Report: EPEAT-Approved Computers Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A report by the Green Electronics Council concludes that the purchase of more than 36.56 million EPEAT-registered desktop and laptop computers and monitors in 2006 has led to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Article Tools

  • Bookmark


The report – titled “The Environmental Benefits of the Purchase or Sale of EPEAT-Registered Products in 2006” – highlights the environmental benefits of buying computer equipment registered with the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). The tool – which was developed using an EPA grant and is coordinated by the Green Electronics Council – was designed to help institutional purchasers select and compare desktop and laptop computers and monitors based on their environmental attributes.

The report asserts that EPEAT-registered equipment has helped to:

  • Save 13.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power 1.2 million U.S. homes for a year.
  • Save 24.4 million metric tons of primary materials – which is equivalent to the weight of 189 million refrigerators.
  • Prevent 56.5 million metric tons of air emissions (including greenhouse gas emissions).
  • Prevent 1.07 million metric tons of carbon-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions – equivalent to removing 852,000 cars from the road for a year.
  • Prevent 118,000 metric tons of water pollutant emissions.
  • Reduce the amount of toxic materials used by 1,070 metric tons – equivalent to the weight of 534,000 bricks, including enough mercury to fill 157,000 household fever thermometers.
  • Avoid the disposal of 41,100 metric tons of hazardous waste – equivalent to the weight of 20.5 million bricks.

The Green Electronics Council's EPEAT Web site provides guidance for purchasers and manufacturers and hosts the database of EPEAT-registered products.

 

Want to use this article? Click here for options!
© 2012 Penton Media Inc.


Acceptable Use Policy
blog comments powered by Disqus

What You're Saying

Online Resources

Free Webinar

Minimize Turf Equipment Downtime

Toro's web-based systems track your equipment maintenance schedules and parts purchases saving you time, money and making your job easier. Learn from the real-world experience of those using this system on a daily basis!

Register Now

  • Webinars
  • Videos
  • Whitepapers

Browse E-Newsletters

GPN Weekly eNewsletter

Current | Subscribe

GovPro eNewsletter

Current | Subscribe

Use it or Lose it eNewsletter

Current | Subscribe