Showing posts with label batteries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label batteries. Show all posts

Wednesday, 3 September 2008

LED Night Lights

Kids and adults alike often leave lights on at night, I know I have on many occasions left lights on when I shouldn't, even with CFL bulbs, they still use a tiny bit of energy. However an alternative to this problem is a Light Emitting Diode based night light. LED bulbs are the technology to supersede CFL bulbs, as they last over ten times longer and use as little as a twentieth of energy CFLs use, the only drawback is currently cost and fittings. However they are getting cheaper every single day.

On my visit to IKEA the other day I picked up two night lights, the first an Osram LED plug-in night light which at 0.4W, uses just over 4% of the energy required for a 9W CFL bulb, this is perfect for in the hallway to illuminate it at night. Only £3 with the IKEA Family Card.

The other is a child's portable nightlight called Spoka, design by Bodrul Khalique which makes use of rechargeable batteries and LEDs, priced at £8. You push the head to switch on the light, it's exceptionally red glow does provide reasonable light (if not "makes it look like a window in Amsterdam", my mother's comment, then asks can she have one) and of course you can carry it with you round the house. I have noticed that since using it oppose to normal lights has improved my sleeping pattern, dramatically. A cute alternative to a lamp.

And ... Don't forget just take your old IKEA electronics back to store to be recycled.


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Monday, 20 August 2007

Picture: Sony Bio Battery

The 50 mW bio battery by Sony is powerful enough to charge a MP3 player and speakers. The bio battery casing is made of a vegetable-based plastic. It measures 3.9 cm (1.5 inch) along each edge and works by pouring sugar solution into the unit, where enzymes break it down to generate electricity. The company said it aims to produce the batteries for commercial use, without specifying when.

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