To encourage manufacturers to produce the “greenest” computer, PC Magazine has developed the GreenTech Approved seal. Computers are rated on energy efficiency, recyclability, certifications and benchmark performance.

GreenerComputing

Corporate technology users looking to improve their environmental impact and profitability should consider sustainability as their goal. Organizations can do this by incorporating sustainability into the choices they make regarding planning, buying, managing and retiring their IT assets.

“Greenpeace tested 37 products that 14 major electronics brands picked out as their greenest and agreed to submit for testing, awarding them points for substitution of toxic substances, energy efficiency and recyclability.” Although electronic products are becoming greener, the industry still needs to put in a lot more effort to eliminate the vast amounts of hazardous and toxic components.

The goal of the new proposed electronics recycling fee for Ontario is to encourage manufacturers to create more environmentally friendly products. The program will charge the first importer of certain electronics, who will then decide whether to add the fee to consumers or to absorb the cost themselves.

Computers, televisions and cell phones brought to facilities to be recycled in the United States usually end up overseas, activists say. This e-waste then gets disassembled by workers in China, Inida and Nigeria, exposing them to a toxic mix of chemicals.

A great incentive for people to reduce their emissions is rewarding them – with Green Broadband. This reward system provides consumers with free high speed internet if they reduce their energy consumptions.

The Internet and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in general can help reduce CO2 emissions by: 1) collocating routers and servers with renewable energy sites; 2) developing societal applications that promote use of the Internet as an alternate to carbon generating activities; and 3) deploying bits and bandwidth for carbon trading programs.