Offsetting your Cell Phone

Last week, Renewable Choice Energy launched a new program called “Green Your Phone.” Aimed at both individuals and businesses, this company sells very inexpensive renewable energy credits to help offset the energy it takes to manufacture and use cell phones.

You can purchase credits in two-packs (one for you, one for a friend) for just $20. That’s enough to offset 250 kilo-watt-hours of energy, which is what the average America cell phone user needs for about two years. You get a sticker to put on your phone with your purchase of the credits. You can read more about this story at Business Green.

As a small business owner or individual with a work-related cell phone, this is a great way to pay for a bit of your energy usage that you don’t typically think about. Here are some other ways to green your cell phone:

• If you can, purchase company phones that can be shared when traveling, rather than a cell phone for every employee.
• Charge your cell phone just for the time it takes to reach full battery, not over night or otherwise while you aren’t around. Keeping a charged phone plugged in longer than necessary leaches electricity.
• Turn off your phone when you take business trips out of the country, go home for the weekend, or otherwise don’t expect calls.
• Do your research and purchase phones and service from environmentally-responsible companies.

How are you and your company greening your phone usage?