We seem to take batteries for granted these days, barely giving them a second thought. Most gadgets need batteries in one form or another, and most batteries are not great for the environment. Rechargeable batteries reduce the number of one-use batteries that we use, but rechargeable batteries still use harmful materials.

Well here are some interesting facts about batteries to encourage you to think a little more carefully about what batteries you buy.

1. The First Batteries

The first battery was created by Alessandro Volta in 1798. The first rechargeable battery has been around since 1859, when French physicist Gaston Plante invented the lead acid cell. The lead acid cell is still used in cars today.

However, evidence of batteries dates back to over 2000 years ago. In 1938, Wilhelm Konig discovered in Iraq a 5 inch pottery jar containing a copper cylinder encased in an iron rod. This is believed to be an ancient form of battery.

2. Rechargeable Batteries

Batteries work due to a chemical reaction inside the battery that causes electrons to flow from the negative to positive terminal of the battery. When all of the chemicals inside the battery have reacted, the battery is spent. When you recharge a battery, you’re essentially reversing the chemical reaction using electrical energy.

3. Battery Energy Usage

The energy used to manufacture rechargeable and single-use batteries is 50 times greater than the electrical energy they produce when been discharged.

4. The Memory Effect

This is an effect that nickel-cadmium (NiCad) rechargeable batteries suffer from. If a NiCad battery is recharged before being discharged fully, it ‘forgets’ that it is able to discharge any more energy.

For example, pretend a battery is capable of storing 100 units of energy. You use 40 units, then charge the battery up again to 100 units. In your mind, the battery contains 100 units again, but the memory effect means the battery essentially can only release up to 40 units of energy.

5. No Battery Lasts Forever

All batteries, including rechargeables, eventually die. This is because the chemicals inside the battery degrade over time and with usage.

6. UK Battery Regulations

From 1st January 2010, all manufacturers and importers of batteries in to the UK will be responsible for the cost of collection and recovery of waste batteries. Thankfully, there are battery recycling services who will handle the battery recycling for you. It won’t be long before other countries start to follow this regulation too.

7. Mercury in Batteries

The single largest source of mercury metal is found in household batteries, particularly in alkaline and button cells.

Legislation from the EU Parliament, namely WEEE Directive 2003, states that manufacturers of alkaline batteries have made a commitment to remove all mercury from batteries. However, mercury is an integral part of button batteries and cannot be eliminated completely.

8. Nickel Cadmium in Batteries

One NiCad mobile phone or power tool battery is enough to pollute 600,000 litres of water! That’s equivalent to a third of an Olympic sized swimming pool.

9. Losing Charge

Rechargeable batteries will lose a percentage of their charge each day when left off the charger. Therefore try and charge rechargeable batteries hours before you intend to use them.

You should also avoid leaving rechargeable batteries discharged for long periods of time, otherwise the batteries will degrade much more quickly when left discharged for 6 months or more.

10. Terms such as “Heavy Duty” are misleading

Since there are no real industry standards for batteries, many terms used by battery manufacturers have become misleading marketing hype. Although the terms didn’t start out as being misleading, “Heavy Duty” batteries are often the least powerful batteries you can buy!

Further resources and facts

I used a number of resources when compiling facts for this article. This is a list of all the resources I used:

• Energizer – Battery Care
• Rebatt UK – Battery Facts
• How Stuff Works – Batteries
• Battery Back – Battery Recycling
• Green Batteries – Battery Myths (recommended reading)

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the 10 Interesting Facts about Batteries article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2011 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

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Now I love popping bubble-wrap, but I must say that I question how recyclable it is. But it is really cheap and easy to get hold of, and bubble wrap perfectly protects the majority of items you post or pack. A group of designers, Wonjae Lee, Sunkyu Kim & Sangjun Hahn, have come up with Paper Wrap, which uses a pre-cut cardboard design to emulate bubble wrap without the plastic.

The design uses a pre-cut symmetrical pattern that folds out to form a flexible and protective layer. The effect is a layer of pyramid shapes on the surface of the cardboard. If the cardboard is made from recycled sources, then the solution is very eco-friendly.

However, I can imagine that in practice the “sticky out bits” would flatten, making the Paper Wrap cardboard no different to a flat sheet of cardboard. Shredded cardboard would provide a great protective layer as an alternative to plastic. I like the attempt at an alternative style of packaging, but I think that this implementation of packaging would be ineffective.

Source: YankoDesign

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Bubble Wrap Alternative – Paper Wrap article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2011 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

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A designer by the name of Wu Jian has come up with a concept for an eco-friendly battery gadget. The Soft Solar Battery is made of several layers of film, including a flexible battery and flexible solar panel. The battery is rolled out flat to charge up in the sun, the level of charge indicated by the small display on the panel.

When you wish to use the flexible battery, you simply roll up the film into a cylinder to use within conventional devices that need a battery. It’s an interesting concept, but I image the film will degrade/peel very quickly. Technical specifications have not been provided, so I get the impression this is merely a concept.

I think that high capacity rechargeable batteries are the (near-term) future, but simply using standardised charging devices as a power source. I don’t think that the Soft Solar Battery is a practical eco-friendly energy source.

Source: Red Dot

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Flexible Solar Panels roll into green AA batteries article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2011 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

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Of all the places to have a solar panel, a jacket is not exactly my first choice. The solar ski jacket features a neoprene collar with solar panels stitched into them. The solar panels can then be used to charge mobile phones, ipods, and any other usb-connected devices.

The jacket has re-inforced shoulder panels ideal for carrying ski equipment, fully taped seams to water-proof the jacket, detachable hood, and a few other fancy features. The solar panels are capable of charging devices needing a 5-6V input voltage.

And here’s the best bit, it costs $1,350. Hmmm, completely negating the benefit of the green gadget angle! I think it’s a premium clothing line so that you look like you’re eco-friendly. If you’re looking for cheap clothes, then forget this jacket.

Source: OhGizmo!

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Solar Ski Jacket – Eco-Friendly, Stylish and Pricey article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2011 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

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The Audioengine A5N Speaker System is a high-end music speaker product that allows you to listen to your music from your iPod, MP3 player, Airport Express, LCD TVs, DVD players, PDAs, laptops and more. What’s interesting about this product from an eco perspective is that it uses eco friendly technology, highly sustainable bamboo as part of the material, is completely lead-free, highly energy efficient and packaged in minimal but recyclable packaging.

The Audioengine A5N speaker unit is essentially an audio amplifier with a built-in speaker and sub woofer system. The speakers use bamboo as a raw material to remove the need for slow-growing hardwoods or nasty chemical varnishes and finishes. The acoustic properties of bamboo are being exploited to create a premium quality product that still does it’s bit for the environment too.

The speaker unit can connect to a variety of devices, but is also capable of charging USB-based devices such as the iPod. The kit comes as 2 speakers, where the left speaker has all of the connections and does the amplification for you.

Source: Eco-Digital

Want to buy this gadget? Check out the Bamboo Audioengine A5N iPod Speaker System article on EnviroGadget to see the lowest prices for this gadget.

© 2008 to 2011 EnviroGadget.com. You can now keep up with the latest eco-gadgets on the EnviroGadget Facebook page. Why not help us to spread the word?

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