batteries

Ritz Camera Introduces 100% Recyclable Rechargeable Battery

jplatt — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500

Looking for a better rechargeable battery? Ritz Camera has started selling what it calls "the first rechargeable battery that's nearly 100% recyclable and completely non-toxic and non-combustible." It's called the Quantaray Super Z, and it represents a pretty nice step forward in rechargeable technology.

The Quantaray Super Z rechargeable battery, manufactured by PowerGenix, uses a Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) battery chemistry that has already earned certification from both RoHS and Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). NiZn is only the 5th battery chemistry ever to be certified by the RBRC, allowing it to be recycled at more than 50,000 collection sites across the US and Canada (including, not-so-coincidentally, all Ritz Camera stores).

NiZn also packs more energy than Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) or Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries, and provides a longer shelf life for the batteries that use it.

And finally, and perhaps more importantly, the batteries "contain no toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium or mercury and are the most recyclable rechargeable chemistry on the market."

The Super Z's aren't available online yet, but they are for sale at Ritz Camera locations for $14.99 (4-pack) and $49.99 (4-pack plus charger).

Eco-Friendly Batteries?

jplatt — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0500

At last week's Consumer Electronics Show, Fuji announced a new line of disposable batteries that the company says are so eco-friendly, they are "landfill safe."

The Fuji EnviroMAX batteries are free of cadmium, mercury and PVC, three of the chemicals that make other disposable batteries so dangerous when they are disposed of improperly. The batteries are also encased in plastic, not steel, making them, theoretically, more recycleable.

Here are all of Fuji's claims about the EnviroMAX:

Most of the resources used in the Fuji EnviroMAX production process are reused and recycled.
The substances of lead, cadmium and mercury are "totally abolished" in all FDK/Fuji Battery Factories - no matter what the usage.
No ozone depleting compounds are used in Fuji EnviroMAX production.
Fuji EnviroMAX batteries are packaged in recycled paper and recyclable P.E.T. plastic - Not hazardous and non-recyclable PVC plastic.
All Fuji Batteries plants comply with the European Union's RoHS Directives.
Fuji Batteries monitors all of its suppliers for environmental responsibility and requires certification that they do not use hazardous chemicals.

Of course, any battery that you still have to throw away is still less green than a rechargeable battery, so there's no way I can actually recommend this battery, but still, at least Fuji is thinking outside of the box.

Fuji EnviroMAX batteries will be initially available at Big Y stores in central Massachusetts and Shop' n Save in the St. Louis/Missouri areas, or through the Fuji EnviroMAX website.

Six Simple New Years Resolutions for Greener Electronics

jplatt — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:00:36 -0500

Hey, it's a New Year! And with it comes all of those little vows we always make -- lose 5 pounds, call your mom more often, get a promotion ... and live a greener life.

Well, here are five easy (and important) promises you can make to yourself to improve your footprint by greening your electronics and other devices.

1. Ditch the disposable batteries. There's simply no reason to use disposables any more. They only reason they're still for sale everywhere is because so many stores make so much money on them. But every battery that gets thrown out leaches toxic chemicals into the environment. Break the chain. Go completely rechargeable. It's an easy step, and you won't regret it.

2. Go off the grid -- at least a little bit. Rechargeable batteries are great, but they still suck power off the electric grid. Break that chain, too. Buy devices with solar chargers (like flashlights), or pick up a solar charger (such as the fantastic Solio). Leave the solar charger in your window, then use it to power your iPod, cell phone or other portable devices. Instant green karma.

3. Pull the plug. When you're not using your electronic devices, turn them off. Better yet, unplug them or turn off their surge protectors. TVs, DVD players, computers, printers, game consoles and dozens of other devices keep using power even when they're "off." This stand-by mode can account for 10% of your power use. Slash and burn, baby.

4. Be a Star. When buying new electronics or appliances, look for the Energy Star logo. This signifies that you're buying an energy-efficient device, which can save you anywhere from 10-30% on energy usage. A no-brainer.

