiness of typing notes on the Kindle's keypad. "Many users thought that the addition of a touch screen and stylus would make for a much better device," wrote Princeton researchers.

Far from being a disappointment, the research results appear to confirm that Amazon has hit its mark with the Kindle. The e-reader was designed specifically for recreational use rather than hardworking study or professional applications. While 75% of the Darden students said they wouldn't recommend the Kindle for other students, about 90% gave it a thumbs up for casual reading. Whether or not it's a greener choice—now that's a topic for another day!

(Photo credit:Plutor, flickr)

We've been craving hybrid minivans for a while now. It seems counterintuitive that the vehicle that seemingly epitomizes the suburban American lifestyle has been so long shunned from the ranks of green engineering. What more deserving vehicle than the ubiquitous minivan for better gas mileage, hybrid technology, or even a diesel option?

Finally, it appears that an answer may be on the horizon, as Honda's head of automobile research and development lets drop this bright nugget of news: we may be looking at a hybrid Honda minivan within the next three years.

Honda had been looking at so-called clean diesel technology for the Odyssey minivan and the hulking Pilot SUV. It abandoned that direction in 2008, turning to a gas-electric hybrid system suitable for larger vehicles. "We've left the research stage and entered the field of development," Tomohiko Kawanabe, chief operating officer of automobile R&D at Japan's No.2 automaker, told Reuters in an interview.

Honda has lagged behind other manufacturers (notably Toyota, now being dogged by quality problems) in the hybrid market. A hybrid minivan and SUV would bring Honda back into the running, if not the forefront, of the growing hybrid market.

(Photo credit:Honda)

Pop star Miley Cyrus may have outgrown her Toyota Prius, but she's savvy enough to have stuck with a hybrid. "Hey guys! Yesterday I got photographed in my new car and I want everyone to know I still haven’t given up hybrids!" she wrote in a recent blog post. "Mercedes came out with a new hybrid suv and I love it! Its blueish/blackish/purplish. Haha! I got a new dog named Mate who’s a German Shepard so like I said in a previous blog he is kinda out growing my prius! Anyways I love yall! Xox"

The Mercedes ML 450 may not be the greenest hybrid on the roads today, but we're glad to see another high-profile celebrity whose heart's in the right place. The new Mercedes gets 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway—not much next to the 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid's 34 city/31 highway, but a distinct improvement over the standard gasoline-powered ML350's best-scenario performance of 15 city/20 highway. (Ouch!)

Like the hybrid Escalade, the new Mercedes hybrid is less about being green than greenER. You won't be seeing too many of them on the street, anyway. Mercedes cites a "limited supply of batteries" as the reason the vehicle's only available via a whopping $659 or $549 monthly lease. We doubt Miley was much fazed by the price, anyway—and we can only wait to see what she'll get when her German Shepherd outgrows the ML 450.

(Photo credit:Mercedes Benz)

For all the struggle consumers go through to get accurate, complete nutritional product labeling, sometimes detailed labels still leave us in the dark. Who can make heads or tails out of that chemical soup? "I speak English, and some Spanish, but I could not pronounce half the words on food labels and quickly realized that the ingredients on food labels tell us very little," confesses Dwayne Ratleff.

So the sole owner/employee of a San Francisco housekeeping service decided to clean things up himself, researching and creating a $1.99 iPhone/iPod app that provides details on more than 1,500 food additives. Don't Eat That cuts through what Ratleff calls the "eastern urban elite Martian dialect" of labeling language to offer food product definitions, safety standards and research information from the United States and other countries. The data resides on your device, so there's no need for an internet connection while you puzzle things out in the grocery store aisle.

Ratliff's sources include the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Codex Alimetarius, the American Cancer Society, the International Agency For Research On Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and web sites including Celiac.com. Empowering consumers to make their own decisions about the ingredients they eat is the point. "Err in your favor," urges Ratleff. "If you do not feel comfortable with the science backing the safety of an additive, avoid it, especially if there are alternative sources."

(Photo credit:iLoveButter, flickr)

Here's a breath of fresh air: Wind energy is blowing up. Thanks to President Obama's commitment to clean energy and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) incentives, wind power breezed to the top of the list of new electrical energy sources in the United States last year. Wind energy and natural gas accounted for 80% of new generating capacity created in 2009, according to a fourth-quarter report from the American Wind Energy Association. The U.S. wind sector added nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity, blowing up previous industry records.

