Green Your Gadgets -- Batteries 101

Last week, congressional watchdog agency GAO published a report on high-tech toxic trash exports and Greenpeace released its ninth annual Guide to Greener Electronics. This week's tips cover ways to keep consumer electronics from harming human health and the environment.

Tip #2: Extend battery life

Later this week, European Union officials will begin enforcing new restrictions on rechargeable batteries--a move that the research firm Cleantech Group reports could nudge the market away from toxic components and non-replaceable, built-in batteries. In the meantime, Americans still buy more than 350 million of the pricey, heavy metal-packed capsules every year. With smart maintenance practices, they can be replaced less frequently. For example, lithium-ion batteries, one of the most common types used in laptops and mobile devices, last longer when kept from running below a 40-percent charge. If you have an iPod, you'll get the most bang for your battery buck (make that bucks--at least 49 of them for a replacement battery) if you take it out of the case before charging. Carrying cases can trap heat and compromise battery capacity--making you plug in more frequently and burn through the battery's limited number of charges sooner. For any device, it's a good idea to keep batteries away from extreme temperatures, allow plenty of circulation, shut off juice-draining non-essential functions, and use a low-power mode whenever possible.

Comments

[Lerin]

That seems to contradict itself. Charge batteries more frequently to make them last longer, but use up the finite number of times you can charge them more quickly?

[Phil Shanholtzer]

OK, what about battery disposal? What's the best way to throw away used batteries -- either the long-term rechargeables that come with IPods and cell phones, the "button" types or the "flashlight batteries" you buy at the supermarket?

[Rusty West]

Purchasing high quality rechargeable batteries that have the longest life also seems like a smart way to go. I've had to replace various brands over the years as they just don't hang on to the charge like they used to. However, recently I was convinced to try Rayovac Hybrid 2100NiMH AA batteries for my camera. These seem to have a very good quality in holding on to its charge when in the camera & not being used. Don't know what they've done, but something different inside them I am told that prevents this "discharge when not in use" factor. Feedback?

[Energy Saving Secrets]

Here are some helpful hints to save energy at home.

10 Easy Steps To Save Money On your Energy Bill

Here are 10 easy steps that you can take right now to save money on your energy bills each month:

1. Move furniture away from heating vents and hot and cold air returns. This ends up blocking the return and causes the room to stay cool or hot. You furniture should be kept away from these returns to get the most use of the energy and save on energy costs.

2. Change your furnace filter. When was the last time you did this? If you change it every month, you will have a more efficient furnace that not only acts as a heater but also generates the air through the ducts for the air conditioner as well.

3. Switch to energy saving light bulbs. As each bulb runs out, change it with an energy saver. You will soon find you are saving energy and buying less light bulbs.

4. Fix leaky faucets. They waste gallons of water. Remove the handle, tighten it with a wrench and chances are you will have fixed the faucet. If not, you can easily install a new faucet which costs under $30 at most home improvement stores.

5. Install a hand held shower head. This will make taking a shower a breeze and cleaning the shower even easier.

6. Fix all windows with cracks. If you have storms with cracks, have them replaced. They are energy wasters. Do this before the cold air sets in and you will save money on your heating bill. Storm windows are easy to replace and can be taken to a glass shop and re-glazed.

7. Install weather stripping on doors and windows. If you are ready to winterize your house for the cold weather, or even if you just want to save on the air conditioning costs as your cool air is escaping all of the time, then use weather stripping, which is easy to get at a home improvement store, to better insulate your windows and doors.

8. Clean the lint trap in your dryer every day. Each time you use the dryer, clean the lint trap. This will not only make the clothes dryer run more efficiently and save you money on energy costs, but will eliminate a potential fire hazard. The dryer has a vent that goes outside as well that should be vacuumed out periodically

9. Never run your dishwasher or clothes washer half full. It costs just as much to run a full washer as it does one that is partially loaded. And while you are at it, rinse those dishes before putting them in he dishwasher as it will make them cleaner and save on your energy costs.

10. Partially cook your foods in the microwave and use it for defrosting foods before adding them to the oven or stove. The microwave not only works quicker, but will end up using less energy. You can save energy when cooking by defrosting your foods that can be defrosted before cooking by using the microwave.

