Let's face it: we're obsessed with mobile technology. Smart phones give us access to the internet while on a road trip, and tablets make it possible to watch our favorite basketball team while suffering through an airport layover.

Although the price of these technologies is dropping every day, it still isn't cheap, especially if you're toting the latest and greatest Apple product. So protection from drops, spills, and scratches is essential.

Being the green geeks that we are, it was important to find protective cases and covers that were kind to the environment as well as our mobile devices. We've done the homework so you don't have to, and our top 5 choices are below! (If you think we missed one, please share it in the comments!)

1. AQUA TEK S (pictured above)

Being based in Colorado, we spend a fair share of our time enjoying the great outdoors. Hiking, camping, kayaking, mountain biking--these are all great ways to relax and burn some calories--but they're not exactly an appropriate place for a delicate piece of mobile technology. If you're tired of leaving your phone (and all its GPS capabilities) in the car, the AQUA TEK S is the case for you. Brought to life by overwhelming support on Kickstarter, this case is the first ever battery powered, solar charged, rugged under water iPhone 4/4S case made with technology enthusiast and adrenaline junkies in mind. The built-in solar panel gives your battery a boost when you're far from an outlet,  it's waterproof up to 20 feet, and the outer shell is made from tough Poly-carbonate materials with rubber grips for added protection.

2. E-Pouch & Ecoskin

OK, so maybe you're not an "adrenaline junkie." Maybe you're just looking for something that will keep your smart phone safe from keys, water bottles, and all the other stuff that's jangling around in your purse or backpack. The complete, low-key line of eco-friendly protective accessories from Anokimobi might be right up your alley. The e-pouch style (pictured above) is constructed from a combination of organic and naturally biodegradable materials; the vibrant fabric dyes are GOTS regulated and all the print designs use water-based, biodegradable inks. All packaging is made from 100% recycled paper. If you prefer a sleeker, healthier look, the Ecoskin line is the only recycled/recyclable mobile phone skin to be impregnated with silver ions to reduce harmful bacteria levels on the phone

3. Spark Solar Tablet Case

The iPad is one of the most popular gadget in the world. It's also one of the most power hungry, and we know that batteries always choose to fail at the moment when you need them most. Thanks to the new Spark Solar tablet case from Voltaic Systems, however, you can have power, video, and access to the interwebs no matter where you go. The four solar panels built into this protective carrying case are capable of cranking out up to 8 watts of power, enough to provide one hour of video playback on an iPad for every hour the case spends in direct sunlight. In addition to the iPad, the Spark Solar Tablet Case is also capable of charging other tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tablet, the Blackberry Playbook and the T-Mobile G-Slate.

There's no denying that a case that both protects and charges your tablet is super cool. But lots of people buy the iPad because of it's minimalist look and feel, and carrying around a small solar power plant is going to add a lot of weight and bulk. If you're fine with being tethered to an outlet as long as your screen stays free of dings and smudges, this handmade sleeve from Grove. Constructed in from thick premium wool felt imported from Germany the sleeve also features a natural, hand-oiled bamboo veneer for added protection.

5. RE-Case

So far we've talked about protective cases made from lots of sustainable things: biodegradable materials, non-toxic ink, bamboo, wool...but it's hard to argue with the eco-friendliness of a product that's literally made from trash. The case is made out of an architectural grade plastic called POLLI-BER, that the company developed. Polli-ber is a trash composite made with processed organic rice husk and post-consumer thermoplastics from used car bumpers, CD containers, bottle caps, etc. As Becky Striepe of greenUPGRADER reports, "The case fit my phone nicely, though I wish that it also protected the phone's face...and there's room in the case to insert your refillable transit card, though I guess if you have one of those tap and spend credit cards, you could use that, too."

Humanity has developed an unhealthy relationship with Apple products. Is our i-obsession polluting our world?

Grown adults camp on the sidewalk for days to pay ridiculous prices for a slightly different version of the device in their pocket. People who are otherwise very intelligent act as if their life would end if they had to send an email on a PC. But I digress...

Did you know Apple has sold 55 million iPad's since they were introduced in 2010? Yes, your tablet might help you organize your life, but what's it doing to your world? The infographic below shows some of the green (and not so green) aspects of your iPad.

Created by Sortable

Top Image via yto/Flickr

Capitalizing on the fact that LEDs offer more opportunity to reinterpret how light is embodied and delivered, a new design imagines LEDs of an entirely new shape

There's no question that LEDs are the energy-efficient lighting solution of the future. In fact some experts predict that by 2015, 5- percent of all residential homes will completely lit by LEDs. There have been some issues with price and versatility, but as cost of LEDs continues to fall, while selection goes up, we think this is a pretty realistic prediction.

For the most part, LED designs cling pretty tightly to our deep rooted notions of what a light bulb is supposed to look like. But a new design from Artemide shows that it's time to let this uber efficient light source out from under that lampshade.

Sisifo, Scott Wilson's new hybrid luminaire for Artemide, challenges conventional light bulb design with a new typology of light that blends task lamp with table lamp and leverages LEDs qualities to create a new icon in lighting. The design's large diffused disk of light seems to float in air and easily rotates 360 degrees to direct a soft, powerful source of illumination.

