| You can help the environment by making one | | | | solid state drive, which is much lighter, |
| simple decision. By going green with your | | | | more reliable and faster than a conventional |
| computers. This is done by choosing notebooks | | | | hard drive. It also contains a low voltage |
| computers that are environmentally friendly | | | | processor and has improved "battery stretch" |
| and long on charge. New "green laptops" take | | | | software for energy savings. It meets the |
| the idea of an environmentally friendly | | | | Energy Star 4.0 criteria and is 25% more |
| notebook computer even further. They are | | | | efficient than Lenovo's previous generation |
| smaller than other notebooks, last longer on | | | | notebooks. The packaging materials for the |
| a charge, and comply with most environmental | | | | X300 are 90% recyclable, and the use of toxic |
| regulations. These ultraportble, small | | | | materials such as cadmium, lead, and arsenic |
| footprint, lighter weight notebooks are | | | | have been reduced. |
| inherently "greener" than heavier, larger | | | | |
| footprint products for a few reasons: They | | | | The MacBook Air is one of Apple's greenest |
| are designed to deliver the desired | | | | computers. The Air's display was the first |
| performance while consuming fewer materials | | | | from Apple to be mercury and arsenic free. |
| for manufacturing and less energy for | | | | The all aluminum case was also a good choice |
| shipment and distribution. Packaging | | | | as aluminum is easily recyclable and highly |
| requirements are also reduced, saving | | | | desirable by recyclers. The Air qualified for |
| materials and energy. Laptops don't use as | | | | a Silver EPEAT rating (all the circuit boards |
| much power as a desktop, mostly because the | | | | are bromide and PVC free). It's also Energy |
| processor is only drawing about 35W or less, | | | | Star 4.0 certified. On PC Magazine's energy |
| compared to about 65W or more for a desktop | | | | consumption tests, the 14 Watts it produced |
| CPU. The added benefit is that your | | | | while idle is consistent with Energy Star's |
| electrical bill won't be as high either. | | | | 14 Watt (and under) requirement. The reading |
| | | | was taken while the system was running |
| Less Hazardous Components | | | | Leopard after 15 minutes of idle time. You |
| | | | can get the Macbook Air fitted with a 64GB |
| Although notebooks are typically much more | | | | solid state drive, which will further reduces |
| energy efficient than desktops. They are, | | | | its power requirements. Apple paid attention |
| however, no greener than desktops in other | | | | to the retail packaging of this machine, and |
| regards. They typically contain the same | | | | reduced it by 50%. |
| hazardous components, and they are not easily | | | | |
| recycled. However, a few "greener" notebook | | | | Green Computing Is Here To Stay |
| computers are now on the market. | | | | |
| | | | Any way you slice it, green computing is here |
| Lenovo's Thinkpad X300 is the company's first | | | | to stay. Laptops will get more efficient, |
| EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental | | | | smaller, and safer for the planet. EPA |
| Assessment Tool) Gold certified notebook. | | | | estimates that in the next five years |
| Only 15 notebooks have achieved this rating | | | | purchases of EPEAT registered computers could |
| to date. The X300 uses mercury free LEDs to | | | | reduce hazardous waste by 4 million pounds |
| illuminate its display. This saves energy, | | | | and save enough energy to power two million |
| and allows for a thinner display. It uses a | | | | homes. |