Rechargeable Batteries Save Money. Or Maybe They Don’t

It’s easy to be green when you’re saving money at the same time. Eschewing bottled water for tap, recycling household items for cash, and turning off the water while brushing your teeth are no-brainer, no-hassle ways to help Mother Nature, not to mention your bank account. But what’s up with rechargeable batteries and other environmentally conscious yet pricey practices?

The hefty upfront costs of hybrid cars or solar panels can be intimidating, as the Washington Post points out. We all know they’re good for the environment, but it’s hard to tell if or when such investments make financial sense.

On a smaller expenditure scale, you’ve got rechargeable batteries. Is it worth switching all of your electronics over? The assumption is that it’ll save you from having to buy new batteries all the time, thereby saving you some cash. But don’t put them on your shopping list just yet.

A neat, comprehensive and extremely detailed blog post making the case that rechargeable batteries are, in fact, rarely cost-effective.

Done Deal: CBS Gives Green Light to Sitcom Based on Groupon

Daily deal giant Groupon is known for its peculiar sense of humor. There was the time the site “bought” April Fool’s Day. The introduction of marketing gimmicks like the creepy virtual discount wheel called “Clicky” can only be attributed to some offbeat sense of what’s amusing. And of course, from the beginning, subscribers have been reading Groupon’s trademark absurdist, careful-not-to-offend descriptions for deals arriving in their in-boxes. The fact that there’s a network sitcom in the works featuring Groupon is apparently no joke, however.

You’ll Be Able to Buy ‘Waterproof Sunblock’ This Summer, Even Though There’s No Such Thing

Last summer, the FDA announced new regulations affecting how sunscreens are marketed. Accordingly, sunscreen labels will no longer be allowed to feature the words “waterproof,” “sweatproof,” and “sunblock”—because no sunscreen is truly waterproof or sweatproof, and no lotion completely blocks the sun’s harmful rays. Originally, the changes were set to take effect this June. Now, though, it’s OK for stores to sell products making these dubious claims on through the hot months ahead.

ryanluckey

I appreciate your attempt at taking a realistic look at these new alternatives, but there are several things missing. But your fleeting mention of solar panels caught my eye…..
First, it differes dramatically from state to state to what extent ‘green’ alternatives are affordable. For example, in California, my family has a rooftop of solar panels AND an electric car, both of which have essentially paid themselves off after several years. We now enjoy a yearly electricity bill of $0, which includes charging our electric car up to 100 miles a day!
We received subsidies for both, but even still these products would have by now paid for themselves in the long run. Therefore, one needs to see this as an investment in our environment and in our bank account, and not as a short term loss OR gain. Solar panels are actually considerably cheaper than they were in the 90′s, and so it should be even easier these days….
Concerning batteries, I also have had success with reusable batteries……PEACE ryan
http://lenpenzo.com/blog/id769-black-coffee-my-favorite-blogs-money-news-opinions-17.html Black Coffee: My Favorite Blogs, Money News & Opinions #17

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