"With its spherical central articulation, Sisifo guarantees maximum freedom in directing light with minimum encumbrance at the base, allowing use on both larger tables and smaller bedside surfaces," writes Wilson on Behance. "The lamp head and light source utilize micro lenticular surface details to amplify the light output. Sisifo’s generous adjustable diffuser eliminates unwanted harsh shadows and provides a soothing familiar feeling."

No longer will you have to deal with the harsh glare of a light bulb peeking out from your desk lamp, creating a blinding spot on the page or wall. Instead, the Sisifo provides bright, ambient light with a tiny carbon footprint.

Image via Scott Wilson/Behance

New to the area? Trying to get outdoors more, but tired of the same old trails? A new app from the Sierra Club does your hiking homework for you.

Aptly named "Trail Explorer" this app uses the built-in GPS capabilities of your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to discover new places to enjoy the outdoors without spending years planning a trip.

With a database of over 40,000 trails across the United States (thanks to AllTrails.com) the app allows you to search by name, activity, length, and location. Users can also track routes, view live stats, and take geo-tagged photos using the iPhone GPS, or traick and add new trails along with personal and photos.

A word of warning though, especially for greenhorns who may think this app can replace back country experience: it's a very new app and as such, isn't infallible. Several early user reviews claim that directions to trail heads are incomplete (or just plain wrong) and that often the trail itself isn't shown on the map, just a pin in the general area where the trail head should be.

We highly recommend giving the web based version a whirl before buying.

EcoSpeed, a soon-to-be available app for iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, goes way beyond efficient trip planning and fuel economy calculators. When active, it will constantly measure energy consumption and the trade-offs such as fuel cost, time to your destination and environmental impact, and alerting you to adjust your driving behavior, even slightly, to lower costs while still arriving on time.

eco:Speed is based on real-world driving conditions, factoring in fuel consumption, the number of traffic stops, speed limits, local traffic conditions and more.  And our eco:Speed mobile app provides you with real-time feedback on the fuel efficiency of your driving. Whether it’s a slower acceleration when the light turns green or maintaining a more fuel-efficient speed, you’ll know what driving techniques help you save time as well as money.

Interested? EcoSpeed should launch for iPhone and Android devices sometime this month. Until then, visit the EcoSpeed site to try the demo, or sign up for updates about app availability on your device.

Would you ever use an app like EcoSpeed to help lower your fuel costs and emissions? Tell us in a comment!

Image via EcoSpeed

iPhone and iPod docks are everywhere these days. But most, even the expensive ones, are made in China from plastic and require electricity to work properly.

When the iBamboo speaker hit the market last year, it blew the minds of Apple lovers and eco-geeks alike: using a simple piece of bamboo (a rapidly-growing, sustainable resource), the iBamboo amplifies the sound produced by the built-in speaker of the iPhone 4/4S...no electricity required!

And now, it's getting even better.

Prompted by iBamboo owners who complained that they were afraid to travel with their speaker, lest they chip or break the bamboo in the process, the company has announced plans to market an "urban" version made from recycled plastic (above).

"A plastic iBamboo would serve a different niche," reports Anatoliy Omelchenko of Triangle Tree. "First of all it would be an active effort to remove plastic, which takes thousands of years to degrade, from our environment. Second, a plastic iBamboo would be more fitting for people that would like to enjoy their music in more extreme conditions, as a plastic version would be more durable, and less prone to damage or defect. It would still have the trademark electricity-free design, available in both clear transparent and solid color."

We'll keep you posted!

Valentine's day is right around the corner, are you still looking for the perfect gift? Check out these 5 green gadgets that your guy is sure to love. Don't worry if you are on a budget, there is a gift for every price range!

1. Griffin Air Curve, $15.99

Yes, the Griffin AirCurve is made out of a plastic, but it earns its place on this green gift list because it functions as a speaker that uses no electricity. The AirCurve is an inexpensive, energy-free way to turn your iPhone into a mini-boom box. Available from Amazon for $15.99.

2. Wallet made from recycled bike tube, $25

This wallet may look like leather, but it is actually handmade in Seattle from used inner tubes. Available for only $25.00 from Uncommongoods.com.

3. Kork iPad 2 Case, $49.99

Nature meets technology with the Kork iPad 2 case. It is made from 100% natural leftover cork and has a wonderful natural texture. Available for $49.99 from Aprodukt.

4. WeWood Watch, $119

WeWood watches are the definition of sophisticated sustainability. You may remember them from our product review back in January. For every watch sold, WeWood plants a tree -- now, that’s a gift you can feel good about buying! WeWood timepieces are available in 7 different color variations for $119. Browse the different designs at WeWood’s Website.

5. Voltaic Off-Grid Backpack, $229

The Voltaic Off-Grid backpack is great gift for adventurous, outdoor-types. Besides charging hand-held electronics, it has 1,500 cubic inches of storage space, a laptop sleeve, phone pouch and more. Available on Amazon for $229.