The Green, Green World of the Rechargeable Battery

We rely on electrical appliances every day, and throwing conventional batteries away is not only costly, it''s also damaging to the environment. The rechargeable variety is far superior, and can be used to power all kinds of devices.

Electrical items, like anything else, will only perform at their very best if they contain the finest components in full working order. There''s no point using a top-of-the-range laptop computer, for example, if the processor inside it is obsolete and slow. Similarly, playing old, scratchy videotapes or DVDs on a state-of-the-art, high-definition television won''t make the picture quality any better.

On many appliances, the heart of the unit is the battery. The level of performance will be dictated by its strength or
weakness, with the end result totally reliant on its function. If it''s low in charge, the device will simply be unable to live up to the expected standard. Everything from cars to toothbrushes can depend on this simple, but vital, collection of
electrochemical cells.

In a camera, for example, a fully charged battery will happily allow the taking of snap after snap with ease. Even with the use of a flash, it will continue to work for a remarkably long time. However, when it starts to wane, the unit will be far slower, and can even grind to a halt, leaving the photographer frustrated, angry and missing out on some great shots.

More and more people are turning to a credible, and easily available, alternative. The humble rechargeable battery removes the worries about whether or not there''s enough power. Regular insertion into a charger will restore its performance in a short space of time, ensuring the device can operate at an acceptable level. For cameras, laptops, portable music players and almost any electrical appliance, they''re a modern miracle.

The modern battery as we know it today owes its development to Italian physicist Alessandro Volta. Over 200 years ago his arrangement of Galvinic cells, which he called a Voltaic pile, laid the foundations for the modern unit we know, love and rely on to this day. It''s now available in a vast range of sizes, shapes and applications, but the basic principles are the same.

Buying replacement batteries can be expensive, especially for devices that are used on a regular basis. It can cost a small fortune to buy them for any appliances, although it''s really not necessary. If you think about the mobile phone, it''s something that we charge up almost daily. The prospect of having to purchase batteries each time it was low on power, is an unthinkable one.

And there''s an environmental issue here, too. Spent batteries are particularly damaging, and wrongful disposal is rightly frowned upon. They contain harmful chemicals and are totally non-biodegradable, so great care needs to be taken when throwing them away. You should contact an authorised specialist on every occasion.

The rechargeable battery has come into its own in recent years, and will undoubtedly go from strength to strength in the future. It''s cheaper, more practical and more environmentally friendly.

The rechargeable battery is the way forward; it''s far less expensive and substantially greener than the conventional variety.