Every generation of computers and peripherals are smaller, faster and more versatile. Now that evolution is making them greener as well.
First the size – less is more when it comes to material use. Safer, more recycled and less-toxic materials are being incorporated throughout many new designs, and more and more Energy Star labels are showing up on our shelves, as the newer generations of equipment perform with less environmental impact throughout their lifetime. Here are a few specific examples to look for if you’re thinking about upgrading:
HP Elite laptop models, and the Macintosh MacBook Pro line use recyclable aluminum instead of a plastic finish, and look for mercury-free energy-saving LED screens on Apple, Sony and HP laptops.
Smart surge protectors, like the Conserve from Belkin at $49.99, come
with a remote control that turns off up to six of its eight outlets for
non-essential overnight items like TVs, stereos or computers.
Printers are working on getting greener, too. Canon has a number of printers that offer automatic duplexing, which automatically prints one page, retracts the paper and prints the other side. HP has a free universal duplex driver for many of its laser printers, (including older models) that allows printing on both sides of paper, although using a driver to achieve duplexing means you have to manually take the paper out and turn it over to print the other side. In the last 7 years, Epson has reduced the total power consumption of its new printers by 78 per cent, using more energy-efficient ready and sleep modes.
Scanners (stand-alone, or those included in multi-function printers) are
using less power, too, thanks to LED light technology that allows them to be ready to scan almost instantly instead of having to warm up for a few minutes.
If you want to find out more, visit your local London Drugs and look for the What’s the Green Deal feature signs in our Computer Department.
