Back in the day when the Credit Crunch was a side salad for big city bankers, laptops were judged by their thickness and radiation output. These days it’s all about the environment, so here at recycle we look at the best green laptops:
The environment is a huge issue for many consumers these days. Most people are struggling to be conscious about the effects they might have on the earth and still maintain the quality of life that they currently live. This often means understanding what green technology is and how it can work in every day living.
Green products are those that use less energy when in use. They also are easier to recycle. Often these products will last longer than other similar products. Sometimes they are actually made from recycled products. The concept is that the product has as little effect on the environment as possible.
Green things are really popular these days
Although no laptop is completely green because they all still have some parts that are made from hazardous material or from ones that are not easily recycled (if they can be at all). Generally the laptop is greener than a desktop because it uses so much less energy.
What’s the greenest laptop?
On the flip side, the laptop is not quite as easy to repair as the desktop and it tends to be more difficult for individuals to upgrade on their own. However, the benefits of using a green laptop far outweigh any of the negatives that might exist.
The case - choosing a laptop with a case that can be recycled takes you a long ways towards going green. Aluminum is a great alternative to plastic and it looks cool. Any packaging or case that can be recycled will help to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.
Power usage - laptops with LED screens use an average of around 40% less energy than similar screens when both are at the maximum brightness.
Laptops are less power hungry
Components - those laptops that are created with environmentally friendly components help to keep the landfills cleaner in the long run. Halogen-free components, like laminates and fan housings, are less of a threat to the environment.
Battery life - the longer the battery lasts with each charge then the less energy will be needed to recharge it. Battery stretching software and low voltage processors are all ways that laptops are using to help make each charge last the longest.
Recycle program – it does not have much to do with the laptop, but companies that are over all environmentally conscious may go a long ways towards swaying your decision. Some companies have started recycle programs so that you can send in your old computers and they will take care of disposal. Be sure that you wipe your hard drive clean before you do send in your old computers.
Which bits can you recycle and which do you chuck?
Company factories – speaking of the companies, it is just as important – if not more important - that the factories be as green as the laptops.
One way to find the best green laptop for you is to use the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). This tool was designed to help consumers in all sectors compare systems and then choose the one that had the most environmental safe elements.
Asus is a global company that is well known for quality and innovation. Its N series laptops have all received Gold EPEAT ratings. The company’s mission to strive to provide valuable contributions to humanity has presented itself in a series of laptops that offer longer battery life, LED screens and environmentally friendly components.
ASUS - a good company
Dell is aggressively pursuing programs that help to improve the Earth through power management, recycling and much more. The Latitude E 4200 is one of the company’s green laptops that have received a gold EPEAT rating because of LED screens and other innovations.
Several of the Toshiba Protégé laptops have received gold EPEAT ratings. The laptops are light, the battery is long lasting and the LED screen uses less energy. The company is also green friendly and offers a recycling program and a trade in program as well.
The old Apple MacBook Pro received a gold EPEAT rating partly due to its energy efficiency and the fact that much of it can be recycled. The company also gets credit for working hard to eliminate environmentally sensitive materials. Their latest model, released this week goes even further with claims of 8 hours battery life and a whole advertising campaign based around being green.
The new MacPro has been heavily green advertised
The HP Compaq offers a number of environmentally friendly components that helps earn it a gold EPEAT rating. The company has been working to help extend the life of the laptop and also to make it easier to dispose of the laptop at the end of that life. The company also gets high marks for working to reduce and eliminate materials that are dangerous to the environment.
The consumers have demanded that companies get more interested in the environment and many of those companies have responded with strong programs and changes in design. Laptops are becoming more environmentally friendly each year and the hope is that one day they will be run by solar energy and built from completely recycled products.
For now, the best way to choose a green laptop is to review the EPEAT ratings and to do a little research on the company as well.
|
|
[...] Best Green Laptop | Recycle Blog [...]
[...] here to see the original: Best Green Laptop | Recycle Blog Categories : Arts, Business, Computer, Laptops, Mobil, Phone, SEO, Technology, image, [...]
[...] View original post here: Best Green bLaptop/b | Recycle Blog [...]
[...] Best Green Laptop | Recycle Blog [...]
This a little bit off topic, but recycling your old laptop is a great way to be green also. Gazelle, along with some other companies, will recycle or resell your old electronics for you, thus keeping them out of landfills.