Green Machines: Eco-Friendly Electronics

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The green movement is in full swing: from organic foods at the market to energy-efficient appliances to greener cleaning products for the home—both indoors and out—eco-minded thinking when buying for the home is not just for environmental activists anymore. So what makes a “green” electronic? According to GreenElectronics.com, these machines are progressively designed to minimize energy use and have less of The Energy Star and EPEAT certified Lenovo Thinkpad is one of the more popular computer products on Greenzer.com. an impact on the environment. This doesn’t just mean they suck less juice out of your electrical sockets, though. Truly green electronics also feature materials and use manufacturing processes that are less energy-intensive than traditional methods and even use renewable and natural materials when possible. “The good news for those of us who are concerned with the green issues is that electronics are getting much more environmentally friendly,” says Jim Barry, spokesperson for the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). And if you think consumer electronics aren’t that big of a deal because you don’t use that many, Barry says you’re probably underestimating the number of these electric-powered products you have in your home. “A typical household, according to CEA research, has 24 consumer electronics devices,” Barry says. “That’s not appliances like refrigerators or microwave ovens—that’s just stereos, clock radios, flat-screen TVs, DVD players and other things like that.” Energy Efficiency Saves Money When consumers add up the cost savings they can reap when they buy more energy-efficient, greener consumer electronics, they realize it can be easier on the wallet to be “green.” “One of the great catalysts of consumer interest in green electronics is that they are becoming synonymous with cost savings,” says Jeremy Arditi, co-founder of the green shopping Web site Greenzer. “Naturally, this means they appeal to a wider range of people, which in turn gets manufacturers motivated to produce greener products.” Some of the energy efficiency of new products isn’t just in how many kilowatts they need for power but also how they manage their energy use, which is especially true for computers. “Windows Vista actually implemented a pretty advanced system to reduce energy consumption for idle computers,” Arditi says. In fact, one independent study from UK-based PC Pro Labs found that power management features in Windows Vista could save as much as $80 a year for each desktop PC. One way to judge any electronics you may be considering is to look for the Energy Star label, which ensures that electronics are 10 to 25 percent more energy-efficient than government standards. Another label you can trust is the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT. EPEAT-certified products meet standards set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in eight areas: • Reduction or Elimination of Environmentally Sensitive Materials • Materials Selection • Design for End of Life • Life Cycle Extension • Energy Conservation • End of Life Management • Corporate Performance • Packaging Green Retrofitting Part of what’s tricky about going “greener” is that one of the most eco-conscious decisions you can make is to buy fewer items and dispose of That’s where Web sites like Greenzer come in, says Arditi. Look up most electronic items on the site, and you’ll see its “Greenzer Score.” “There are simple things people can do that can have a really significant impact, like unplugging devices when they’re not in use,” he says. “Given how much electricity idle electronics consume, this is a really important step.” Arditi says another option is to buy a solar-powered charger to juice items with rechargeable batteries, like iPods and cell phones. You can even buy rechargeable batteries for other household items and power them back up with a solar charger. “Another important recommendation is to simply take good care of your equipment,” he says. “That will prolong its useful life and reduce the purchase of new products, which is positive for both the environment and your wallet.”

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