REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 26, 2012 —
It’s often said that a PC can consume more power than an incandescent
light bulb. The good news is that newer PCs, particularly laptops and
modern desktops, tend to consume considerably less. However, a PC’s
environmental impact doesn’t end with the energy it consumes over its
lifetime — how it’s manufactured, the materials used and even the
packaging all figure into a PC’s total environmental footprint.
That’s
why manufacturers today are looking at a range of ways to reduce the
impact and lighten the load technology places on the environment. From
the software to the circuitry, all the way through how the PC is handled
and shipped, the tech industry today is constantly looking for ways to
make the PC ecosystem greener.
Greener
technology begins with greener components. For years chip manufacturers
focused on processing speed at the expense of power efficiency, but
that’s all changed in the past decade. The latest few generations of
processors from AMD and Intel contain effective power-management
features, and more recent multicore processors can save even more power
by using only the cores needed for the task at hand. Many PC
manufacturers have also upgraded their PCs’ power supplies with more
efficient “80 PLUS” rated units.
Software is also a critical part of keeping energy usage low. The power management features in Windows 7
work in conjunction with the PC hardware to save power, and they make
it easy for users to achieve even greater savings by controlling sleep
management and display management settings. Microsoft is also working
hard to improve those features for Windows 8.
Other
areas that are constantly being examined and improved include
manufacturing processes and equipment, and even the materials and
service providers used in shipping the products. Those looking for a
greener PC should consider buying from OEMs or retailers that offer
greener packaging and shipping practices.
This year several manufacturers are coming out with a new crop of innovative greener PCs, including those that have been EPEAT
rated. Check out the slide show below for a glimpse of some of the
best, and if you want to know more about what makes for a greener PC,
make sure and read these five tips for reducing the environmental impact of your PC.
Toshiba Portégé Z835
Jan. 25, 2012
Weighing less than 2.5 pounds and featuring a 0.63-inch profile, the Portégé Z830 Series
is the world’s lightest 13.3-inch platform. The PC’s 128GB SSD delivers
a responsive experience, increased durability and energy efficiency.
This EPEAT Gold and Energy Star Qualified Windows 7 PC also features an
8-hour battery life rating and includes Toshiba’s eco utility to improve
efficiency and track power management. RoHS compliant, the ultrathin PC
has a PVC-free body, mercury free-LED display and halogen-free printed
wiring board.
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