http://www.microsoft.com/TechNet/hw/greenpc.htm (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)
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Flying to the Windows World conference in Atlanta last May, I was catching up on the latest PC industry magazines when I was struck by the number of advertisements naming products as so-called "Green PCs." And it seemed like the majority of monitor ads had a logo emblazoned called "Energy Star." Not knowing exactly what either of these were all about, except that they obviously had something to do with equipment that takes into account environmental effects, I made a mental note to learn more on the subject. As luck would have it, there was a presentation at WinWorld titled "Greening the PC." While the presentation was not well attended (seems the product awards ceremonies were taking place at the same time), I was able to learn the basics of what's been happening with PCs and the environment.
What is a Green PC?
Terry Mahn, facilitator of the WinWorld presentation, pointed out that the environmental movement has caught up with the PC industry "with a vengeance." Throughout the 1980s, computer manufacturers were intent upon improving performance and lowering cost. Yet today, consumers are demanding not just high performance, but hardware that has been designed with the environment in mind. Manufacturers have responded by offering products that are more friendly on one or more environmental fronts. Using an amalgam of various governmental regulations, the best we can do to define a green PC at this point is the following:
A "Green PC" is one which
We can presume that, in the 15 years or so since the first Apple computer came out of Steve Wozniak's garage, people at the Underwriters Laboratory have been looking out for our safety when it comes to power supplies, fuses, plugs, insulation and the like used by PC manufacturers. And the computer magazines have kept us aware of the Federal Communications Commission's ongoing oversight ensuring that no hardware emits unwarranted radio frequency (or other) radiation. This brings us to energy conservation.
Anyone who has used a laptop computer has had to deal with the short battery life occasioned by the demands of spinning a hard drive and powering a display screen. The early laptops were quickly modified to be smarter about energy management. Hard drive motors shut down, screens go dark, and non-essential circuitry powers down after a period of inactivity. This has come to be referred to as sleep mode. What it took people literally years to realize was that this same technology could be included on desktop PCs. But how much energy can realistically be saved?
A representative from the European Union (formerly European Community) at the meeting estimated that among the 340 million people making up the EU, personal computers and office equipment consume approximately three percent of the total electrical energy consumption. If this power usage was reduced by one third (or 1%), Europe could avoid building two large electrical plants per year. In the United States, computers are the fastest growing electricity load in business. They account for five percent of consumption. Some estimates are that this will rise to ten percent by the year 2000. Obviously, saving some of this wasted energy is a worthwhile endeavor for all to pursue.
The Energy Star Program
Realizing that significant reductions in electrical consumption savings could be had in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency embarked a couple of years ago on a voluntary program called "Energy Star." Under the Energy Star program, PCs, peripherals, and accessories that meet certain standards for operation at low power levels qualify to display the Energy Star logo. The Clinton administration even mandated that the federal government purchase only equipment meeting Energy Star specifications. Today, the Energy Star logo is commonplace on PCs and monitors sold in the US. Europe and Japan have adopted essentially similar specifications.
The power consumption requirement for PCs, monitors, and low-end printers is defined as less than 30 watts in sleep or idle mode. For a company with 100 PCs, it is estimated that this results in a savings of $2,400 per year in electrical billing, plus a reduction of between five and ten percent in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) expenses. Yet the cost of building in Energy Star technology is minimal to PC manufacturers and negligible to buyers.
Chemicals, Manufacturing, and Waste Recycling
The typical personal computer is composed of some 750 different chemical compounds. Manufacturers are now at work to ensure, for instance, that none of the chemicals used are ozone-depleting (ODCs). In fact, federal regulation now requires that products manufactured with or composed of ODCs display a warning notice to that effect on the package. While the ODCs may be fast on the way out, there remains a lot to be done to reduce the number of other chemicals involved in building PCs.
Manufacturers are also at work to qualify their wares using several recycle labeling programs. Green PCs in the US may display the familiar "chasing arrows" emblem. Two private programs are Green Seal and the Scientific Certification System. Signifying an environmentally safe product, these labels may even become legal requirements as we move into the next decade.
For more information
To learn more about the EPA Energy Star program, or for a list of computers and equipment qualified for the Energy Star logo, contact: Manager, Energy Star Computers, US EPA (6202J), Washington, DC 20460, telephone (202) 775-6680, fax (202) 233-9659.
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