Green Computers

By: Melinda Toussaint

With Christmas, the New Year, and the switch to digital in February many are contemplating buying their first or new laptop. Now is a good time! Technology has caught up to the eco-friendly community and has provided green alternatives.

Apple is at the forefront of the eco-friendly computers with their new Mac Book. The “greenest notebook ever” is helping the Earth in four major ways:
1. Energy Efficient:
-made to have hardware and software work together earning the Energy Star certification
- Hard drive and processor spin down when not in use
-LED backlit display uses 30 percent less power
2. Harmful toxins removed:
- Mercury-free LED technology
- Arsenic-free glass
- removed brominated flame retardants and PVC from computers’ parts/cords
3. Recyclable:
-made from one solid piece of aluminum
-recycled glass used for display
-all other raw materials are removed
4. Reduced Packaging:
- 41% smaller
- 25% more computers able to be shipped reducing CO2 emissions


Dell Computers are also helping the green cause by making 2/3 of their products have LED (light-emitting diode) backlit standard by Dec. 15th, 2008 with 100% of the computers with LED backlit displays by 2010.

No matter what computer you buy you can also consider giving back through a company called Powered Green. They take money (sponsorships) given to them and use it to buy new wind turbines to produce the same amount of energy used by your computer. Clean renewable energy offsets polluting energy (caused by fossil fuel plants) causing more than 1,000 pounds of CO2 never to reach the atmosphere.

You can make your computer “carbon neutral” by spending $16 for 690 kilo-watt hours of certified renewable energy. This energy will offset the lifetime energy consumption of your computer. Co-founded by Ted Durkee and Brandon Gador this initiative will offset our community’s attachment to energy consuming technology. To learn more or sponsor their efforts visit http://www.poweredgreen.com/.

So when you are shopping for a new laptop, think about your contribution to the environment. Paying more money for a computer that is helping the Earth is a great investment to make. Visit http://www.apple.com/ and http://www.dell.com/ for more information.