Surfing all day / forgot to charge your phone ?

Green Technologies Inc, a start up coming straight from San Diego has realized many of us carry several electronic devices on us. So they came up with the brand Ecowatt to deliver solar powered bags and backpacks.

At first, It sounds a bit like a geek accessory but the fact they are using recycled PET materials for all materials, a waterproof solar panel and various design that can satisfy all those short attention span teenagers.

Now here are the basic info:
to power a laptop you will need to buy the high powered bag ($200) and to charge your phone, ipod, etc.. you can buy a low powered bag ($60-$80). TO fully charge your iphone, it would take about 6 hours.

Reef Redemption

To be environmentally responsible, not only mean using recycled materials but taking in account how materials are processed as well.
The use of natural fiber (without pesticides), leather tanned without the use of chrome, etc..
In addition the outsoles are made of recycled tires, each tire provide enough rubber for 6 pair of sandals.

Sometimes we can't be completely eco friendly but nowadays we often have the choice to be more responsible toward Nature. At least Reef is trying

Eco surf wax

I have started to see some new brands of surf wax that claims to be eco-friendly and realized that we as surfers must use a lot of those $1 bars.
.
Having one of the biggest brand near my backyard: Sticky Bumps located in Carlsbad, CA: I thought it could be useful for everyone to know that they produce around 20,000 bars a day. Sex wax is going head to head with Sticky so it is fair to say that in total there should be between 50- 60,000 surf wax produce every day.

The main ingredients in surf wax are synthetic rubbers with heavy alcohol agents, or tackifiers, for extra stickiness. Well that doesn't sound too friendly, isn't it?
What that means is that surf wax is a like a plastic bottle , it doesn't bio degrade and consequently it can be swallowed by fish,etc.. The ocean is given me so much and every time I am in the water, I feel in harmony with Nature. So I have taken the choice to pay $2 to get my wax and while it certainly doesn't make a big difference, it certainly show the way to other surfers.

Organic wax is 100 natural made of beeswax, tree resin,etc...So make sure to have a look at your closest surf shop and ask for an eco brand if they don't have any. It is time to change and every small steps count.

Smart car

Well I started to see those tiny cars in Europe in those big glass building next to the freeway almost 10 years ago, but I am starting to see those tiny car in downtown San Diego.

Living in the SUV capital of the world I always thought a Smart will not be safe for American road. While road rage is everywhere and French people can get pretty aggressive, we all have tiny cars so it is just fair game, but imagine having an Escalade changing lane, I am not sure if they will even feel crushing the Smart.

My wife and I have two cars but we mostly only use the same car to go surfing, grocery shopping
or going to Big Bear so I can see having a Smart to go to work or going out instead of having my Element.

It is not only because the gas mileage is much better than on my car, Mercedes use friendlier materials that pollute less during the manufacturing process and can be later recycled.

So my wife and I tested a Smart last weekend and I was actually pleasantly surprised: it is comfortable, fast and fun...I will certainly not drive 10 hours in it but this barely happen anyway.

I would highly recommend a test drive, it is fun and you will have certianly have a good conversion later that night on other ways to become more ecologicoly responsible.