Wind sector outlook isn't completely balmy. Business Wire reports, "Recovery Act incentives spurred the growth of construction, operations and maintenance, and management jobs, helping the industry to save and create jobs in those sectors and shine as a bright spot in the economy. At the same time, the continuing lack of a long-term policy and market signal allowed investment in the manufacturing sector to drop compared to 2008, with one-third fewer wind power manufacturing facilities online, announced and expanded in 2009."

While China remains the world leader in wind energy, U.S. trends paint a bright picture for renewable energy. We've got a long way to go to catch up to their more robust power production—but the winds of change are blowing in!

(Photo credit:bluegum, SXC)

It's green. It's sexy. But it's not sustainable.

At only half an inch thick and a feather-light 1.5 pounds, the newly debuted Apple iPad is poised to become the must-have device of the moment. You can play music, watch movies, read books and run thousands of convenient apps from the Apple applications store. This little green machine features environmentally thoughtful materials and construction. But unfortunately, the iPad neglects the one angle that makes it worth the $499 purchase price of its lowest-end model: sustainability, the quality that gives this tool real value and use.

Oh, the iPad's "green," all right. It's about as "green" as a gizmo gets. You'll find no nasty chemicals lurking inside your iPad: no arsenic, no mercury, no BFRs (brominated flame retardants), no PVC. When you're ready to trade up or move on, you'll find the entire device to be “highly recyclable.” A 10-hour battery life tempts you off the grid.

Yes, the iPad is green—but it's not sustainable. It offers nothing that actually replaces existing electronic tools. Reduce? Reuse or repurpose? The iPad just wants you to add more. There may be a few purchasers out there who buy an iPad because they don't have an e-reader yet. For most, though, the iPad won't be replacing a mobile phone or netbook or laptop. The iPad represents another device to own, an unnecessary supplement. From the metals used in its construction, to the energy gobbled by its manufacture and shipping, to the recycling and landfill burden of its disposal, the iPad is another toy in the endless parade of electronic consumerism. We'll take a pass until a truly greener apple worth picking comes along.

(Photo credit:Apple)

Blue books are so last-millenium ... Get up to date with ACEEE's Green Book. With ratings covering model years 2000 through 2010, not only can you find out what the straight-up greenest choices are, but you can narrow things down to the greenest gasoline-powered vehicles, too.

Here's how they do it:

We analyze automakers' test results for fuel economy and emissions as reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, along with other specifications reported by automakers. We estimate pollution from vehicle manufacturing, from the production and distribution of fuel and from vehicle tailpipes. We count air pollution, such as fine particles, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and other pollutants according to the health problems caused by each pollutant. We then factor in greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide) and combine the emissions estimates into a Green Score that runs on a scale from 0 to 100. The top vehicles this year score a 57, the average is 32 and the worst gas-guzzlers score around 16.

So what are the top five gasoline-powered vehicles for 2010?

1. Toyota Prius (51/48mpg city/highway, Green Score 52)
2. Honda Civic Hybrid (40/45mpg city/highway, Green Score 51)
3. Toyota Yaris (29/35mpg city/highway, Green Score 46)
4. Honda Fit (28/35mpg city/highway, Green Score 45)
5. Ford Escape Hybrid (34/31mpg city/highway, Green Score 42)

And for the hardcore among you, the very greenest choices for 2010:

1. Honda Civic GX (24/36mpg city/highway, Green Score 57)
2. Toyota Prius (51/48mpg city/highway, Green Score 52)
3. Honda Civic Hybrid (40/45mpg city/highway, Green Score 51)
4. Smart for Two Convertible/Coupe (33/41mpg city/highway, Green Score 50)
5. Honda Insight (40/43mpg city/highway, Green Score 50)

And to be totally balanced, the meanest vehicles for the environment in 2010 (for shame, people ... for shame):

1. Lamborghini Murcielago/Murcielago Roadster (8/13mpg city/highway, Green Score 18)
2. Bugatti Veyron (8/14mpg city/highway, Green Score 18)
3. Bentley Azure/Brooklands (9/15mpg city/highway, Green Score 18)
4. Maybach 57S (10/16mpg city/highway, Green Score 19)
5. Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab (Class 2B) (12/17mpg city/highway, Green Score 20)

(Photo credit:Motor Trend)

We know: there's only a few more shopping days left, and you really must get something done about those last few gifts on your list. We won't bandy about, then. Let's get right down to business with some green ideas to soothe your last-minute frenzy.

