More companies continue to see the value in green marketing.  Sprint is now expanding its offerings to consumers searching for more sustainable everyday products.  The company has just announced an expanded line of accessories that includes chargers and device cases.  Their growing line of “green” phone accessories will be available in the new, dedicated green sections at all company-owned retail locations, and online @ sprint.com.

Included in the expansion is a new eco-friendly cell-phone charger: the All-In-One Vehicle and Wall Charger to complement the SOLIO solar powered charger the company currently offers. The All-In-One charger is an all-in-one car and home/office charger.  It features an inline USB port that allows two devices to be charged simultaneously and operates within Energy Star guidelines.  The All-in-One charger is available for $39.99.
(more…)

The folding bike specialists at Dahon have come up with an energy efficient way to charge your iPod, iPhone, MP3 player or handheld device – bike power. The FreeCharge transfers power from a bike’s generator hub to a high-capacity battery, which in turn supplies steady current to your USB powered small device.  The FreeCharge unit secures to the bike’s frame in a silicon case.  Duhon is including the charger on a couple of its bike models in the near future and as a stand-alone accessory sometime around March 2010 for an estimated $99.

Nice concept.   via: bikehugger

This new Novothink Surge solar charging case slides neatly over iPhone 3G and 3G (S) phones.  The slim hybrid charger can store power from the sun or through your computer’s USB port (from which you can also load tunes from iTunes.)

Features a button activated LED status display, volume and headphone access and a wide choice of colors.  Solar panel is on the back and will store power to dispense as needed.  The Surge will cost you around $70 when it becomes available in late 2009.

via: appmodo related: sunblazer

For $2.99, eco-techies can now fight global warming directly from their iPhones.  The new app, called Carbon Pulse, was developed by Sevencord Studios. The green application is now available on the iPhone App Store.

Press release: Carbon Pulse users can see exactly how their lifestyles are affecting the environment, pledge to take action to help reduce their impact, and track their progress making changes. The application also estimates a user’s carbon emissions based on his or her vehicle, acceleration, distance and time driven during each trip and miles per gallon, then compares that estimate to that of the average U.S. driver. Carbon Pulse users can feel good about their app purchase for another reason: Sevenchord donates a portion of the proceeds from Carbon Pulse sales to clean energy projects. (more…)

This hand powered portable washing machine is an extremely eco-friendly product providing a cheaper alternative to hotel laundry service if you travel and can’t find a green hotel, enjoy camping or need a break from trekking to the laundromat or laundry room of your apartment building. (more…)

Want symmetrical hanging plants but too lazy to get out of your Barcalounger to rotate them?

This solar powered gadget is designed to slowly rotate hanging plant baskets for even light exposure and plant growth.  The brighter the sun, the more the basket is said to turn.  Powered by a small, integral low light solar panel.  No wiring or operating costs.  Claims to hold plants up to 27lbs.  You may just want to get a good old swivel ring and go DIY.

$14.95 @ amazon.com
via: coolest gadgets

When I think of the programmable light timers of yesteryear, I’m reminded of my parent’s house and the constant hassle to find a reading lamp that easily switches on and off. For that reason—and the fact that I switch lights off when I leave a room—I’ve never had a need (or want) for those types of electrical socket-crowding contraptions.

With the late lit, dog days of summer winding down, however, I wouldn’t mind the greeting of a soft glow when coming home to my empty apartment. To best balance the energy suck, I’m using the new Sentina uTimer, a LED nightlight and dusk-sensing lamp timer that automatically turns on when the sun goes down.

Plug the device into an outlet in a naturally-lit room, connect your energy-efficient fluorescent bulb or LED lamp, choose an automatic turn off time of four, eight, or 12 hours, and you’re good to go. The security of lit abode and the efficiency and cost savings of one smart little timer. (I’m also a fan of the flip top LED, which sheds more or less light when desired.) Price: $30 (with free shipping) @ www.datexx.com.

If you’re looking to add some nighttime atmosphere to your patio, walkway or deck, you might consider a couple of these striking dragonfly solar accent lights.  Each wireless solar luminary comes with two rechargeable batteries and will look a lot classier than that 2000 watt bug-zapper you’ve been using to help guests find their drinks at your Saturday night weenie roasts.

Fully charged, the light will stay on for 10 or 12 hours.

A set of 2 will run you $39.99 (lists for $79.99) @ solarlightstore.com

Kodak keeps moving away from its film-based past and into the digital future.

The company has announced its latest stab at digital innovation with the intro of the Kodak Solar Charger KS100-C+2 (catchy name).  When fully charged, this portable solar device charger packs enough power to charge a cell phone 1.5 times, run a portable music player for an additional 33 hours, or power a digital camera for a couple of hundred pictures.

When sunlight wanes, the device can be charged using the included USB cable by plugging into a computer or other USB power source.  The ENERGY STAR qualified charger fully charges in 14 hours via USB and 28 hours via sunlight.

The Kodak Solar Charger KS100-C+2 will retail for US $39.95 MSRP beginning in September, 2009.

Here’s a new addition to the growing list of portable device chargers, the Kinesis K3 portable wind and solar charger.  Kinesis is marketing the charger as a “3-in-1 tribrid,” due to its ability to collect and store power from wind, sun, or AC wall outlet.

One hour of exposure to sun and wind provides about 30 minutes of talk time, and over 300 minutes of mp3 music.  The gadget charger will power: cell phones, iPods/mp3 players, iPhone, smartphones, PDAs, portable gaming devices, GPS units, digital cameras, Bluetooth headsets, and most other small gadgets and gizmos that come to mind.

They claim the K3 has the largest rechargeable battery capacity of its class.  The K3 comes with a variety of device adapter tips.  Available @ greenwindsolar.com for $99.95

Related:  previously on altCon:
4 cool solar power innovations (3.10.09)