Have you thrown away a laptop recently? The old battery could be used to power slums in developing countries! Read more here: http://www.eatsleepdigitals.com/old-laptop-batteries-could-power-slums

2. A study has been conducted by IBM and found from a sample
of discarded batteries 70% still had enough power left to keep
an LED light on for more than 4 hours a day for a year.
The study’s researchers have said using discarded batteries is
a cheaper alternative to existing power options. It also helps
combat the ever-increasing electrical waste problem.
What’s this all about?

3. The study
The study involving old laptop batteries was trialled in
Bangalore, India, this year by IBM’s research team.
The batteries were used as adapted power packs and could be
used by the estimated 400 million people are off the electric
grid, including families living in slums and street vendors.
The IBM team created UrJars – devices that use lithium-ion
cells from old batteries to power low energy DC devices.

4. The cost of technology
Using a renewed power source from the batteries is a
considerably cheaper than other energy alternatives, such as
solar power.
If an UrJar was to last an entire year as predicted and is made
in large volume, researchers estimate it would cost just 600
rupees (£7) per unit.

5. The problem of e-waste
Electrical waste is becoming a major problem in developing
countries, where unwanted technology from across the world
usually ends up.
IBM estimate 142,000 computers are discarded daily in the
USA - which is around 50 million per year!

6. So what now?
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below!
Old laptop batteries could power slums