Motorola has pledged to begin taking advantage of renewable energy sources, and the company promised to acquire at least 25% of its energy from wind, Fox News reported recently. “It is Motorola Mobility’s intent through our participation in the WindMade initiative to encourage greater use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar around the globe,” Motorola Mobility’s director for sustainability and stewardship Bill Olson said. “Any company that uses at least 25% of wind energy can adopt the “WindMade” label, a company that recognizes companies that focus on using wind as a renewable energy source,” Bragi Fjalldal of WindMade explained. “What’s unique about WindMade is it’s the first time that you have a truly global standard that is accepted across the landscape for how corporations should procure clean energy.” Read on for more.

Motorola Mobility will have to prove that it actually procures energy from wind and will have to report the exact percentage of energy it uses from the renewable energy source. WindMade hopes its labels, which identify the exact percentage each company has acquired from wind energy, will encourage firms to compete with one another for labels.

“If you, for example, have procured fifty percent wind energy, the fifty percent would be in the label,” Fjalldal said. “We believe that creates an incentive among companies of the same industry to try to beat each and be the one that does the most. Several of the companies that are committing now are planning to do 100 percent.”

Consumers are backing the idea, too. According to a recent report from Vestas Wind Systems, 67% of consumers said they would favor product with a WindMade label. WindMade hopes that thousands of companies begin to participate in the initiative in the future.

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Greenpeace recently released a report titled How dirty is your data: A look at the energy choices that power cloud computing, which graded Amazon, Akamai, Apple, Facebook, Google, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Twitter, and Yahoo across three “green” categories: transparency, infrastructure siting, and mitigating strategy. While Greenpeace offered some praise to the Cupertino-based company for improving transparency and its efforts to move towards cleaner energy, it failed Apple in the “infrastructure siting,” category for choosing to build its new $1 billion iDataCenter — which requires enough energy to power 80,000 U.S. homes –  in North Carolina.

“Apple’s decision to locate its iDataCenter in North Carolina, which has an electrical grid among the dirtiest in the country (61% coal, 31% nuclear) indicates a lack of a corporate commitment to clean energy supply for its cloud operations. The fact that the alternative location for Apple’s iDataCenter was Virginia, where electricity also comes from very dirty sources, is an indication that, in addition to tax incentives, access to inexpensive energy, regardless of its source, is a key driver in Apple’s site selection.”

Hit the jump for more, as well as the official report card.

Facebook also received fail marks for infrastructure siting, and Twitter failed every single category. IBM was the top of the class, and Greenpace said it “should be recognized for its ongoing and comprehensive plan to reduce remissions, in addition to driving significant gains in IT efficiency.”

[Via 9to5 Mac]

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We’ve just spent some time with Samsung’s brand new eco-friendly device, the Samsung Replenish. In terms of eco-friendliness, the device is made of up over 80% recyclable materials. It features a 2-megapixel camera, 2.8-inch display, reasonably large 1600 mAh battery and it runs Android 2.2 (Froyo). The QWERTY keyboard is reasonably decent, too. We’re able to pound out emails quickly, and it’s reminiscent of the old Samsung Blackjack-style layout. The big news here is that there’s an optional solar-charging battery cover that will give you an extra 20 minutes of talk time after 1 hour of sun bathing. Sprint is also encouraging and rewarding Replenish owners for being so green by not charging the extra $10 smartphone fee that’s normally required. The Samsung Replenish will be available on May 8th for $49.99 with color choices of black, blue or magenta.

Android enthusiast blog Android Central has revealed that the rumored Samsung Replenish will soon launch from Sprint. Details on the Replenish are still slim, but the above screen shot mentions it is a “green” device powered by Android. The blog claims that the phone will be announced on April 15th and land in Sprint stores by May 5th. It’s possible that this device could replace, or is, the Samsung Rant 3, which we’ve heard is a 3G touchscreen messaging device with an eco-friendly solar rechargeable battery door. If the Replenish is indeed set to launch next Friday, we’re a bit surprised that it hasn’t yet been announced — carriers and manufacturers typically like to blow out that “eco-friendly” fluff as much as possible.

