Eco-Friendly Laptops

Notebooks use less energy and require fewer carbon emissions to manufacture than desktops. They have simpler components and are easier to dispose of than their non-portable counter-parts. Choosing a laptop is not just comfortable and convenient, but also more sustainable. That said, there are also environmental downsides to laptops. They are more difficult to upgrade than desktops, are more fragile which can lead to quicker disposal, and their batteries often contain toxic materials.

Top 5 Green Tips

Power Consumption
Laptop Endlife Management
Product Longevity and Life Cycle Extension
Packaging
Responsible Manufacturers

Top 5 Green Tips

1. Power Consumption

Electricity usage varies widely from one unit to another and energy costs can add up over the years. ENERGY STAR certification offers a breakdown of energy consumption while EPEAT certification, among other things, explains which notebooks have renewable energy accessories, like modular solar panels.

2. Laptop Endlife Management

The EPA estimates that Americans dump 19k tons of laptops a year, which may leach toxins from landfills that can end up in drinking water. End of life practices are evaluated by EPEAT’s certification and often refer to Europe's RoHS standard for assessing the most hazardous substances in consumer electronics.

3. Product Longevity and Life Cycle Extension

You never want to find your laptop outdated 6 months after you buy it. EPEAT rates how easy it is to upgrade a given laptop with common tools and without professional assistance. Consumers should pay special attention to this because laptops are inherently harder to enhance than desktops.

4. Packaging

EPEAT labels assure you that toxins like heavy metals are not allowed in packaging unless they come from recycled content. Composting, disposability and percentage of recycled material are other factors summarized by the program.

5. Responsible Manufacturers

Greener manufacturers make greener products – and often stay competitive in pricing. There are several metrics used to determine who makes a competitive product while serving as a responsible steward of the environment, including GRI, ISO and EMAS.