The future of energy definitely rests on abundant natural resources such as wind and sunlight that can be transformed into usable electricity without any harmful emissions. Of all the possible sources of renewable energy, solar power seems the best, as it not only can provide enough power to fuel entire cities but can easily be scaled down to power handheld devices as well. There has been no dearth of concepts and products that rely on solar power, and today we’ve put together a list of 10 sustainable speakers that dole out foot-tapping melodies on clean renewable solar energy.
Tom Pritchard’s Solar Powered iPod Dock
This solar-powered iPod dock has been designed for the Gear4 brand by industrial designer Tom Pritchard. Apart from playing green tunes, the dock doubles as an iPod charger as well. The unique design takes inspiration from the bellows of an accordion. When the three hinged parts are unfolded, the ported space behind the speaker cones gets much larger, allowing improved bass response and volume. The speakers are passive and can run off a docked iPod or iPhone, but when sufficient light hits the solar cells, which are mounted on the rear of the speakers, the built-in amplifier turns on and boosts the volume and charges the docked gadget as well.
Solar Wireless Speaker
The Solar Wireless Speaker from Frontgate allows you to enjoy your favorite tunes without feeling guilty of having spent precious watts for leisure. The speaker lets you connect your iPod, CD/MP3 player, TV or stereo to the transmitter which beams the music wirelessly to the all-weather 900MHz wireless outdoor speaker that is capable of transmitting crystal clear sound in a 150’ range even through walls, floors and even ceilings! A built-in solar panel makes sure the batteries on your speaker are always fully charged.
Gramo Speakers
Designed by Pekka Salokannel, the Gramo Speakers are just what you need to green your musical life. The speakers are powered by three layers of photovoltaic panels that are incorporated onto their surface. The solar panels charge the built-in battery pack, allowing the user to use the speakers even after sunset.
SunnySong
Designed by Tryi Yeh, the SunnySong concept is a Bluetooth speaker system that can be connected to a wide range of portable music players. The design mimics a flower, which harnesses solar energy to provide ample electricity to make the speaker system churn out green music.
Soulra iPod Speaker
The Soulra iPod speaker features a full-range 8W RMS speaker that draws power from an onboard solar panel. Packed inside a water-resistant body, the dock offers 7 hours of continuous iPod play on a fully charged battery.
Landport Active Speakers
Created by Landport Japan, these Active Speakers harvest solar energy from onboard solar panels that recharge a lithium-ion battery. Weighing in at 290g, the speakers can also be connected to a USB terminal to recharge during overcast days. The device carries to built-in speakers, each of which is rated at 2W. With a fully charged battery the speakers provide you with 5-8 hours of continuous playback.
ReVerb
Created by Regen, the ReVerb is a gargantuan iPod dock that is powered by solar energy. The 3-foot-tall iPod dock will kick out an equivalent of a room-filling 60W and carries a backlit LCD display to keep you informed about the status of the system. The flat-panel system can fully charge its onboard batteries with 20 hours of sun exposure or 40 hours of indoor light exposure. The company believes that the system can work for three hours after three hours of exposure or about six hours of indoor light exposure.
Solar Sound System
Designed by Paolo Metaldi and Luca Elli, the Solar Sound System includes photovoltaic panels on the upper part of the device to trap solar energy, and in the bottom part the speakers are placed. The design provides highly portable and wireless solution for both indoor and outdoor music needs. The concept is customizable with a variety of plastic covers and ergonomic handles, which allow you to carry it easily anywhere. The included LEDs alert you when the power on the system is running low.
DIY Sola System
This DIY portable audio player and speakers are powered entirely by the sun. The Sola System is created to be easy on your pocket and also on the environment as well. Its slender form makes it easy to be carried around and its unique angling system allows you to harness the sun’s rays from any position.
Solar Sound
The Solar Sound is being touted to be the world’s first portable solar-powered Bluetooth stereo speaker. The device plays music through 2 x 2W speakers. Measuring at about 16.5 x 5.5 x 5.5cm, the environmentally inspired speakers feature touch control along with an integrated 150mA solar panel – indicated via the illuminated yellow logo when charging. Supporting a built-in Lithium-Ion 1500mAh battery, the speaker system lets you enjoy music in full-volume for about 4 hours on a single charge.
