Green Gifts: Buy batteries that don’t harm the environment
(NC)-If we all did just one little thing for the environment every day, it would surely add up to a very big difference.
How do people in your household, for example, dispose of dead batteries? This powerful and portable little energy source is one of mankind’s most important inventions – and yet our environment is at significant risk if batteries are not discarded properly.
Did you know that more than 15 billion batteries are purchased in North America every year? That means millions and millions of toxic, heavy metal objects are discarded too, most of them tossed into the earth amongst the landfill? Left there, battery components tend to leach, vaporize, and pollute the water, air and land. The simplest solution, researchers say, is to use rechargeable batteries.
Much improved
The newest generation of rechargeable batteries are far better and more reliable than they once were. Sanyo scientists tell us, for example, that the Eneloop battery is a true breakthrough as a renewable energy source. Like regular alkaline batteries, Eneloop is pre-charged and ready to use right out of the package – and equally important, it’s a battery that keeps its charge.
Rechargeables of the past were often undependable and frustrating since the stored power was lost at about 1 per cent, per day. This latest generation however, loses only 15 per cent of its power per year, and that means battery-operated items are now always ready to use.
Sanyo scientists (http://www.sanyo.ca) also point out that this newest kind of battery can be charged 1000 times – and a research trial performed with a digital camera showed that Eneloop was able to produce 4.4 times more pictures than it would have with a dry cell, alkaline battery. Best of all, once the energy is finally depleted, its contents are recyclable.
Making your batteries a renewable resource is just one little thing that could really add up to a very big difference.
Credit: www.newscanada.com