What are some solar-powered items to give as holiday gifts?

Here are some ideas from The Solar Store, which is one of Rosie’s recommended “partners.”
 
Info Mate Solar and DynamoWorld Band Radio ($90). Tune in to Rosie on the House every Saturday morning on this lightweight, solar-powered radio. You can listen to AM/FM radio, short-wave foreign radio, VHF bands, television audio, the National Weather Service and commercial aircraft transmission. It comes with four 4 rechargeable an AC adapter, stereo earphones and 12-volt vehicle plug, and you can recharge it via solar panels, hand-turned dynamo, a wall or dash outlet.
 
Solar Powered Lantern ($100). You’ll get three kinds of solar light from this lantern, including continuous fluorescent, torch incandescent and blinking. Three-way power systems include solar, alkaline batteries and AC/DC adapter.
 
Solar Battery Charger ($24.95). Charge two same-size batteries at once. The unit has an adjustable stand so you can angle it to soak up the most sun. You can even use it indoors near a sunny, south-facing window.
 
Solar Multi-Purpose Flashlight ($24.95). Use this waterproof flashlight as a bicycle light, searchlight or warning light. Recharge it with solar power; it comes with a solar panel that you place in the sunlight during the day. Or do it the old-fashioned way with AA batteries.
 
For the kids:

Solar Educational Kit ($11.95). This science kit lets children assemble their own solar models and learn how to turn the sun’s energy into electricity. Solar Race Car Kit ($24.95). Kids ages 8 and up can learn about sun power by building a solar-powered race car.
 
Solar Powered Bi-plane or Solar Powered Helicopter ($24.95 each). Expose the model biplane’s solar panel to the sun or an incandescent light, and the propeller will whirl. Same for the helicopter, whose rotor spins.
 
Prices are from The Solar Store, December 2008, and do not include shipping.

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