Make Your Computer a Green Machine
Greentips: August 2010
Personal computers are becoming smaller, faster, more powerful, and more affordable. But as more people are able to buy computers, their environmental impact—in terms of electricity use, nonrecyclable materials, and toxic waste—grows. So whether you’re buying a new computer or upgrading existing equipment, look for these labels to minimize your impact:
• Energy Star-rated computers, monitors, and printers use 30 to 65 percent less electricity than their conventional counterparts. The Department of Energy estimates that consumers could save more than $75 million in energy costs—and reduce global warming emissions by 1 billion pounds—every year if all of their home-office electronic devices were Energy Star-compliant.
• EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool)-rated products have been evaluated by the Green Electronics Council based on their energy use, materials, and packaging. Bronze-, silver-, and gold-rated products all meet Energy Star requirements.
• Refurbished/remanufactured devices have been returned from customers and restored to their original specifications; toner cartridges can similarly be refilled and resold. Buying refurbished products can get you the same quality as new products for less money (while consuming fewer resources).
Next, consider these factors when comparing products:
• Shop with longevity in mind. Make your new computer a good long-term investment by choosing one with the most computing speed and memory you can afford. Or, consider a model with expansion capability so you can add memory yourself.
• Replace only what’s needed. If you already have a good monitor, keep using it instead of buying a system that comes with a new monitor. If you simply need more storage space, buy an external hard drive instead of replacing your whole computer.
• One machine is better than two (or three). All-in-one peripherals such as a printer/scanner/fax machine save desk space and conserve both energy and materials.
Finally, ensure your equipment lives up to its potential by:
• Setting the monitor and computer to go into low-energy “sleep” mode after a certain amount of idle time
• Turning off all peripherals when not in use (a power strip can help make this task easier)
• Donating your old equipment to a school or nonprofit organization, or recycling it (see the Related Resources for information on how to find a reputable recycler and how to prepare your equipment for disposal or refurbishing)
