USBCELL is a revolutionary award-winning new rechargeable AA battery. As the name suggests these new eco-friendly batteries can be recharged via any USB port.

USBCELL can be used in any device that requires AA batteries. Simply open the cap at the positive end to reveal the connector and plug them into any spare USB slot on your PC, laptop, monitor or even an XBOX or PS3. They even have an LED light that indicates when they are fully charged.

These USB batteries are extremely handy and in the long run will save you lots of money. They are also great for the environment as they will save energy by not needing a charging cradle plugged into the wall and will help to reduce the number of alkaline batteries that are disposed of incorrectly each year.

Eco-friendly USBCELL Battery won the 2007 National Energy Efficiency Awards for consumer products.

A pair of USB AA rechargeable batteries can be purchased from Nigel’s Eco Store for just £10.99.

Buy USBCELL batteries here

According to environmental organisation, the Green Alliance cheap energy from waste could help the UK meet nearly half its renewable energy targets by 2020.

A spokeswoman for the group said that creating alternative energy from the UK’s waste could be a great way to produce more renewable energy. She added that using Nritain’s waste for energy would only come after the right levels of waste reuse, recycling and prevention have been done.

However residual waste should not be seen as a given and lots more effort should still be made to reduce landfill levels in the UK.

This latest news follows last months announcement by the government about the introduction of the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC EES). This scheme will see organisations play an important role in helping to cut the UK’s carbon emissions. The aim of the CRC EES is to see businesses improve their energy efficiency and achieve a reduction of 34% on the amount generated in 1990 by 2020.

According to recent research it has been found that people produce as much as 5.5% of their annual carbon footprints between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

There are some things that we can all do in order to cut down on Christmas waste including reusing old wrapping paper, using old Christmas cards as decorations, making or buying 2nd hand gifts, sending e-cards instead of paper ones and recycling old Christmas trees correctly.

Another tip to help cut our own carbon emissions would be by walking or riding a bike on shorter journeys instead of using the car.

Anyone who gets a new mobile phone in their Christmas stocking may use one of the many mobile recycling sites to not only earn some extra cash but to also help cut their carbon footprints. Other electrical devices such as digital cameras and games consoles can also be recycled correctly.

ASA (The Advertising Standards Agency) has cleared EDF for their TV, Press and poster campaign promoting Green Britain Day.

The EDF campaign used a green union jack flag and promoted EDF’s work with green renewable energy. There was over 150 complaints saying that the campaign was misleading by stating that EDF was British and a green energy company. Although EDF was registered in the UK, they have a French parent company and are a conventional energy company.

On defending the ad campaign, EDF said they were trying to take the lead in tackling social and environmental issues facing the energy industry. The ASA sided with EDF saying that they did not make any claims that they actually were a ‘green’ energy supplier. Also none of the ads directly stated that EDF was a British company so no further action would be taken.

A recent report by the Green Fiscal Commission (GFC) recommended that UK resident’s gas and electric bills are taxed increasingly over the next 10 years in order to cut back on the amount of energy that is being used in each household.

If the new plan is introduced then by 2020 UK households will see taxes represent 80% of their gas bill and 30% of their electricity bill which means that many people would be paying over £800 per year. Some people already say that fuel bills in Britain are too high so there are concerns that another tax would be too much for many people.

Apart from the hikes in taxes, the report by the GFC also offered ways that the government could help UK citizens save money on their electricity bills.