I admit it, I'm not a “techie.” New gadgets interest me for about two seconds tops, and that whole "someday, in the future, we won't need books, we'll read everything on our handhelds" sounds like scary sci-fi to me. (And I know, it's already happening!)

I tend to enjoy old-fashioned, simple pleasures -- like walking, talking to people in person and reading actual books with pages that turn.

Now, green tech on the other hand...well, I can't say I obsessively track every trend, but I get much more excited about the incredible innovations happening.  A lot of green technology represents the best of human potential - using our intelligence and creativity to invent new products like solar or kinetic battery chargers, processes such as cogeneration, tools like this hand-crank flashlight/radio and techniques that promote sustainability.

Michael Moyer with Popular Science Magazine had so much to share about cutting edge green technology. He gave us the rundown on the different options for alternative fuel, such as using switchgrass, a summer perennial native to North America, to create ethanol.

He also shared a lot of exciting innovations happening with batteries -- enabling electric cars to make the big comeback we’re all waiting for, driving farther and faster on a single charge, while also requiring less time to charge back up to full capacity.

It's encouraging and exciting to know that companies are seeing the benefit -- based on economics and consumer demand -- of creating green technology. It's a worthy investment that enhances products and services, while being better for the environment.

As consumers, we can let companies know that we want smarter, greener technology -- and we can support it ourselves, by buying products that are cleaner and more efficient, or investing in companies that are researching and developing green tech.

Photo: Inhabitat