At the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the biggest trend was technology going green. Voltaic Systems’ solar powered backpack takes green technology to the next level.

Jeff Crystal, head of operations for Voltaic Systems, explains, “We get a lot of people who are trying to be more sustainable in their life, so they’re trying to get off the grid. What this does, is it allows them to take one part of their life, their cell phone usage, their iPods, and take that, and they don’t have to plug it anymore into conventional power sources.”

The solar powered backpack has solar panels stitched to the exterior. These solar panels charge a battery that can then be used to charge electronic devices like cell phones and iPods. With these solar powered backpacks, one hour in the sun will give you three hours of play time on an iPod. The solar powered backpacks range in price from $200 to $250 depending on the backpack’s size.

Voltaic’s solar powered backpacks have a rugged design. The fabric is recycled PET, made from soda bottles. It’s the same material used to make fleece jackets.

The solar powered backpack can get wet, but you have to make sure the battery inside stays dry. Voltaic Systems stresses sustainability throughout its production process, taking care to make sure every part of the solar powered backpack is made from a green material.

What’s next in solar powered backpacks? The newest product from Voltaic Systems is its laptop bag. These solar powered backpacks aren’t just for green enthusiasts. Businessmen can charge their laptops whenever they’re in the sun.

It can be difficult to find an outlet in the airport, but with the solar powered backpack, all you need is a patch of sunlight. Laptops vary in how much power is needed to charge their batteries, but Voltaic’s Crystal estimates that two to three hours of sunlight should charge most laptops.

If you’re looking for a way to save energy in your life, you might want to consider a solar powered backpack. To find a store near you, visit the Web site, www.voltaicsystems.com.