What To Look for in a New Computer
Published:
October 15, 2009
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:0Sleek and slim are the watchwords of the computer industry now as manufacturers seek to build ever more computing power into thinner packages in the affordable mini-computer range. With all eyes set on the much-rumored Apple tablet (purportedly due out in the first quarter of 2010), the decision whether to purchase a new computer, when and what kind remains as vexed as ever. It should go without saying that the greenest choice is to upgrade your existing machine. No matter how energy efficient your new machine is, 80 percent of its lifetime energy consumption occurs during production before it even hits the shelves, says Barbara Kyle, national coordinator of the Electronics Takeback Coalition. However, if you have to buy new because your processor is too old to run current software (or if the rough economy has deprived you of an office computer), here are some things to keep in mind.
Laptop vs. Desktop
Think twice about choosing a laptop over a desktop. Laptop portability is great and can be a requirement for many professionals. But laptops are extremely limited in their upgrade options and, what's worse, they are also much more likely to be damaged in transport. If that tradeoff seems okay because the new miniature models are cheap enough to be considered disposable, remember that the biggest part of a computer's environmental footprint is the production of its chip. So whichever you choose, seek the model that will give you the longest lifespan given your needs, even if it means paying a bit more. A cheap machine that dies in six months and takes all your work with it is a computer you'll wish you'd never bought.
As for monitors, Kyle points out that LED-backlit LCD screens are mercury-free, a problem with standard LCD, but adds the caveat that we don't know what environmental problems the LEDs may pose.
Certifications and Labels
Look for models selected by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT),created by the EPA and the nonprofit Greener Electronics Council. These come in EPEAT Bronze and Silver rating, evaluated according to 51 environmental criteria, 23 of which are required and 28 optional. Largely based on European Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards (including restrictions on cadmium, mercury, lead, hexavalent chromium and some brominated flame retardants), EPEAT requires incorporating a minimum of 65 percent reusable or recyclable components, a takeback service and the reduction or elimination of toxics in packaging. Silver and bronze models both meet all the required criteria, but silver must also meet half the optional ones. (Except for the Earth-PC and SWEDX products, all desktops, laptops and monitors below are silver.)
For energy savings, seek out Energy Star rated machines. The EPA recently strengthened the Energy Star requirements for computers making them on average 30 percent more efficient than comparable machines.Also, the utility-funded 80 PLUS program is working to make computer power supplies 80 percent more power efficient; when purchasing a desktop, look for the 80 PLUS label.
But what will you do with your old machine? Don't leave it in a closet—if it still works donate it promptly to a local organization before it's outmoded. Start with your local solid waste department website and look for connections to groups that reuse computers. If a local program doesn't exist, Goodwill locations will accept donated machines, as will the National Cristina Foundation (www.cristina.org). Some manufacturers, including Dell and HP will also take back products. If your computer no longer functions, look for a responsible recycler (who won't ship your computer to China or Africa to be dismantled in conditions that harm workers and poison local waterways) at the Electronics Takeback Coalition.
