Working Assets Wireless has announced it is offering the Solio, the first solar-powered charger offered by a mobile phone company in the United States. The hybrid charger by Better Energy Systems accepts power from the sun or a wall socket, and is part of Working Assets' effort to help people make a difference for the environment and reduce climate change.
For a limited time, the solar-powered charger will be available for free — a $100 value — as part of a special offer that can be found at WorkingAssetsWireless.com.
The solar charger is also for sale with other phones through Working Assets Wireless. When purchased, Working Assets will donate 1% of the cost to progressive organizations working for environmental protection, peace, human rights and equality. Better Energy Systems will kick in an additional 1% donation for each solar-charger sale as well.
"If we want to reverse the negative effects of global warming, we have to consider our daily actions as the first place to make changes," said Laura Scher, CEO of Working Assets. "By offering environmentally friendly products like the Solio, we give our members an easy way to reduce global warming through an everyday action — talking on their cell phones."
Adds Christopher Hornor, CEO of Better Energy Systems, "By replacing their wall chargers with Solio, Working Assets customers will have a significant positive impact. In addition to reducing their carbon footprint by going solar, users can charge all of their handheld devices with Solio, resulting in fewer wall chargers being manufactured, packaged, shipped, and thrown into landfills."
Calling for a better world is what sets Working Assets Wireless apart from other mobile phone companies. Every time members use their Working Assets phone, 1% of the charges go to progressive nonprofit groups working for environmental protection, peace, human rights and education, at no extra cost.
Offering the Solio charger is just a part of Working Assets Wireless's larger commitment to helping the environment. It is the first U.S.-based mobile phone company to offer a carbon-neutral plan. When customers sign up for Working Assets Wireless service, the company makes a one-time purchase from Carbonfund.org to offset a member's carbon household emissions for one year, which equates to 10 tons of emissions.
In addition, the company works with CollectiveGood to recycle used phones as well as offer customers the option to choose refurbished handsets. These practices use significantly less energy than manufacturing new hardware, and prevents toxins from being tossed into landfills.
As the greenest mobile phone company in the United States, Working Assets Wireless has been fighting global warming since its inception in 1985. Over the past 22 years, the company has raised over $10 million for environmental nonprofits and has donated over $700,000 to tree-planting groups. In 2006, Working Assets donated $642,000 to national environmental nonprofits — more than AT and T, Verizon and Sprint combined.
About Working Assets: Working Assets was established in 1985 to help busy people make a difference in the world through everyday activities like talking on the phone. Every time a customer uses one of Working Assets' donation-linked services (Wireless, Credit Card and Long Distance), the company donates a portion of the charges to progressive nonprofit groups working to build a world that is more just, humane, and environmentally sustainable. To date, more than $50 million has been raised for progressive causes. The company also serves as a strong political force, dedicated to giving its customers the opportunity to speak out on critical public issues through its Web site and monthly phone bill.
