Purchasing Guide
- Choose laptops over desktops
- Look for Energy Star label
- Choose flat panel screens over CRT monitors
- Use the EPEAT rating system for electronics to evaluate their environmental performance
Laptops use 1/4 the energy of desktops
Distinct advantages at Harvard:
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Mobility - have your computer on hand when in the library, classroom, and common areas.
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Flexibility - wireless networking is expanding at Harvard, increasing the convenience a laptop can offer.
If you do purchase a laptop, please be aware of ergonomic considerations and consider an external mouse and keyboard. Check out the following websites for further information:
Look for the Energy Star label
To revew a list of Energy Star-labeled printers, monitors, computers and other equipment, visit the Energy Star website.
Energy Star-labeled printers will automatically power down when not in use for a certain period of time. This saves energy and reduces the amount of heat your printer generates, which means it may last longer and be more reliable. Additional consideration for printers if you find you need one:
- Ink-jet printers use 80 to 90% less energy to print than laser printers.
- Network and share a printer.
Flat-panel screens use 1/3 the energy of CRT monitors.
Additional benefits of flat-panel LCD screens include:
- More desk space
- Lighter weight (easier to move)
- Faster return from sleep mode
- Improved brightness and contrast
- Less glare (which reduces eyestrain) and reduced harmonic distortion
- No emission of harmful radiation (therefore, no lead content in the monitor to worry about when it's time to dispose of it!)
When shopping for a monitor, you should be aware that the systems used to measure CRT and flat-panel monitors are different, meaning that their widths are not directly comparable. A "15-inch" LCD is about 1.5 inches wider than a "15-inch" CRT. Also, please note that the term "flat screen" refers to modified CRT screens that are not energy-efficient. For more information on LCD versus CRT, please see the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website.
** Remember, buy a monitor only as large as you really need. A 17-inch monitor can use twice as much energy as a 15-inch monitor when each is in an active mode. **
USE the EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool)
EPEAT is a system to help purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare and select desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT also provides a clear and consistent set of performance criteria for the design of products, and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to secure market recognition for efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its products."
you can find more information on this at: http://www.epeat.net/
EPEAT evaluates electronics according to a set of environmental criteria in 8 environmental performance categories:
- Reduction/Elimination of Environmentally Sensitive Materials
- Material Selection
- Design for End of Life
- Product Longevity/ Life Cycle Extension
- Energy Conservation
- End of Life Management
- Corporate Performance
- Packaging
