A project funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides consumers with an online list of the most eco-friendly computers (desktop, laptop and monitors) on the market. The Green Electronics Council uses their Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) to evaluate the machines for reduced levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury, as well as increased energy efficiency and safe recycling options at the end of the computer's life. Computers are then awarded gold, bronze or silver medals depending on their score.
Also, digest this interesting information also found on their website:
The first six months' sales of EPEAT registered green computers, when compared with traditional computers produced the following environmental benefits:
- Saved 13.7 billion kWh of electricity, enough to power 1.2 million U.S. homes for a year;
- Saved 24.4 million metric tons of materials, equivalent to the weight of 189 million refrigerators;
- Prevented release of 56.5 million metric tons of air pollution, including 1.07 million metric tons of global warming gases -- the equivalent of removing 852,000 cars from the road for a year;
- Prevented release of 118,000 metric tons of water pollution;
- Reduced toxic material use by 1,070 metric tons, equivalent to the weight of 534,000 bricks, including enough mercury to fill 157,000 household fever thermometers; and
- Avoided the disposal of 41,100 metric tons of hazardous waste, equivalent to the weight of 20.5 million bricks.
These figures are derived from manufacturer data on sale of EPEAT registered products. Check out www.epeat.net to scope out their online database to see what level of star your reliable laptop has earned.
Talk about eco-friendly processing!
Source: BecauseAction.com
