FAQ
Welcome to our FAQ section. Here will find more answers to your questions about Green Electronics
Green Electronics | FAQ
Optimized Design
Products are designed to perform with sustainability and long term customer value in mind Electronics design advances multi-functionality while reducing size, weight and material use. Packaging materials are reduced and incorporate recycled or recyclable materials. Product lifecycle is extended through upgrades, trade-in, trade-up, refurbishment and resale.
Energy Efficiency
Product is ENERGY STAR® qualified. ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Energy efficient choices save families about one third on their energy bill with similar savings in greenhouse gas emissions. An ENERGY STAR® product does not sacrifice features, style or comfort. More at ENERGY STAR®
Cleaner Materials
Electronics are RoHS compliant (Restricted use of Hazardous Substances). RoHS is a European legislative initiative that on July 1, 2006 restricted the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products deemed harmful or toxic to human health and the overall environment. With some exceptions RoHS compliant products do not contain any Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, Hexavalent Chromium, Polybrominated Biphenyl and Polybrominated Biphenyl Ethers. Although not legislated in the U.S., consumers still benefit from many manufacturers who sell their products globally and have transitioned their overall manufacturing standards to meet the RoHS compliance standard. More about RoHS
Alternative Energy
Product operates using alternative energy sources i.e. Solar, Wind, Kinetic, etc. Alternative or renewable energy refers to the harnessing of clean and unlimited power sources like the sun, wind, water or even human power and converting that power into electricity through a device or system. Renewable energy is clean energy and does not emit any CO2 emissions associated with climate change.
Repurposed/ Recycled
Product is WEEE compliant (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment). Manufacturer offers or sponsors end of life, trade-in, take-back, recovery or recycling programs ensuring hazardous electronics waste doesn't end up in landfills. Products, components, materials and packaging are either refurbished for resale or recycled or reclaimed for reuse in new or additional products.
Stewardship
Manufacturer has an enviornmental charter with goals and objectives that embrace environmental policies, practices and incentives for employees and suppliers to achieve a more sustainable business model. Company typically publishes an annual environmental report card or audit of its progress.
EPEAT™
EPEAT™ which stands for (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) is a comprehensive program of evaluation criteria, information and purchasing tools that was set up in 2006 to help purchasers from the public and private sector evaluate and simplify their purchase of desktop computers, laptops and monitors based on a standard set of environmental attributes.
Based on the IEEE 1680-2006 environmental standard for electronics, manufacturers submit their products to EPEAT declaring their minimum compliance or exceeding of that standard based on the following standards evaluation criteria:
- Reduction/elimination of environmentally sensitive materials
- Materials selection
- Design for end of life
- Product longevity/life cycle extension
- Energy conservation
- End of life management
- Corporate performance
- Packaging
EPEAT in turn evaluates and designates a Bronze, Silver or Gold rating to each of these products. Green Electronics showcases all available EPEAT Gold registered products in our Computer Hardware category
Owning green electronics and green computers can save up to 60% of your home electronics energy consumption that is typically wasted by non-green electronics - most of which is expended when sitting idle or turned off (Just feel the wasted heat [energy] coming off of your TV, computer or cable box). Green electronics are also manufactured with cleaner materials and chemicals that reduce or eliminate chemicals like lead, mercury and brominated flame retardants, all of which emit airborne toxins that are linked to human health issues like cancer or neurological damage.
Green electronic's design and manufacturing processes are optimized to reduce energy consumption, use less natural resources, increase the use of reclaimed materials, reduce waste, and reduce or eliminate toxic substances like lead, mercury and brominated flame retardants which are harmful to the environment and human health. Green electronics are also products of lasting value and repurpose of which the quality of manufacture, feature and function set provide many years of enjoyment, usefulness and re-marketable value.
Green computing is the term used to denote efficient use of resources in computing. This term generally relates to the use of computing resources in conjunction with minimizing environmental impact, maximizing economic viability and ensuring social duties. Green computing is very much related to other similar movements like reducing the use of environmentally hazardous materials like CFCs, promoting the use of recyclable materials, minimizing use of non-biodegradable components, and encouraging use of sustainable resources.
Green Electronics and green computers are advanced product designs, technology and manufacturing processes that have less impact on the environment while providing better overall value for the consumer in areas of energy efficiency, cleaner materials and longer product life.
According to a recent CEA report, consumer electronics and computers account for approximately 15% of your household energy consumption of which 50% - 60% of that energy is used when these devices are sitting idle or turned off. Considering that the average U.S. household now owns over 27 discreet consumer electronics devices (and growing), it’s expected that over the next 3-5 years this percentage will increase to over 20% which is the same energy consumption used for heating or lighting our homes.