| In this article we provide a brief background on | | | | use battery charging systems in American homes and |
| batteries and battery chargers to introduce you to the | | | | businesses. Energy Star promotes energy-efficient |
| more recent and environmentally friendly technology | | | | battery chargers and estimates that Americans could |
| associated with solar battery chargers. We also | | | | save over 1,000,000,000 kilowatt hours of energy per |
| provide examples of different battery chargers that | | | | year if they used more efficient chargers. |
| use solar energy. | | | | Promoters of solar chargers point out that even more |
| Batteries were invented around 1800. A battery | | | | energy can be saved if the sun's power is harnessed |
| combines one or more electrochemical cells which | | | | to recharge batteries: battery chargers can also use |
| store energy. This energy can then be changed into | | | | solar energy to force an electric current into the |
| kinetic energy in order to create electricity. Batteries | | | | battery. As the market for solar products have grown, |
| have become so ubiquitous that we rarely think about | | | | we have seen corresponding growth in the solar |
| how central they are to daily life. We use batteries in | | | | battery charger market. |
| flashlights, watches, cameras, laptop computers etc. | | | | Following are some examples of different chargers |
| Batteries can be found in the home and in business. | | | | that use solar energy: |
| Makers of batteries include Energizer and Duracell and | | | | · Solar digital camera battery chargers. While |
| the battery industry generates billions of dollars in | | | | camera manufacturers may not sell OEM solar |
| revenue. | | | | chargers, you can purchase third-party chargers for |
| Unfortunately, until the late 20th century batteries were | | | | brands such as Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sharp, and |
| disposable and sat in landfills where they leaked toxic | | | | Sony. When shopping for a solar charger for your |
| chemicals. In order to alleviate environmental harm and | | | | camera, check to see how many volts your camera |
| to reduce the cost of purchasing single use batteries, | | | | battery is. Then you can order a corresponding solar |
| battery chargers came to market. | | | | panel to charge it. Prices for a battery charger for a |
| Battery chargers put energy into a rechargeable | | | | Sony digital camera range from approximately $140 to |
| battery by transferring a current through it. The | | | | approximately $250. |
| current's charge varies depending upon the technology | | | | · Solar chargers for cell phones and iPods. You |
| and size of the battery. For example, we use different | | | | can keep small devices such as a PDA, iPod, or cell |
| rechargeable batteries and chargers for laptops than | | | | phone running with a solar charger. Solio makes a |
| we do for golf carts. Because of the widespread use | | | | pocket-sized charger that can charge the Apple iPod, |
| of nickel cadmium high-power batteries that power | | | | iPod mini, iPod nano and PDAs. Prices start at |
| electronics such as digital cameras, battery chargers | | | | approximately $100. |
| have become more popular; they can now be found in | | | | · Other products that use solar chargers |
| almost any electronics store. The demand for | | | | include photovoltaic backpacks, hearing aid batteries, |
| chargers has even has stores such as CVS, Target, | | | | and laptops. |
| and Wal-Mart selling them. | | | | If you are committed to reducing your carbon footprint, |
| According to Energy Star, a government program that | | | | then invest in a solar battery charger for electronic |
| promotes energy efficiency, about 230 million products | | | | devices that you use all the time. |