Tips for eco-friendly computing

Tips for eco-friendly computing
The average PC takes 1.8 tonnes of chemicals, fossil fuel and water to manufacture and causes the emission of 100 kg carbon dioxide each year, but most of us simply couldn't live without one. Unfortunately, computers are becoming more power-hungry as we expect them to perform increasingly complex tasks for us.

Power drain
Desktop PCs that are plugged in all day are especially power-hungry. Unless you flick the switch on the wall or take the plug out of the wall a PC that is apparently turned off will still be using power. If you leave your computer monitor on all night you'll waste enough energy to microwave six dinners. A PC left running 24 hours per day would use £59 worth of electricity over a 12-month period and create 716 kg of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

Small is beautiful
Laptops need to be as energy-efficient as possible so that they can go anywhere. The processors are designed to run on less power, the screens use as little energy as possible, all of which adds up to significant energy savings compared to a desktop PC.

Energy-saving tips
Unplug your PC when not in use, and don't forget the scanner, monitor, printer, broadband box and audio speakers all need turning off too. Use your computer's energy-saving mode: you should be able to turn the brightness of the screen down, or set it to turn off if you haven't used it for 5-10 minutes.

Information provided by Friends of the Earth.

Remember if you buy a cheap laptop, there is a reason! its not sustainable or recyclable and toxic! Choose right.

Environmental status report

The new 13-inch MacBook embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:

• Arsenic-free glass
• Brominated flame retardant-free
• Mercury-free

• PVC-free
• 41% smaller packaging
• Highly recyclable aluminium and glass enclosures

Apple is most proud of what isn't in MacBook.

What’s common in other notebooks is conspicuously missing in the new MacBook. Take for example, mercury used in CCFL backlights and arsenic contained in the glass of traditional LCD displays. Apple engineers have said no to both of these substances. They’ve chosen LED technology and arsenic-free glass. They’ve also said no to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in logic boards, and PVC in cables and connectors. In fact, Apple has done more than remove these toxins from the new MacBook. They’ve done the same thing for the rest of the new MacBook family, the LED Cinema Display, every single iPod and the iPhone. Sometimes saying no is a good thing.

http://www.apple.com/uk/macbook/environment.html