Technology has become such an integral part of our everyday life and computers are a prominent technology. In the United States alone, information-technology consumes $8 billion in electricity costs per year. With that kind of money being spent energy-efficiency is a must, not only for financial reasons but also for cutting down on carbon emission. Non-profits and consumers alike are lobbying for higher environmental standards from computer manufacturers, and some of the companies are starting to take notice. While currently there is no perfectly "green" computer, there are options to that are better than others. When purchasing a new computer there are a few things you will want to keep in mind while trying to keep eco-friendly.
Size
Keep your computer small. Laptops are a better choice than desktop computers because they consume 5 times less energy. Laptops are generally the computer of choice now because of their portability and now they have almost all the same functionality of a desktop. However, if you are going to buy a desktop try not to go for the outdated, and large, yet super cheap option of a cathode ray tube, or CRT, monitor. CRT monitors take up three times as much energy as a LCD screen.
Energy Star Labels
Make sure your computer is Energy Star certified. Recently the EPA's Energy Star criteria was tightened up to allow an EPA estimated 25% of computers to qualify. The current guidelines to receive an Energy Star label are:
Product categories must contribute significant energy savings nationwide.
Qualified products must deliver the features and performance demanded by consumers, in addition to increased energy efficiency.
If the qualified product costs more than a conventional, less-efficient counterpart, purchasers will recover their investment in increased energy efficiency through utility bill savings, within a reasonable period of time.
Energy efficiency can be achieved through broadly available, non-proprietary technologies offered by more than one manufacturer.
Product energy consumption and performance can be measured and verified with testing.
Labeling would effectively differentiate products and be visible for purchasers.
As a quick reminder, remember to always turn off your computer when it is not being used and turn on the power saving option for when you are using the computer.
Hazardous Materials
Electronics are known for having toxic components within the product. Knowing how much hazardous material is in your computer is a more difficult subject to find out about than the computer's energy usage. The EPA gives rankings to electronics using EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool). EPEAT takes into account reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive materials, materials selection, energy conservation, packaging, design for end of life, end of life management, product longevity, and corporate performance. The hazardous materials requirements are based off the European Union's stricter laws regarding toxic materials. EPEAT gives the rankings of gold, silver, and bronze, but has yet to give out a gold rating. There are 23 required criteria to be registered with EPEAT and 28 optional criteria which are taken into account in the rankings. Look at EPEAT's detailed criteria list to learn about the specific criteria.
Recycling
When you buy a new computer, which for the average American is about every 3 years, you should know what to do with the old computer. Many times that computer can be sold or donated because it still works. NEVER just throw the computer away. Check to see if either the manufacturer of the old computer or the newly purchased one has a recycling program. If there is not a recycling program through the manufacturer make sure to go through an e-waste collection company, even though this might cost you a little money. Recycling computers is important because the hazardous materials in your computer like lead, mercury, cadmium can leach into the groundwater and poison the air if not properly disposed of. Search a little deeper into where your recycled computer is going to see if it is staying in the U.S. or being shipped over seas to a third world country where it is more likely to just be dumped.
To help consumers make informed greener purchases regarding electronics Greenpeace started ranking the top 18 manufacturers of computers, cell phones, and televisions based on the company's climate change, recycling, and toxic chemical policies. Visit the Greenpeace site to view the rankings.
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