Energy Efficiency & Environmental News: Batteries 1

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1 March 1992 Energy Efficiency & Environmental News: Batteries 1 Florida Energy Extension Service and Helen Helikson Whiffen 2 BATTERIES: POWER TO GO How Many Things Do You Own Which Use Batteries? watch camera flash tape player motorized toy power drill remote control flashlight smoke alarm miniature vacuum calculator pager cordless phone kitchen cordless beater "walkabout" computer games others... Operation Batteries are warehouses of chemical energy. They consist of: two plates of unlike metal, called "electrodes," a chemical (usually an acid) called an "electrolyte," a container which holds it all together. The electrolyte robs one of the metals of negative electrons and the other electrolyte of positive protons. When an energy load is connected between the terminals, an electric current flows. The special thing about rechargeable batteries is that this chemical action can be inverted. This works like a video run in reverse: the various atoms "back up" to their original positions during the recharging process. After recharging, the electrolyte is ready to start robbing electrons and protons again. $ Costs $ All batteries are not equal. Operating a "walkabout" tape player for five hours every week for a year can have a different economic and environmental impact depending upon which battery type is chosen. At a cost 1. This document is the March 1992 issue of Energy Efficiency and Environmental News, the newsletter of the Florida Energy Extension Service, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: March Florida Energy Extension Service, University of Florida, P.O. Box , Gainesville, FL ; Helen Helikson Whiffen, Agricultural Energy Specialist 112 Rogers Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611; (904) ; Suncom ; VAX, GNV::HJH, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL The Florida Energy Extension Service receives funding from the Florida Energy Office, Department of Community Affairs and is operated by the University of Florida s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences through the Cooperative Extension Service. The information contained herein is the product of the Florida Energy Extension Service and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Florida Energy Office.

2 Energy Efficiency & Environmental News: Batteries Page 2 of $0.75 and a life of 14 hours per alkaline battery, $28.50 are spent on 38 AA batteries per year. At a cost of $0.50 and a life of 4.5 hours per carbon zinc (zinc chloride) heavy-duty battery, $58 are spent on 116 AA batteries per year. To compare these costs to AA rechargeable batteries, the purchase price of the batteries and recharger need to be divided into annual costs because both can last for several years. Rechargeable batteries can be recharged 200 or more times, providing more than 900 hours of power. Since the "walkabout" tape player needs 260 hours of energy per year, one year s worth of wear on rechargeables consumes less than 30% or about one dollar s worth of the battery s life. Typically, battery chargers recharge many years worth of batteries. Given a conservative 3-year, solarpowered charger life span, approximately five dollars worth of the charger s life is consumed each year. So then, two AA rechargeable batteries, at $1.00 per year, plus the battery charger, at $5.00 per year equals an annual expense of $7.00. Using rechargeables in one "walkabout" tape player, instead of alkalines or heavy duty batteries, can save $20 to $50 (Table 1). It doesn t take many battery-powered items to push this annual savings into the hundreds of dollars. Environmental Impact Batteries are wonders of convenience: transportable energy. They are also mobile environmental concerns. Batteries contain toxic heavy metals like cadmium and mercury which, if landfilled, can leach into the ground water or, if incinerated, can contribute toxic material to the air and incinerator ash. If alkaline batteries are used to power the "walkabout" tape player, 38 AA batteries are thrown away every year. If heavy duty batteries are used, 116 cells are thrown away. If rechargeable batteries are used, less than one battery is thrown away (Table 1). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that batteries accounted for approximately 50% of the 1800 tons of cadmium that entered the waste stream in In 1983, 753 tons of mercury were used in U.S. production of household batteries. Fortunately, battery mercury content is on the down turn. The U.S. battery industry estimated that it used about 130 tons of mercury 1 in 1989, an 80% decrease in six years. Several battery collection programs exist in the United States (New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Missouri, Washington, Minnesota). In the United States, collected batteries are sent to commercial processing facilities to remove both the valuable and the toxic materials. Used nickel/cadmium rechargeable batteries are marketed to facilities in Europe. Conclusion Batteries are a source of energy for many small appliances that we use daily. But, the fewer batteries in the trash the better it is for the environment. Use rechargeables and get your batteries to a recycling facility. Call your county solid waste recycling coordinator for the location of the nearest recycler. Efforts to promote recycling of batteries are encouraged. References 1. Slightly less than the amount of mercury released directly into the air annually in emissions from exterior paints, which use mercury compounds to control mildew. Facing America s Trash: What Next for Municipal Solid Waste? Congress of the United States Office of Technology Assessment. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC Exploring the World of Electricity, 4-H Education Materials. Batteries: Disposable or Rechargeable? Consumer Reports November 1991, p GRANTS Florida Energy Extension Service Mini-Grant Awards 1992 Six mini-grants have been funded from the 14 proposals submitted in response to the 1992 Florida Energy Extension Service (FEES) Request for Proposals. Project information is listed below. These projects will be completed in September 1992.