5. Recycle your old electronics properly. If you're replacing something, or getting rid of something that no longer works, don't just toss it in the trash. Take it to a recycling center where it will be disposed of properly. Electronics contain too many toxic materials for them to be disposed of improperly, so make sure you do the right thing.

6. Finally, fully, break the incandescent chain. I still have two lamps and two outdoor light fixtures that oddly enough won't work with CFL bulbs. It's time to get rid of them. Even though changing the lamps will create some waste, the energy savings from being able to use CFL bulbs will be worth it.

Looking for more specifics on any of the ideas above? Scroll through the Green Tech archives. You'll find plenty of examples and ideas to help you live a greener life.

Happy 2009, my eco-friendly friends!

HP Announces Long-Life Laptop Batteries

jplatt — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:47:28 -0500

HP will soon start offering a new laptop battery that will have a longer lifespan than just about any other laptop battery on the market.

The new Enviro Series batteries, manufactured by Boston-Power, can be recharged up to 1,000 times without degredation. Most rechargeable batteries lost a fraction of their capacity every time they are discharged and recharged. Boston-Power says their new batteries will stay as-new three times longer than other batteries on the market.

The lithium-ion batteries also boast a fast recharge time -- up to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes.

The batteries will be available as an upgrade on new laptops, or separately, starting in early 2009. They'll also come with a three-year warranty.

Now that You've Unwrapped Your Gifts...

jplatt — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Ahhh...Christmas day. The gifts are unwrapped, dinner is in the oven, and the credit card bills are in the mail. What next?

Well, if you bought any electronics this holiday season, there are several things you can do to make this Christmas even greener.

1) Properly recycle your old electronics. Too many old devices end up in the garbage, or are improperly recycled. You don't want your old TV to end up as e-waste in some third-world country do you? Click here to find out more about recycling old TVs, and check the Green Tech archives for info on recycling other devices.

2) Buy recyclable batteries -- or try solar powered chargers. Too many toys and gadgets run on disposable batteries. Break that chain by investing in rechargeable batteries and a plug-in charger -- or try a solar-powered charger to power your cell phones, MP3 players and other small devices.

3) When you're not using your new gadgets, unplug them. A lot of electronics (not all, but more than enough) keep sucking juice out of the wall when they're idle. If you're not using something for a while, unplug it -- especially your gaming platforms. Your savings will vary depending on your gadget, but trust me, they'll add up.

There -- just three little steps and your Christmas gifts will be much greener today and in the new year. So enjoy, and keep thinking green!

The Best Christmas Gift of All: Rechargeable Batteries

jplatt — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0500

Looking through this week's Rite Aid flyer, I was shocked to see not two, not three, but four different listings for disposable batteries -- including one "mega pack" of 16 AAs.

I know it's Christmas time, which means a lot of new toys that run on batteries, but isn't it time we made the switch to rechargeables?

Even better, how about we use this season to help everyone make the switch?

Rechargeable batteries obviously cost more than regular batteries. You need to buy a charger too, so the initial cost can be quite high (higher than a "mega pack," anyway). But the savings really add up in the long-run. Rechargeable batteries have longer life spans than disposables, so they ultimately cost less than having to buy new batteries every few weeks or months.

Disposable batteries are also a terrible pollutant when they aren't recycled properly -- and you can rest assured that most disposable batteries just end up in the trash, where they leach chemicals into the ground and water tables.

So consider this gift for yourself and your loved ones: a battery charger and a few packs of rechargeable batteries. Try to pick a charger that will handle multiple sizes of batteries, as well as the two main kinds of rechargeables, Ni-MH and Li-Ion. Give multiple types of batteries, too -- sizes and kinds, so your recipient can use them in a wide variety of devices.

If we really commit to this, we can totally phase out disposable batteries in a year or two. That's just as easy as our recent change to CFLs.

So give it a shot. Isn't it about time?

Even Rechargeable Batteries Need Recycling -- Do You Know How?

jplatt — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0400

Have you ever used a rechargeable battery so many times it stops holding a charge? It happens. Even the best rechargeable batteries are only good for so many uses. And yes, when they're dead it's time to throw them out -- or turn them in for recycling.

