rechargeable

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).

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!

New Rechargeable Battery Plugs Into Your Computer

jplatt — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Have you already made the switch to recycleable batteries? Good, we knew that you did. We were just checking.

But here's another question: are you getting tired of carrying a battery charger with you when you travel, or searching for your charger when you need it every few months?

Moixa Energy has a solution. Their new USBCELL rechargeable batteries come with what you might call a pop top -- one end of the battery swivels off to reveal a USB plug. Just hook it into any USB port on a PC or laptop and your computer does the work of recharging the battery!

According to a recent article at GreentechMedia, there is a small cost to pay for this convenience: the USB plug takes up space that would normally hold power. As a result, the USBCELL holds 1300-1500 milliamp hours, as opposed to the 2500 in a regular nickel metal hydride battery.

Oh, one other possible inconvenience: USBCELL comes with a bit of software that could, depending on how it is configured by the manufacturer, pop up ads or energy-saving tips on your PC every time you plug the battery in.

So far, Moixa's batteries are only available in AA size. They ship from the UK, and run £10.99 for a set of 2 batteries (with delivery, that translates to $20). You can also get a "gift set" of 20 batteries for about $165.