My goals sometimes seem to be a bit confused. At times nothing seems better than living in a little shack somewhere out in the prairie or the mountains, eating off the land, writing and just being lazy. But I’m also a big gadget-hound. I love computers. I wouldn’t be able to live without my iPod or cell phone. And I even like playing a video game every now and then. I’m always fascinated by the latest and greatest, drooling over lightning-fast processor speeds, the next Photoshop update, or the new must-have item.
Of course, since I’m not a wealthy guy, I hardly ever get any of these things. I just like to think about them. Recently, however, I did treat myself to a brand-new Apple laptop, a MacBook Pro. And after reading up on the environmental aspects of my new toy, I found that it is now one of the most Earth-friendly (if not wallet-friendly) laptops on the market.
It’s no secret that high-tech devices, computers especially, are energy-hogs. Bright monitors, quick chips, droning fans; for being such small devices, computers have huge energy footprints. The cost of making computers is even worse. Huge amounts of energy are needed to make necessary micro-components, and many nasty chemicals also find their way onto our desks and laps. However the fact remains that computers have become a necessary part of modern life. So instead of getting rid of computers, we should work on ways to make them better.
Today things are much better than they were even a few years ago. The computer monitor has traditionally been a huge energy waster, and chemicals like lead, mercury, and arsenic are necessary to make them. The rise of flat-screen monitors has all but eliminated the lead content of computers – a traditional “CRT” monitor has nearly 3 pounds of lead in it; and a flat-screen LCD has less than one gram. But mercury and arsenic are essential components of LCD manufacturing; so the next step is an LED (light-emitting diode) screen, which has no lead, no mercury, no arsenic, uses less energy, and is also brighter than a LCD. I’m happy to say my new computer has one of the first commercially-available LED monitors.
Apple has also eliminated chemicals like cadmium and the carcinogen hexavalent chromium, and they have one of the computer industry’s most robust recycling programs.
I realize I’m sounding like your typical Apple junkie, but the truth is that Apple is not alone in making these great changes, nor is Apple even the best. Almost all computer makers have EnergyStar-rated models. EnergyStar, a stringent rating system for energy efficiency, is something every consumer should look for when buying a computer. New computers are also subject to the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT. EPEAT is a way of rating the eco-friendliness of computers – sort of a “LEED for Computers.” Manufacturers wishing to gain an EPEAT rating (from Bronze to Gold) must comply with a number of requirements. The new MacBook Pro is EPEAT-Silver; Dell and Toshiba, however, have outdone themselves with EPEAT-Gold laptops and desktops. Before you buy a new computer, be sure to check it’s EPEAT rating.
Are computers as green as they can be? Simply, no. But manufacturers like Apple, Toshiba and Dell are making great strides toward keeping their environmental policies in line with their technological achievements. That way we can feel a little better about getting that brand-new toy.
Visit:
EPEAT
EnergyStar for Computers