3 Energy Efficiency & Environmental News: Batteries Page 3 Table 1. Cost of 2 AA Batteries Used 5 Hours Every Week for One Year. Cost Per Battery Battery Life Annual Cost Cost in Garbage Alkaline $ hours $ batteries Heavy Duty hours batteries Rechargeables 3.00 > 900 hours 7.00 < 1 battery (Charger) ($15.00) Extension materials produced by these projects will be available for state-wide dissemination. Title: Organization of an Energy Program and Development of Bilingual Materials Programming Unit: Pasco County Project Leader and Affiliates: Michael Demaree, Carmen Parrilla, Betsy Crisp Main Goal: Organize an energy education program for Hispanic adults and youth through the development of bilingual materials Deliverables: Factsheets in Spanish concerning driving habits and gas utilization recycling and enviroshopping home energy management techniques energy efficient food preparation Title: Improved Air Conditioning Efficiency Programming Unit: Mechanical Engineering Department - University of Florida Project Leader and Affiliates: D. Yogi Goswami, James Windham, Gursaran Mathur Main Goal: Demonstrate the energy and economic savings of using water to precool the air passing over the air conditioner s condenser coils Deliverables: Factsheet detailing retrofit design and the pay back period of such a system Title: Conserving Energy through Solid Waste Management in the Hotel Industry Programming Unit: Manatee County Project Leader: Brenda Bennett Main Goal: Demonstrate the energy and economic savings of recycling municipal solid waste from hotels and motels; establish a longterm hotel/motel recycling program Deliverables: Slide set documenting the program Factsheet: Recycling Program Establishment Basics Factsheet: The Energy Saving Potential of Recycling Programs Title: Attacking the Energy Costs of Moisture Infiltration in Florida Programming Unit: Home Economics Department - University of Florida Project Leader: Virginia Peart Main Goal: Communicate the energy and economic costs of air infiltration into air conditioned spaces in the summertime in Florida; teach air infiltration prevention measures Deliverables: Three-panel, portable exhibit and factsheet that explain the impact of moisture infiltration on air conditioning energy use and delineate techniques for dealing with the problem

4 Energy Efficiency & Environmental News: Batteries Page 4 Title: The Best of Energy Programming Unit: Center for Environmental Education Project Leader and Affiliates: Nancy Arny, Joseph Hatin Main Goal: Train teachers in the Region II Service Project to understand and use energy education materials developed through this project that show how energy is incorporated in all aspects of our everyday life and the consequences of remaining indifferent to or uninformed about energy Deliverables: Curriculum and teaching workshops Title: 4-H Energy Curriculum Programming Unit: 4-H and Other Youth Programs Department - University of Florida, Santa Rosa County, Levy County Project Leader and Affiliates: Craig Miller, Nancy Arny, Linda Barber, Marilyn Sumner Main Goal: Build, pilot test and disseminate the Energy Component of the Florida 4-H Environmental Education Curriculum Deliverables: 4-H tested and approved Energy and the Environment Educational materials for 4-H clubs, camps and school enrichment programs THE FLORIDA ENERGY EXTENSION SERVICE IS PLEASED TO REPORT That one of our own Jo M. Townsend has won the UF/IFAS Superior Accomplishment Award for Ms. Townsend is an Energy Extension Agent located in Orange County and has been heavily involved with assisting Florida hotels and motels. become more energy efficient and environmentally conscious. Ms. Townsend s career with IFAS Extension has been sterling. During the last year, her program emphasis has been to assist hotels and motels become more energy efficient through the adoption of recycling programs. CONGRATULATIONS, JO Energy Efficient Economical Environmentally Sound SIMPLY SAVING All batteries are not equal. Operating a "walkabout" tape player for five hours every week for a year can have a different economic and environmental impact depending upon which battery type is chosen. Alkaline batteries cost $30 and use 38 batteries; heavy duty batteries cost $60 and use 116 batteries; rechargeable batteries (plus recharger) cost $7 and use 1/3 of the life of two batteries. Batteries are wonders of convenience: transportable energy. They are also mobile environmental concerns. Batteries contain toxic heavy metals like cadmium and mercury. If batteries are landfilled, these toxic chemicals could run into the ground water. If batteries are incinerated, these toxic chemicals could end up in the air. Several battery collection programs exist in the United States. Processing facilities can remove the valuable and the toxic materials. The fewer batteries in the trash the better. Use rechargeables and get your batteries to a recycling facility. Simply Saving is written to be used by Cooperative Extension Service field faculty within their extension education programs as a newspaper or newsletter column. The body of E 2 & E provides more in depth information on the subject. Please forward comments regarding writing style and topic to Helen Helikson Whiten GNV::HJH, or (904)

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