Earth Hour - save money by greening up your PC
Environmentally friendly PCs can save the owner money as well as earning eco kudos.
In the lead up to Earth Hour tomorrow (8.30pm), iolo Technologies has released guidelines to reducing the carbon footprint of a PC.
The company said in its release that the average PC consumes US$0.96 of electricity a day, meaning reducing a computer’s up to 500kg carbon footprint can save consumers money.
The keys to being both monetarily savvy and environmentally friendly, it reports, are to be energy efficient, by switching off computers at the power point when not in use, and to reduce waste, by recycling or donating electronic waste.
The company reports that New Zealanders dispose of over 80,000 tonnes of electronic waste every year, and e-waste is responsible for 70% of toxic chemicals found in landfills, such as lead and mercury.
Recycling companies in New Zealand include The Ark, who accept donations of equipment, preferably from businesses, for use in New Zealand schools, in the homes of families with school-age children and around the Pacific Islands.
Another company that recycles PC waste is Giga Computers, who offer free recycling for businesses, and if the computer is less than three years old, value recovery (value from sale of the equipment is returned to the owner). Home-owners can have their computer picked up for about $15 plus $14 per item.
Both companies use a scrubbing programme of U.S. Defence Force standards that removes all information from the computers before re-use.
iolo Technologies creates and sells PC tune up software including System Mechanic and Drive Scrubber.
NBR Staff
Fri, 25 Mar 2011
Fri, 25 Mar 2011
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Earth Hour - save money by greening up your PC
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