[Pluto Boy]

I also have noticed a big difference in using those Rayovac Hybrid batteries for my digital camera. (See comment above.) I was using any old Nickel-Metal Hydride battery, didn't notice any difference between brands, and somehow started using the Rayovac ones. The ability to hold a charge was very noticeable.

[misha]

I have not heard that it's better on battery life to not use the battery below 40%! Is this a mistake? The article that this blog links to on microsoft.com ("shut off juice-draining non-essential functions") says that batteries prefer to be used till "dead". That's what I've heard before. Can you confirm this one? Recharging at 40% is a different habit :).

[darkmoonman]

So lithium batteries are to be treated the opposite of ni-cads? Rechared when only half drained?

[austin]

In response to the first comment: batteries have a finite number of full charges. In other words, charging your battery twice at 50 percent is theoretically equivalent to charging it once from 0%. Theoretically.

[David Gunnells]

Here is the summary of the article "How to prolong lithium-ion batteries":

- Avoid frequent full discharges because this puts additional strain on the battery. Several partial discharges with frequent recharges are better for lithium-ion than one deep one. Recharging a partially charged lithium-ion does not cause harm because there is no memory. (In this respect, lithium-ion differs from nickel-based batteries.) Short battery life in a laptop is mainly cause by heat rather than charge / discharge patterns.

- Batteries with fuel gauge (laptops) should be calibrated by applying a deliberate full discharge once every 30 charges. Running the pack down in the equipment does this. If ignored, the fuel gauge will become increasingly less accurate and in some cases cut off the device prematurely.

- Keep the lithium-ion battery cool. Avoid a hot car. For prolonged storage, keep the battery at a 40% charge level.

- Consider removing the battery from a laptop when running on fixed power. (Some laptop manufacturers are concerned about dust and moisture accumulating inside the battery casing.)

- Avoid purchasing spare lithium-ion batteries for later use. Observe manufacturing dates. Do not buy old stock, even if sold at clearance prices.

- If you have a spare lithium-ion battery, use one to the fullest and keep the other cool by placing it in the refrigerator. Do not freeze the battery. For best results, store the battery at 40% state-of-charge.

[jo]

On the dishwasher thing... how can rinsing the dish first save more energy for the dishwasher? If you run a half load a full load an empty load or an extra dirty load it's all the same to the machine..

[jo]

On the dishwasher thing... how can rinsing the dish first save more energy for the dishwasher? If you run a half load a full load an empty load or an extra dirty load it's all the same to the machine..

[Lynn Mobley]

Newer dishwashers are very effective at removing even hardened food, though solids should be scraped off. Washing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher costs a lot of hot water! A full dishwasher is the most important part of the equation. That, and non-heated drying...

[Linda]

rinsing dishes before washing allows you to use a shorter cycle in your dishwasher and does not have to use excess water.

Scrape/rinse in a half sink of water to remove food particles and excess grease .... drain through the disposal after all dishes are done.

Saves electricity/energy with less or about the same water usage.

[desertmac]

A couple of tips I heard years ago that I've used ever since: turn off the faucet while you shave, turn off while you soap up in the shower. You would be amazed at how much you've wasted if you diverted that running water and saw it collected in buckets, then think about how much it would be if you added it up over time. Same with doing dishes by hand: turn off the faucet until you rinse.

Set your lawn sprinklers and watch them through an entire cycle to see if too much is just running off into the gutters, then adjust the time down and fix or replace any poorly aimed sprinkler heads.

[yogabee]

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth, as well.

If you live in the Northeast, only water your flower and vegetable beds, if needed, not your lawn. Grass always comes back bright green with the rains and cooler temperatures of autumn.

[Marylynn]

Not a great idea to recommend using a microwave as it kills the nutrients in food. Do any research on google and may want to get rid of your microwave altogether.

[Craig2020]

Marylynn,
See the URL below for the straight scoop on microwaves and nutrients

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/17/
health/17real.html

[home improvement tips]

i am not sure what to think about this.

[Laptop Carrying Cases]

I did the raw food diet for a while and you are def not supposed to cook any vegetables over 115 Degrees because it kills off the enzymes in the food that help you digest. So microsaves are def out of the question