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On Friday, Verizon Wireless announced that its cell phone trade-in program, which originally launched last September, will now accept tablets. The Verizon Wireless Trade-In Program was created to provide customers with a Verizon Wireless gift card worth up to $300 for their gear. It bases the value of a product off of a number of things, including whether it will power up or not, if the display works or not, and whether or not the display is cracked. We tested the value of a 16GB Apple iPad Wi-Fi + 3G that powers on and has a working display without cracks. Verizon Wireless appraised that device at $185. We’d probably be better off selling it on eBay. Hit the jump for the full release.

GO GREEN THIS EARTH DAY WITH VERIZON WIRELESS’ TRADE-IN PROGRAM

Wireless Users Can Now Recycle and Get Value From Their No-Longer-Used Tablets

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Offering wireless users more options to get value from their no-longer-used devices and help the environment at the same time, Verizon Wireless today announced that the Verizon Wireless Trade-In Program, initially launched in September 2010 for cell phones, will now accept tablets.

“Whether you’re a mobile user looking to move to the nation’s most reliable network or a customer looking to trade up to a new tablet, our Trade-In Program provides options that people can feel good about,” said Greg Haller, vice president of consumer solutions for Verizon Wireless.  “Adding tablets to our lineup of eligible trade-in devices along with wireless phones, gives users another option to recycle old devices and get value.”

Through the Trade-In Program, wireless users can easily determine if their device has value and if so, receive a Verizon Wireless gift card for trading it in.  For example, a wireless user could trade in a tablet today in good condition and receive a Verizon Wireless gift card worth up to $300.  Consumers can check tablets accepted and current trade values any time by visiting the Trade-In Program website at www.trade-in.vzw.com.   Verizon Wireless gift cards can be used online at www.verizonwireless.com, in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores or to pay a Verizon Wireless bill.  The Verizon Wireless Trade-In Program accepts wireless phones and now tablets from most major manufacturers and wireless carriers.  For additional information, visit www.trade-in.vzw.com or call the Trade-In Support Center at 1-866-870-5446.

Customers looking for another option to recycle wireless devices can also take advantage of HopeLine® from Verizon, a program that collects devices and accessories to help victims of domestic violence.  For more information on HopeLine from Verizon, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline or go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnkDUsmkQlk to learn more about HopeLine’s recycling efforts.
To learn more about other green initiatives by Verizon Wireless, visit http://aboutus.vzw.com/Green_Initiative/overview.html.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

With all of the oil spilling into the gulf (thanks, BP!), the announcement that Sprint will be releasing the eco-friendly Samsung Restore on June 6th for $50 on contract couldn’t come at a better time. Made largely out of recycled materials, the Restore contains low levels of hazardous materials and will be 84% recyclable when it comes time to power it up for the last time. Of course what the Restore has in green it lacks in specs with nothing to show for itself but a 2 megapixel camera and QWERTY keypad, but specs knockout specs aren’t what this phone is about.

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Just in time for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Sprint has announced the eco-friendly Samsung Restore. Following up on last years über-green Reclaim, the Restore picks up where its predecessor left off and throws in more text-friendly horizontal sliding QWERTY keypad, 2 megapixel camera, MP3 player, Stereo Bluetooth and support for microSD cards up to 32GB (a 2GB card is included in the box). As for its actual green qualities, the phone is made of 27% post-consumer materials and its components are 84% recyclable, while containing extremely low levels harmful chemicals like PVC, BFRs, Phthalates and Beryllium. The packaging is completely recyclable as well, and all instruction manuals will be available online to cut down on paper waste. When it comes out later this summer, the Samsung Restore will be go for $49.99 on contract after mail-in rebates — definitely not a pocket breaker. Are you within an inch of being sold but need an extra little push? What if we told you it comes pre-loaded with a “Mother Earth”? Yeah, we knew that’d get you.

