Waiting for the green computer

(Aug 29, 2007) You may be looking at a new computer for school but even if you want to go green, it will be hard to find a completely enviro-friendly laptop or desktop. There’s no denying that computer manufacturers are moving towards an enviro-friendly product but we have a long way to go.

Sleep mode saves energy
Most PCs today are ENERGY STAR 3.0 compliant with power management features that turn down the computer to 15 watts after 30 minutes of inactivity. Monitor power management (MPM) puts inactive monitors into a low-power sleep mode while computer power management (CPM) places inactive computers (CPU, hard drive, etc.) into a low-power sleep mode. These features, initially only available in laptops, are now integrated into most desktops and use about 70 percent less electricity and save up to $90 per year per computer. You can save even more electricity by disabling screen savers and turning off computer games. Most computers are shipped with their MPM and CPM already activated but check before you start blogging away.

Calculate your green
On July 20, 2007, ENERGY STAR released the STAR 4.0 standard for computers, a tougher and more complex standard. Computer companies have until January 2008 to upgrade their equipment or lose being entered into the EPEAT (Electronic Product Environment Assessment Tool) registry. The EPEAT is the industry watchdog spearheading the greening of computers.

You can check how green your computer is using a new tool created by EPEAT. The EEBC (Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator) allows purchasers to calculate the green quota of any registered green computers and monitors.

Still toxic after all these years
Unfortunately even the green computers listed with the EPEAT still contain considerable amounts of toxic and carcinogenic substances like TBBPA (a brominated flame retardant toxic to the immune system as well as being a neurotoxin and endocrine disruptor) and the infamous Bisphenol-A (recently linked to prostate cancer and hormone disruption).

Green computers are a challenge simply because the manufacturing process is so toxic. Creating a computer uses a variety of toxins, carcinogens, paint and oil-based substances that continue to off gas VOCS (Volatile organic compounds) after it arrives in your lap or on your desk.

New strict standards
We should start seeing more non-toxic computers now that the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive) has been rolled out. This directive fro the European Union requires lead free electronics in personal computers, as well as banning mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

Green alternatives
Toshiba has made a good attempt with its Terca S3 and Tecra M3 laptops. Weighing in 2.27 kilograms (five pounds), these computers are both RoHS compliant. Apple has eliminated most of the toxic materials from its Mac line and Dell has been gradually phasing out toxins from its computers. Most computers companies now have “take-back” programs where you can recycle your old computer.

The Green Machine Shop is one company creating computers exceeding the EPEAT and RoHS requirements. The average computer starts at about $800 USD and has a power consumption up to 10 percent below the industry average. You can also shop online and compare prices for green laptops and desktops at the new Shopgreen store launched by Price Grabber.

If you’re good with computers, Extreme Tech has instructions on how to build your own that is lean, mean and green.

With firmer guidelines coming from ENERGY STAR, EPEAT and RoHS, we can expect to see green laptops and desktops in 2008. Just in time for exams.


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