One woman's search to find greening in the world today …

Daily Archives: January 27, 2012

The Search for a Eco-Friendly Computer

It is time for a new computer. Not for me, I love my lean, green Macbook Pro, which is actually one of the greenest computers around. Let me explain. An organization I belong to is in the market to purchase another laptop. Nothing fancy, and in fact all it needs to do is be reliable, lightweight, very portable, inexpensive and eco-friendy. This computer will get hauled all over the place, used by many people, some tech savvy and some not. It is mainly going to be used for an Excel payroll program that was created especially for the group. Unfortunately, the program was written for a PC, and cannot be used on a Mac, so that ruled out all Apple products, including their line of great Refurbished Macs. Which got me to thinking…what are some eco-friendly solutions to our computer hunt? With that in mind, I set out to discover some green options for computers in general.

What is the greenest computer to buy? Actually the greenest one is the one you already own if it can be upgraded to a newer operating system. Mac is a great supporter of this idea, and I am sure many PCs can be upgraded as well. Not only is the cost of doing this a fraction of the cost of a new computer, it also has a smaller carbon footprint by saving on carbon emissions used in production, transportation and packaging.

Sometimes, the computer is just too old to be upgraded. Or, you  may not even have a computer to upgrade. What then? Obviously, the more eco-friendly option is a laptop over a desktop. Smaller, much lighter, more compact, the laptop uses less packaging, electricity, materials for construction, etc. than it’s larger, more cumbersome counterpart.

Even though the idea of a brand new computer in a pristine box can be enticing, it can also be pricier than the refurbished ones. Refurbished computers are the greener option, and there are many good refurbished laptop options in many price ranges. Where to find one? Many places sell refurbished computers, but the most reliable are ones directly listed on the major computer brands’ websites because they generally offer a warranty. In the case of the Mac, Apple offers the following;

“APPLE CERTIFIED REFURBISHED – Fast free shipping on all refurbished products. We test and certify all Apple refurbished products and include a 1-year warranty.”

Other brands also offer this kind of protection:

DELL OUTLET - “Great value. Fast, free shipping. Environmentally responsible. Same as new warranty and support.”

SONY, TOSHIBA, SAMSUNG, and many others, offer many options as well. Simply go to the company’s site and search for “refurbished laptops.”

If you must buy a shiny, brand new computer, look for ones that are more environmentally friendly. There is now a rating (besides the Energy Star rating that appears on many products)  Mother Nature Network explains:

“Green Electronic Council’s EPEAT program evaluates electronics, specifically laptops, desktops and monitors, based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT differs from EnergyStar in that while low energy consumption is required (in fact, a EPEAT computer must also be EnergyStar certified), additional focus is placed on the materials used in manufacturing, packaging, recyclability, and other standards that take into account the entire lifecycle of a computer.

For example, a computer sporting EPEAT Bronze, Silver or Gold certification will contain minimal levels of toxic components like lead, mercury, brominated flame retardants, PVC and cadmium and have parts that are made from post-consumer recycled plastic or renewable, bio-based materials. Sony, Samsung, Hewlett-Packard and Dell all lead the way when it comes to EPEAT certification. And according to EPEAT, the environmental benefits of buying an EPEAT rated computer are vast. The organization says that consumers who purchased EPEAT computers in 2009 helped to prevent the disposal of 72,000 metric tons of hazardous waste and save over 10 billion kWh of electricity which is enough to power 900,000 homes in the U.S. for a year.”
One of the best things I discovered was that people used to choose a computer based on price, size (inside and out) and style. Now they are also looking at the sustainability factor and having that be a decision point for their purchase.  The companies are  listening, and responding in ways that are kinder to the environment. I consider that a great big green step forward.