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Do you do just about everything you can for Mother Earth, including having a bamboo wardrobe filled with hemp clothes? Do you ever think “man, I really could use a cell phone to quickly and efficiently organize tree sittings?” Do you wish that phone would have a built in Eco Calculator so you could calculate just how much CO₂ you’re not pumping into the atmosphere by walking instead of driving (calculated in your choice of CO₂ or trees planted)? If so, we strongly suggest you check out the newly announced LG Remarq from Sprint. Available on May 9th for $0 on a 2-year deal after rebates, the Remarq is made up partly of recycled plastics and the entire device will be 87% recyclable once the time comes for it to be powered down for good. Not only that, but its box is made of recycled brown craft paper, is printed with soy ink, and isn’t filled with wasteful paper manuals which will only to be made available online. Spec-wise the Remarq isn’t all that remarkable with a sliding QWERTY keypad, 1.3 megapixel camera and QVGA display, but let’s face it: you’re too busy saving the earth to be fiddling around with a brawny smartphone.

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Not content with Motorola’s Brazilian division handsets, Moto has just recently announced the MOTOCUBO A45, an eco-friendly full-QWERTY featurephone. It’s nowhere near as sustainable as Motorola’s previous green offering or even Samsung’s or Sony Ericsson’s, but 25% of the materials used in MOTOCUBO are made out of recycled plastic bottles which has to count for something. Why? Because a 2 megapixel camera, QVGA disaply and EDGE connectivity sure doesn’t. Look for the MOTOCUBO A45 to hit Brazil in September for 549 Brazilian reals or $293 USD.

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Yay green. Sprint announced this morning that it is now the latest carrier to jump on the eco-conscious bandwagon — and being conscious of the environment is definitely a good bandwagon to jump on. Made with 80 percent recycled materials, the Samsung reclaim is a phone that has been rumored to hit Sprint for a while now. Sprint calls the phone “the most full-featured QWERTY phone launched by Sprint at less than $50″ and truth be told, it probably is. In fact, it’s probably the most solid green offering we’ve seen from any US carrier considering its QWERTY keypad, 2 megapixel camera with video capture, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, GPS and microSDHC support (up to 32GB). No, it’s not going to satisfy the power users out there but if you know a tween looking for a messaging machine, this little guy is just about as good as it gets. The Samsung Reclaim will be available nationwide on August 16th for an affordable $49.99 on contract. For every handset purchased, Sprint will donate $2 to The Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre program.

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There has been a bit of buzz floating around over the past few days regarding the announcement of an environmentally conscious handset Sony Ericsson is preparing to announce. As it turns out, tomorrow’s announcement is just the first in an upcoming line of green handsets from the JV. Beyond a new image of the first handset to fall under Sony Ericsson’s new GreenHeart line seen above, we’ve managed to confirm a few details. Firstly, as the name of the range might suggest, GreenHeart handsets will sport a variety of green features including electronic manuals (no paper manuals), less packaging, a minimum of 50 percent recycled plastics used in handset production and low power chargers. There is still little known about the handset pictured above that will be announced tomorrow, but we do know it features one touch access to common functions such as calendar, Google search, frequently used apps and more.

Interest piqued? We’ve also managed to get our mitts on an embeddable widget that will be home to the webcast of Sony Ericsson’s announcement. The stream will go live at 8:00am Eastern time tomorrow, June 4th. Hit the jump for a preview and come back around tomorrow morning to learn about Sony Ericsson’s new Earth-friendly GreenHeart phone straight from the horse’s mouth.

Here at BGR, we’ve learned several truths over the years: What happens in Vegas does not always stay in Vegas, you really shouldn’t eat yellow snow and most importantly, there is no such thing as a phone with a big enough battery. Discounting those first two for the time being, we’re long-time Proporta portable battery users as having that extra 3400 mAh of juice in reserve can be a life saver. Last month however, we were made aware of an alternative option from London-based Devotec Industries and our interest was immediately piqued. While Devotec’s offering holds 47% less juice than our Proporta battery, we couldn’t help but get reeled in by a key feature that no other portable charger we’ve come across in the sub-$40 price range can tout — solar. Needless to say we scooped up a handful of them and went to town. Hit the jump to read our impressions of the Devotec Solar Charger after a few weeks of abuse from the BGR staff.

First things first – what exactly is this thing? Devotec’s Solar Charger is a small pocketable battery that will charge your mobile phone or other portable devices on the go. It holds 1800 mAh of power, more than enough to give just about any handset one full charge with a bit left over just in case. The entire face of the charger is a solar panel, thus allowing the battery to be charged by the sun as opposed to sucking power from the grid. This also means if you’re out and about for an extended period of time, using the unit for multiple charges is possible without having to stop and find a power source. Just leave it sitting on the dash in your car or anywhere else it can see the sun and a few hours later you have a full 1800 mAh waiting for another go. Leaving it in the sun as it’s charging a device will also drastically reduce the battery drain of course, stretching that 1800 mAh cell out much further than any non-solar portable charger could dream of.

