Dear Santa: 3 things on my green-tech Christmas wish list

I don't happen to need a holiday like Christmas to buy gifts for other people, but if I had to write a letter to Santa Claus asking for the green tech gadgets that I personally covet, here are three items that would be on my list. These fall somewhere between the "need" and "want" categories.

# 1: Solar Charger

Yes, I have seen the stories about the mini wind turbine someone engineered for to charge up an Apple iPhone, but I'm thinking more utilitarian because I am sick of being stuck on the road without any place to plug in my power-hungry gadgets. Note to airport architects: Could you PLEASE start thinking about electric outlets when you design new terminals?

There are all sorts of different options emerging based on solar technologies, but I really have a hankering for one of the Solio models, because they are cool-looking and they can charge up lots of different devices including mobile phones, MP3 players, global positioning satellite (GPS) receivers, and cameras. (Not handling notebook computers, as least not yet.) The Classic edition alone, which lists for just under $100, supposedly can work with up to 3,200 devices and hold a charge for up to a year. You hook it to your gadget via a USB cable.

#2: Electric Motorcycle Confession time: Ever since my husband started ditching me on weekend for one of his two iron mistresses, I've been thinking about getting my own motorcycle. But because I am who I am, I've been thinking electric.

My best option, because I am a neophyte and don't usually have far to go in my life as a blogger and idea translator, is probably the Brammo Enertia (in green of course), which starts at around $9,995 and has a range of around 30 miles per charge for the sort of suburban commuting and driving that I do. Actually, come to think of it, scratch that out. I want the Enertia Plus due in 2011, which will double the range and simplify the charging process. Now, I guess I need a motorcycle driving license.

#3: Pretty Lights for My Garden

And, finally, because it is now really darn cold in New Jersey and I miss my plants, I'm dreaming about something green for my garden in the form of the Blossoming Garden Solar Light, currently on sale from Plow and Hearth for $29.99. I spend a lot of time in my perennial garden in the spring, summer and fall when I am not feeding my blogs, but we don't have a lot of lighting options in our night-time yard right now.

These solar "flowers" open up in the daytime to charge up and then close at night, when they give off their glow. They usually come in pink and white, but apparently pink is out of stock so I guess I'll have to wait until the post-Christmas sales early in the New Year. Just as long as I have them when the spring thaw starts.