An Eco-Friendly Prepper?

Yes, it's possible.  One of the main reasons we need to be prepared is the increase in natural disasters caused by climate change. So it makes perfect sense that a prepper would also be a tree-hugger!

Besides the obvious...water purifiers and large water containers instead of individual plastic bottles of water, digital records instead of paper...there are some products you should have on hand that help you be prepared AND eco-friendly.

Solar Generator

A solar generator will let you get your lights back on and even operate a few small appliances. Unlike diesel generators, these use no fuel for operation so no need to worry about gasoline or diesel. They are also quieter than diesel generators.

It's can also be a good idea to have a portable solar generator, in case you have to evacuate. A small solar generator can power laptops, phones, coolers, air pumps, and other equipment. The one I use is the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500.   It provides stable power for a wide range of devices and can be charged by the sun, in your car, or by a standard AC outlet in your home.

If you want to be truly mobile, than a solar-powered phone charger may be just the thing for you. I have one that I use all the time because I am constantly on the go. I don't have to worry about my phone battery running low and not being anywhere I can plug into a charger. (See...sometimes you can get double duty out of your prepping supplies. Which makes you smart about money!).

The cell phone charger I use is the Solar Charger 16000mAh, Portable Solar Power Bank. It's really rugged so I don't have to worry about carrying it around with me. If you knew how many times I've dropped my phone, you would know that's important! It's also easy to charge and it has a flashlight on the back which has really come in handy a time or two.

Solar Hand Crank Radio/Flashlight

We all know batteries are bad for the environment. They are also a big inconvenience to carry when you are trying to evacuate in an emergency. The answer? Tools that are charged by hand cranking. These use motion to recharge the device instead of electricity. Some are also solar powered. You can get hand crank radios, flashlights, or the best of both worlds...a weather radio with a flashlight. Like this Emergency Solar Hand Crank Radio, Portable AM/FM NOAA Weather Radio and LED Flashlight. Many of these hand crank radios have poor reception but this one so far has had a very clear signal. The flashlight is sufficiently bright to actually be usable. And it comes with an SOS alarm. I have not had the need to try that yet. But when I read the reviews before I bought mine, they all said it was LOUD.

Of course there are other ways to be eco-friendly while prepping. But those fall under other topics. Today I just wanted to share with you some of my favorite tools that help me save myself and my family while also saving the planet!