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The Green News About Laptops
Great news for all of you looking to purchase a laptop! In July 2007 new Energy Star specifications as well as an Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) were made available to help consumers educate themselves about the green products available to them, as well as curb the excessive amount of power consumed by the computers we use daily.
Computers are used both in our homes and at our place of work, often for hours a day. The new Energy Star specifications apply to computers in three distinct operating modes standby, sleep mode and while being used. Improvements are also being made to the efficiency of the power supply inside laptops.
Energy Star rated and EPEAT rated laptops help consumers to save power and reduce the environmental impact harmful substances found in laptop computers can cause the environment. EPEAT was created to help concerned consumers select the most eco-friendly products possible. EPEAT has set out a Gold, Silver and Bronze level rating system shown below.
| Bronze | Silver | Gold |
|
Meets all 23 required criteria |
Meets all 23 required criteria plus at least 50% of the optional criteria |
Meets all 23 required criteria plus at least 50% of the optional criteria |
To be rated in the EPEAT gold category the laptops must meet different environmental requirements in 8 categories. These categories include reduction or elimination of environmentally sensitive materials, materials selection, packaging, corporate performance, end-of-life design, energy conservation, end-of-life management and product longevity/life cycle extension. A more detailed list of criteria is available here.
Toshiba currently has 7 laptop computers rated in the EPEAT gold category, making them the largest manufacturer or green laptops. Way to go Toshiba!! Dell has 3 gold rated laptops offered; Hewlett Packard has 2 and Lenovo following with 1. Not only have these 4 companies met EPEAT criteria they have exceed this mark by opting to meet at least 75% of the optional criteria outlined as well, going above and beyond for the environment and their customers. A more detailed list of participating manufacturers is available here.
This is great news for the environment and great news for consumers looking for environmentally sound products.
