Batteries Not Included – A Green Gift Opportunity

While , giving a sustainable present may not work for everyone on your list. To green the gadgets and gizmos under the tree, consider what type of power they will run on.

Battery-free Options

For kids, imagination-powered toys often become favorites. Half the fun comes from making the stuffed animal talk, the truck siren wail, the plane fly overhead – without a single battery.  If you’re short on ideas, a quick stop at a locally-owned toy store (such as Cheeky Monkey in Menlo Park, Talbots in San Mateo, orin San Bruno) will refresh your gift-giving imagination.

Similarly, wind-ups don't need a plug nearby – they work while camping, in the tub, in the backseat of the car, or at a picnic table. Even jaded adults can appreciate manually-powered devices under the right circumstances, such as a hand-cranked radio and flashlight in the emergency kit.

Solar-powered gadgets for the young and old alike provide a practical reminder of how accessible renewable energy can be. From a tiny strip of solar cells on a calculator to a elegant watch to a back-pack that lets you charge up your gizmos while it sits in the sun, running battery-free provides a great second benefit to the item’s main function.

Rechargeables to the Rescue

But what about all those gifts that came “batteries not included”? Now your friends and family will have to chew through packs of AA's and AAA's to enjoy them – unless they use rechargeable batteries instead!

Most of us use rechargeables every day without even thinking about it. They're in our cell phones, MP3 players, cordless power tools, hybrid cars, laptops, and more. But we don't often think to go out and buy a pack of them to run our other devices. For one thing, the price seems a little steep – $10 to $15 dollar for a four-pack, on average. And what about odd sizes, like C and D? Not to mention needing a charger.

Some brands offer a complete starter kit, with a set of AA's and AAA's, a charging unit, and blanks for C and D sizes (AA's go inside them) - for only a few dollars more than the batteries alone. Depending on the type, they can last from 500 uses to 1,500, quickly saving money over the single-use version.

On the Peninsula, rechargeables and some kits can be found at a range of local shops, from drugstores to electronics and big box stores - even some grocery stores. Like their single-use counterparts, rechargeable batteries can't be put in the trash. But when they do eventually wear out, almost all retailers who sell them will take them back for recycling, for free.

Rechargeables may not be on everyone's wish list; but thanks to the convenience and savings they offer, they'll make the wish-I-had-it-sooner list.

About this column: A biweekly exploration into all things green on the Peninsula.Related Topics: Environment, green gifts, and rechargeable batteriesHave you got a great green gift idea? Tell us about it!