Some communities have programs for recycling batteries, but not everyone knows how to use them, or where to find them. The best way to find the options nearest to you is the Call2Recycle program from the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. By calling 800-8-BATTERY or using their web site, you can find the nearest battery or cellphone recycling program. I found two locations less than a mile from my house, neither of which I knew took batteries for recycling!

The site also contains great tips on getting the most use out of your rechargeable batteries, and a fun guide to finding all of the batteries in your house. (Remember, we're not just talking about AA batteries here, but batteries for laptops, cellphones, power tools, toys and more!).

So give it a try and let's keep those batteries from ending up in a landfill!

Meet Europe's Top Cleantech Companies

jplatt — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0400

You may not have heard of companies like Odersun, CamSemi, Atraverda and Pelikon, but chances are you will in the days to come. These four companies and 96 others were named to The Guardian and Library Houses's CleanTech 100, listing the best European companies involved in clean technology.

The firms run the gamut of green technologies. Some are involved in solar, wind or tidal power. Others are developing efficient power systems for a variety of devices. Some are trying to turn waste into energy. And that's just scratching the surface.

About half of these companies' products are either in development or beta testing. The rest are already on the market.

To get on this list, the companies faced a pretty tough selection process. Ranking factors included companies' capital history, positive media stories about them, the size of their management team, and independent analysis to make sure that the technologies the companies were developing was actually credible. (In other words, no vaporware allowed.)

The companies were also asked about their environmental vision, what they saw as the size of the market for their products, and the impact they expected their technology to have on the world.

Give the list and the accompanying articles a read. They give me hope about the technologies we'll be seeing in the next few years.

AAA Great Battery Round-Up

khallgeisler — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Remember that car that had so many battery problems you finally donated it to charity rather than fix the junker? Of course you do. There's a stack of batteries in the corner of the garage serving as a testament to that crappy car. Rid yourself of the physical and mental anguish caused by cobwebbed, old batteries crouching in the dark by recycling them, with help from AAA.

The AAA Great Battery Round-Up happens each year near Earth Day, which falls on April 22. The auto club estimates that over five million used lead-acid car, truck, boat, and motorcycle batteries are wasting away in workshops across America rather than being taken in to be recycled, despite the fact that many states have laws requiring batteries to be recycled. Some states even ask that you bring in the old battery or pay a deposit when you buy a new one.

AAA warns that those long-ignored batteries could be leaking acid, which is harmful to pets, children, and the environment in general. And for the love of Al Gore, don't throw those things in the dumpster -- not even the one at the apartment complex down the street. There's 21 pounds of lead in there, along with a gallon of sulfuric acid. Yikes. Not to worry: a surprising (to me) 97% of the lead in these batteries can be used in new batteries; the acid can be recycled, neutralized, or converted into a product useful in fertilizers and dyes.

In most places, the Battery Round-Up will take place over several days, maybe even a couple weeks. For exact dates in your area, check with your local AAA or CAA (that's the Canadian version; they're down with it, too).

Teensy Tara Tiny Takes Title

khallgeisler — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:10:10 -0400

Earlier this year, Tata announced the Nano, the tiny little Indian car that sells for a whopping 100,000 rupees -- about $2,500 US. Not to be outdone, Tara introduced its own little Indian-market car, the aptly named Tiny, which will carry a price tag of 99,999 rupees -- about $2,500 US. (There has been a more recent blogosphere rumor that the Tiny might sell for 99,000 rupees, or $2,450.)

Both models have four seats crammed inside, but the bean-shaped Tara will be an EV, where the Nano runs on gasoline. Tara International, which is a subsidiary of the nearly 90-year-old Bengal Enamel company, says the Tiny can do 70 km/h (44 mph) and will go 100 km on a charge (62 miles). It doesn't make highway speeds, but it goes farther on a full battery than the average American driver covers in a day.

The Tiny is expected to be available in India in 4-5 months, with components from China's EV specialist company Aucma. The company reportedly has three more small EV models to come, the Titu, Micro, and Mini. They even have plans for buses, which I hope will have names like Large and Ginormous.

Photo by Steffe.