Charging

Going green is easy these days — with all the eco-conscious gadgets out there, it's impossible to turn a blind eye. And why would you? You save money, energy, and the planet all at once. Coming in hot and heavy on the green scene is Belkin's latest entry, the Conserve Valet ($40). This charger juices up your gadgets when they need a fill, then does you solid by stopping the flow of power from your outlet, similarly to AT&T's Zero. Say "bye-bye" to vampire power! Not only that, but the Valet is USB-compatible, powers up to four devices at once, and it senses when you've attached a new gadget, allowing the electricity to flow.

Take care of all your gadget power needs with this all-in-one, neat and tidy charging station, and feed your conscience some good vibes at the same time. You can preorder the Conserve Valet now at Amazon.

I've been known to wax poetic about Pottery Barn's handsome charging stations in the past, but in the same breath, rant about their high prices. I won't be ranting today, as I've just discovered the Bedford Small Charging Station has gone on sale — it's now just $39!

Simple and clean, the nine-inch Bedford will charge three of your favorite gadgets, keeping them reigned in so you don't lose them in the clutter of your desk. Plus, it comes in three colors — black, white, and cherry — so it can easily blend in to your current decor . . . or make a great Father's Day gift for dad!

I'm all about finding new, eco-friendly ways to power my gadgets. We all need to do our part, right? And although there are a few exciting options in the wild now, I think I may have just found something that satisfies my urge to be green, as well as the need for it to be esthetically pleasing. In short, my dream charger. Shown off yesterday at the 1.618 Sustainable Luxury Fair in Paris, France, the Electree is outfitted with a number of small, photovoltaic panels that harnesses the power of the sun to charge your gadgets and gizmos. Not only is the Electree a perfectly green way to juice up, but it's absolutely stunning as well, and would make a beautiful addition to any room. No need to hide this baby!

I know you're drooling now, but don't count on getting one for yourself just yet — the Electree is being released as a limited edition, and there will only be 1,000 units produced — which translates to: "too rich for my blood" for the rest of us. I say we start a Facebook page begging for more to be made available. It worked for Betty White and SNL! Anyone in?

Most chargers require an outlet, and solar chargers require direct sunlight, but a new concept developed by RCA will soon charge your gadgets via a WiFi connection. Unlike the Case-Mate Hug, which uses a wireless signal and magnet to juice up your cell phone, the RCA Air Power will absorb excess WiFi signal and convert it to power. The exact science behind it seems a little confusing, but the engineers at RCA say it works! The first planned device will be a small, cell-phone-sized charger that will charge itself via WiFi, and then charge your gadgets through a USB connection. To hear more, and to find out what gadgets can use this technology, just read more

Growing tired of wasting energy on vampire power suckers, AT&T introduced its new eco-friendly ZERO charger today. Just in time for a Spring gadget overhaul, this charger senses when a cell phone is not plugged in and shuts down automatically. The ZERO will stop pulling power and eliminate power waste (just like the concept Switch Outlet that lets you manually turn off the power that flows to your electronic devices) but you don't have to flip any switches or turn any dials — it does everything on its own. Plus, the USB connector ensures that you can use the ZERO for all of your USB-friendly gadget-charging needs.

The ZERO charger will be available in May, and you can sign up to be alerted when it hits the market.

I'm so over being on the go and having my iPhone lose its charge — normally the battery life is long enough to last through a day of normal use, but from time to time I find myself in need of a charge. The Mophie Juice Pack Air ($80) is the thinnest rechargeable iPhone case on the market, and is available in four colors. It's a hard, protective case that houses a rechargeable battery to give your iPhone a boost any time the battery gets low. When your phone is in the case, it will automatically use the external battery before its own. Plus, the case also has an LED indicator light to let you know exactly how much power is left.

I have to admit that my favorite shopping days of the year come after the Christmas holiday. That's when I can redeem my gift cards and get exactly what I want, usually at a huge discount. This year, I found a ton of stuff I loved at my favorite store (Target, naturally), so I thought I'd pass the savings message on to you as well with a quick rundown of some of the items Target is offering up with radically reduced prices. Although you may find some interesting eye candy throughout the stores themselves, you can grab all these deals online if you choose. Check them out below!

• Keep it together: I found this Four Slot Charging Station ($15) half off its original price. You can bet I took this baby home!
• Cover it up: The Xgear iPhone Case ($13) comes in a crisp white, and packed with a pair of mirrored film for your iPhone's face.
• Start 'em early: The Chester Creek Learning Board ($15) teaches your kids how to use the keyboard. A necessary skill for the 21st century.

To see what else you should toss in your cart, just read more

I've become a big proponent of netbooks. They're light, easy on your back, and you can pack them along in nearly any bag. So if you're traveling light this holiday season with more than one netbook user, save some luggage space and pick up this iGo Netbook Charger ($50) — which allows you to charge almost any netbook with its packable adapters — rather than toting all your netbook power cords.

Additionally, if you happen to lose your stock charger that came with your 'book, then consider grabbing up one of these instead of replacing your branded one. Why? Well, if you end up replacing your netbook at any time, you'll always have a backup. And I'm all about having a plan b when it comes to my battery power.