Going Green #1

After my girlfriend bought a few of these batteries for her travels, I just needed to get them.

What's my obsession with these white batteries?

This is the Sanyo eneloop. It is a Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) based battery and boy has rechargeable batteries have come a long way. Rechargeable batteries seemed like an expensive alternative to powering any application. With the "Power Pack" from Costco, 8 AA, 4 AAA, 2 C adapter, 2 D adapter, a 4 battery charger and a case is a mere $25 plus tax. ($35 plus shipping on Amazon for those without a Costco membership)

Not only is the price great for rechargeable batteries, these batteries are green. Let me explain.

1) With the great capacity of Ni-MH batteries, these batteries last 4 times the amount of normal Duracell or Energizer alkaline batteries.

2) enloop batteries retain their charge very well. Sanyo says 85% of the charge will still be left on a fully charged battery after a year. Older rechargeable batteries run out of charge by then.

3) These batteries are usable up to 1000 times (meaning 1000 discharge and charge cycles)


What does all this mean? It means green for you and a greener environment:

1) Reduced battery waste
2) Improved charge holding reduces wasted electricity
3) No need for trucks to carry batteries from factory to your local store
4) No need for YOUR car to carry YOU to the grocery store to buy batteries
5) Solar powered chargers available for virtually free electricity


So the next time your wireless mouse runs out of battery, pick up one of Sanyo's eneloop rechargeable batteries to power it. There will be no need to buy anything else, until you use up that 1000 charge/discharge cycle.

Or of course, when we can start controlling computers with our mind.


*This is the first of many to come of my "Going Green" section of my blog where I try to reduce waste and reduce environmentally unfriendly byproducts.