The unit is built quite solidly; the area surrounding the solar panel is standard black plastic while the rear half of the case is metal. Admittedly, we’ve dropped the unit a short distance several times already and there isn’t a scratch or scuff to be found. One end of the charger is home to a single DC-out port and the other end holds two LED indicators and a USB port. Why a USB port, you might ask? In the event you have a trip to Seattle or just want a quick burst of juice, the charger can be plugged into a wall outlet or any computer with a USB port (Extended pack is available with a multi-country travel charger).

Devotec’s Solar Charger ships with a short cable and a variety of tips that should be able to charge just about any handset along with any portable device that can be powered with a standard USB cable — as you can see above, the center tip on the top row is a standard USB port. It also comes with a small leather-like case which, oddly, is the cause of our only real complaint. The case is nice and it keeps the unit from getting scratched or scuffed while in transit but it’s only big enough to house the charger itself, and barely. We would have preferred a case that could also hold the tiny charger cable and maybe even a few tips so that everything is kept together and organized.

In terms of performance, a portable charger is the type of thing that either works or it doesn’t. There’s really no room for middle ground so in short, the Devotec Solar Charger works. Surprisingly however, we found that it works a bit better than the Devotec Website states. The company’s site claims charging the unit from empty will take approximately 12 hours of sunlight, while the documentation included with the unit claims 4-6 hours. During our testing we found the reality to be somewhere around 4 hours in direct sunlight. The other thing you might notice is that in each of our pictures of the unit there is a blue LED shining, indicating that the unit is currently charging. That’s no mistake — we were very surprised to find that artificial light charges the Devotec charger as opposed to just sunlight. Of course we doubt a standard house bulb will charge the unit anywhere near as quickly as sunlight, but it’s still nice to know.

In the end, we would definitely recommend the Devotec Solar Charger to anyone in the market for a portable charger. The $39.99 price point puts it exactly in line with our Proporta unit and while its capacity is 1800 mAh compared to the 3400 mAh of the Proporta, the green-factor and convenience of solar technology more than make up for it. Whereas the Proporta or a similar non-solar unit might be able to refill your handset twice before having to be refueled by a wall outlet or computer, the Devotec charger can keep refilling your gear without touching an outlet as long as the sun keeps rising every morning. If the sun stops rising, well, you’ve got bigger problems to deal with than recharging your phone. With that, we’ll leave you with a few comparison shots to give you an idea of the size of the unit, along with a link to Devotec’s product page.

Devotec Solar Charger product page

It looks like Radio Shack isn’t the only green game in town when it comes to swapping out your unused gadgets for some cash. California-based Flipswap has just received a whopping $14 million in venture funding to help expand its cell phone and iPod recycling program. Pretty impressive for a “green” company in this uncertain economy. With all of you buying or planning to buy new handsets this winter season, we figure there are a lot of older, now unused handsets floating around. Yeah, some of you will go the eBay or Craigslist route but if you’re looking for an alternative way to offload your phone, you may want to check out Flipswap which will give you cash in return for your old cell phone or iPod. Flipswap is located in 6,000 retail locations and have even partnered with a few online vendors like Newegg and Amazon so you can get cash in the form of a gift card for your old phone. If your phone is too decrepit for cash, Flipswap will still take it for recycling purposes and will plant a tree in your name instead. One new tree is much better than one new handset in a landfill and this year alone Flipswap has planted an estimated 28,000 trees! BlackBerry owners in particular should take note as Flipswap recently partnered with RIM and will give you an extra $50 if you swap an old BlackBerry for a new BlackBerry. The company is also in the process of expanding its retail program so you can get cash for your old phone and apply it immediately to your new handset purchase. w00t! Flipswap is definitely worth looking into before you toss that old handset into your garbage can. Think green and recycle, y’all! Hit the read link for more info or if you’re a Berry addict, go straight to Flipswap’s dedicated BlackBerry page.

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