Save The Environment, Save Money!
Wander what you can do to help save the environment? One way to help reduce the damages we human are doing to the environment is to use rechargeable batteries. Using rechargeable batteries not only help reduce landfill, it also saves you money. How does using rechargeable battery help save the environment?
Typically, a quality rechargeable battery can be recharged for approximately between 500 ~ 1,000 times depending on the quality of the chemical & material used to make the battery, the charger, and the usage. So assuming you can only recharge 500 times, for each rechargeable battery you use, you avoid putting 499 batteries in the landfill in the future!
Is reducing landfill not a big deal to you?
How does saving $1,000s' in your wallet instead of dump it in the landfill sound to you? Rechargeable battery can save you quite a bit of money. Based on the same assumption that 1 rechargeable battery can be recharged 500 time. And assuming a disposable battery cost $.50 cents, one rechargeable battery is equal to $250 (500 x $.50)!!!!! And how much does a quality rechargeable battery cost? $1.50. And assuming it cost a total of $10 to recharge the 500 times. That's a total cost of $11.50. That's a saving of $238.50 saving just for using one rechargeable battery! How many batteries do you constantly using in your home and work? Do your math.
"Inconvenient To Use Rechargeables?" Not Anymore!
Back in the old days, The most common is the Ni-MH or Nickel Metal Hydrate battery. The 1st generation of Ni-MH batteries has one major downfall: High Self-Discharge Rate - this means that after the batteries have been fully charged, the electricity will be drained by itself through time even if you don't use it.
Typically, the 1st generation of Ni-MH battery will be fully self-discharged in less than 6 months. And it some cases, even render unusable after a couple of weeks if you use them for high power applications such as digital cameras. Usually, the 1st generation of Ni-MH battery must be recharged right before the day you need them.
Recent advancement in Ni-MH battery technology made it more convenient to use rechargeable battery. The new 2nd generation of Ni-MH battery will retain 90% of it's charge after 6 months of storage and 85% after 1 year!!! This new development make it suitable for just about any applications including those require slow drain and long applications such as clock, remote control, thermostat memory back-up... etc. Basically, you can charge, store, and then use them when you need them just like disposable batteries.
Muscle Battery!!!
Not only rechargeable batteries help save the environment and money, the Ni-MH rechargeables are also more powerful than disposable alkaline batteries. A typical set of disposable alkaline batteries would last about 20 shots on a digital camera. A set of typical Ni-MH rechargeable battery will easily averages 50 shots or more!
Usage Strategy
Here is a simple strategy to using this new 2nd generation of Ni-MH rechargeable batteries:
1. Find out how many batteries you need simultaneously.
2. Find out what's the maximum number of batteries you need for one device.
3. Add the max. number of batteries you need for that one device to the number of batteries you need simultaneously. This will yield the number of batteries you need to buy to start using rechargeable batteries.
4. To make sure you have enough batteries to go around, you can multiply your answer in Step #2 when calculating Step #3.
5. For professional applications, multiply what you get in Step #2 by the number of times(sets) you need to changeover. Then add Step #4.
This simple strategy should help you start using rechargeable batteries.
"How Do I Identify The 2nd Generation Ni-MH Batteries?"
It's simple. Typically, on the packaging will say something about "Ready to Use". And also it may say "Low Self-Discharge Rate".
"Who Makes The New 2nd Generation Ni-MH Batteries?"
So far, Sanyo makes one called "Eneloop". Sony also has them too(I don't remember how Sony call theirs). Maha Energy's Imedion is another 2nd generation rechargeable Ni-MH battery. Another company offering this 2nd generation Ni-MH battery is Uniross' Hybrio.
Good Deal!
One good deal I found is from Costco Wholesale. If you have access to Costco, they sells a very nice Sanyo Eneloop kit that comes with 8 - AA size 2,000 mAh, 4 - AAA size 850 mAh, 2 D-size adapter, 2 C-size adapter, 4-cell charger, and a nice storage case for about $27 dollars!
So what are you waiting for? What's better than being able to save thousands and help fight the global warming? 