Tip #73 Switching To Rechargeable Batteries

If you’re like most people living in today’s modern world, you take batteries for granted. But without batteries, you couldn’t talk on your cell phone, work on your laptop, drive your car, use a flashlight or take pictures with your camera. Modern medical devices, earring aids, smoke alarms, wireless electronics and plenty of other devices wouldn’t work without the battery.

Good quality batteries and chargers are not cheap. However, when you weigh up the cost of going through disposable batteries which are replaced every day, it makes more economical sense to have one product that you can use again and again. The key to rechargeable batteries is being organised, having a system and knowing which batteries need charging and which are ready to use.

Did you know that over 20,000 tonnes of batteries are sent to landfill site in the UK each year? It takes 50 times more energy to make a battery than it gives during its life (source).

Tips for using rechargeable batteries:
- Invest in a good charger to prolong the life of your rechargeable batteries. They should continue to hold a charge up to between 500 and 800 charge cycles.
- Promptly remove batteries from the charger once they’re finished recharging. (This isn’t a concern if the charger automatically shuts off once charging is complete.)
- Keep a few regular batteries on hand as spares you can swap out if your rechargeable batteries run out of juice and need time to recharge.
- Recycle your rechargeable batteries – as opposed to throwing them in the trash – once they lose their ability to hold a charge. (source)

Even though luckily there are more and more devices around that don't require buying new batteries, but instead, have their own within the device. But if you have any products that use (especially AA) batteries, it's always good to consider opting out for rechargeable ones.