The words green and technology are two words which are not often seen in a sentence together. But during those few times when both are combined to form a word, it promises something special. One major environmental problem we face today is the waste produced whenever an electronic product or in this case a laptop is discarded.

Electronic waste leaves a huge imprint in the environment and is so damaging that their effects may never be reversed. With the growing trend towards eco-friendly products, major computer manufacturers have been busy in the drawing boards trying to come up with the greenest laptops for the green minded consumer. A lot of the big computer manufacturers have made inroads into making greener laptops.

What makes a laptop green?

EPEAT or the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool provides an easy to use set of guidelines that helps consumers determine which desktop computers, computer hardware and laptops meet the agency’s criteria. The Green Electronic Council oversees the implementation of the EPEAT guidelines. The requirements are divided into 8 major categories which include materials used, longevity of the product, packaging, and reduction of environmentally sensitive materials.

• Bronze – Meets all of the required 23 EPEAT criteria
• Silver - Meets all of the required 23 EPEAT criteria plus 50 percent of the optional criteria
• Gold - Meets all of the required 23 EPEAT criteria plus 75 percent of the optional criteria

Energy Efficient

 

Many of us are familiar with the ENERGY STAR symbol, we often see it with our old computer displays when we turn our computer on. A typical old desktop computer uses 200 to 400 watts of electricity, a notebook to be given an ENERGY STAR rating however should only utilize a mere 15 watts to qualify. Through the years the ENERGY STAR requirements have also increased with 4 points for those having the highest ratings. Energy efficiency is aimed at reducing usage during the computers major modes, standby, sleep and when the laptop is being used.

One of the great leaps which made energy efficiency possible is thru the use of more energy efficient displays. LCD has made it possible for laptops to have smaller and slimmer screens. This technology does not only cut down the screen size but more importantly cuts energy costs. Advancements in technology have made it even possible for these displays to be more efficient. It seems like LCD technology could going the way of the dinosaurs and will soon be replaced by the newer and more energy efficient OLED (organic light emitting diodes).

Disposability and Recyclability

 

A laptop is also truly considered green when after serving its useful life it is able to be recycled and broken down into components which could be used again or disposed without exposing toxins to the environment. Unlike paper or left over foods, electronic components do not naturally breakdown and get absorbed by the environment but on the contrary remain in landfills for years and release dangerous toxins.

Experiments with recyclable materials for laptops have produced innovations which are practical and creative. In fact, laptop makers in Taiwan have been experimenting with using bamboo as a material for making the casing for laptops. With laptop casing making up for most of the waste materials in laptops using bamboo could go a long way in saving the environment not only from unwanted by products of technology but the need for mining precious natural resources.