Every little bit counts in green tech: Some data about notebook battery habits

The numbers may be sort of self-serving (then again what research isn't these days), but they are also compelling.

Boston-Power, which has come up with technology that extends the life of notebook computer batteries while making them faster to charge, has disclosed the findings of a Harris Interactive poll that finds slightly more than a third of notebook computers would be will to pay more for batteries that are better for the environment. Of course, a larger number of them (54 percent) say they would pay more for a battery that charged more quickly, proving yet again that consumers are more interested in convenience than in environmental issues.

Some good news: notebook owners were more likely to exchange or recycle an old notebook battery than to throw it out. Approximately 25 percent of them had used one of these methods, compared with just 4 percent who had tossed an old battery into the trash.

The press release with more results can be found at this link. For perspective, the Harris Interactive online poll covered 2,336 U.S. adults over the age of 18 who owned a laptop computer.