• Green gadgets Geeks, guys and gadget-ophiles will love these gizmos, from solar-powered wristwatches to a bamboo mouse.
• Party tricks This installment of Strawberry Earth's green gift list focuses on party time, including (ahem) fair trade French condoms for, ah, New Year's celebrations.
• Kid stuff Wrap baby in an organic cotton kimono or buy your nephew a recycled plastic dump truck.
• A fresh twist Step off the beaten track with these unique ideas: a bottle stopper made from an antique valve handle, a recycled tire swing that looks like a dinosaur.
• Something for everyone Not sure what might fit the bill? This guide offers a little of this, a little of that.
• Compleat A to Z TreeHugger's gift guide is so immense that it's categorized, from Foodies and Pop Culture Fans to Animal Lover and Design Junkie.

Good luck, and happy shopping!

(Photo credit:nosheep, SXC)

The American appetite for soda won't go flat any time soon. Not when soda industry leaders just shelled out $7 million in a lobbying crusade against the proposed soda tax.

We sweet-toothed Americans--belch!--guzzle about 50 cans of soda per month. Our "obesity-endangered" children often drink more pop than water or milk on any given day. If we drink so much soda anyway, why not make the rotgut ourselves at home?

Enter the SodaStream, a DIY soda machine for the upper-class, eco-minded carbonated drink lover. Let's take a fizzy sip and see if this gadget's as good and green for you--and the earth--as its maker claims.

The Good:

• SodaStream's new Soda-Club Eco machine is made from 85 percent recyclable materials and requires only one plastic bottle to be recycled every three years. Approximately 311 billion plastic soda bottles are NOT recycled worldwide every year.
• What's good for the SodaStream is good for the can: Each SodaStream "sodamix" flavor bottle makes the equivalent of 33 cans of soda.
• SodaStream machines are fast. Three seconds is all it takes to blow bubbles into your sugar water. You can also turn plain tap water into fancy seltzer water in seconds not-so-flat.
• They're designed to "save time, save space and save money." Using one regularly could significantly trim your waste stream, especially if you have a serious soda addiction (like the rest of us).
• They're somewhat sustainable. Heavy emphasis on somewhat. SodaStream's reusable carbonating bottles and endless other plastic supplies are BPA-free and recyclable.
• There's no 12-pack lugging and no plastic or aluminum empties to recycle. No problem?
• The per-serving savings are decent. SodaStream DIY soda water costs about 20 cents per liter, whereas wasteful designer bottled bubbly water cha-chings an average of $2 per liter.

The Bad:

• SodaStreams are a bit of pain to operate and they're expensive. Sure, the per-serving savings are considerable, but the machines themselves are anything but cheap. The most stripped-down model, The Fountain Jet home soda maker, starts at $89.95 before shipping. The sleek premium Penguin tops out at $199.95. At least it comes with a pair of fancy, dishwasher-safe glass carafes and two 60-liter carbonation packs. (Remember, glass is greener than plastic.)
• DIY SodaStream-making demands an ongoing "stream" of pricey plastic supplies, including PET serving bottles and plastic flavor concentrate containers. At least all that stuff is recyclable.

The Bubbly (on SodaStream sketchy sweets):

There are 30 SodaStream sodamix standard flavors, including diet, regular and Kosher (cola; cream soda; fountain mist; root beer; orange; lemon iced tea; ginger ale, etc.)  

SodaStream sodamix sippers also swallow lab-made food coloring, phosphoric acid and the preservative sodium benzoate. Are these so-called "naturally flavored" sodamixes drinkable greenwashing or what?

The Verdict: Let's leave this one off The List, Santa. I'll stick with filling and refilling my Sigg with filtered tap water. 2009 issue, of course.

(Photo credit:SodaStream)