June 2008: A Note from Jeff Mack
Deliver More Green to Your Bottom Line - Part II

Did you find some useful hints in last month’s article – some new ways to identify the electricity your network uses and how you can conserve and make better use of that precious energy resource? This month we’re moving past electrical usage to look at some additional steps you can take to ensure that your networks are as environmentally friendly as possible.

For starters, let’s look at a couple of the components used in today’s computer systems, specifically the power supply and the display. Today’s power supplies operate at approximately 80% efficiency in terms of converting AC power to DC power. That may not sound all that impressive, but it’s nearly a 50% improvement over power supplies of just a few years ago. Today’s flat panel displays consume approximately 60% less power than the older picture tube models; not to mention the fact that they offer a much improved viewing experience and require much less desk space. That sounds like a win, win, win proposition.

Now let’s examine the materials used in today’s computers. Computer systems are made up of circuit boards and other sub-system devices that frequently contain heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, lead, and tungsten – as well as an abundance of aluminum and plastics. But not as much as they used to: in our example above, the flat panel display uses approximately half the materials of the conventional CRT display screen and only 3% of the amount of lead.

So what can you do to make the most environmentally conscious decisions possible? The EPA launched the DfE (Designed for the Environment) program in 1992 to help manufacturers become more aware of the consequences of their material choices and production practices. The DfE program has evolved over the years to encompass a number of different factors including pollution prevention, energy efficiency, innovative use of materials, and design for ease of recycling.

Today manufacturers and their products are certified to meet DfE standards. Equipment meeting these standards:

• Includes little or no toxic materials in its makeup
• Is manufactured with industrial processes that avoid use of toxic materials
• Is designed to consume as little energy as possible

Unfortunately, DfE labeling is difficult for the consumer to detect because it is used considerably upstream from where you would take possession of a computer system product.

Fortunately, the EPA saved the day once more when they announced EPEAT in 2006. EPEAT stands for Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. EPEAT-registered computer desktops, laptops, and monitors must meet an environmental performance standard for electronic products - IEEE 1680- 2006. Based upon the standards, products are then rated according to the following classifications:

Meets all 23 required criteria	Meets all 23 required criteria plus at least 50% of the optional criteria	Meets all 23 required criteria plus at least 75% of the optional criteria

You do not need to become an expert in all the details since the EPA has already rated the products for you. All you have to do is to search their online product registry. Simply indicate what type of equipment you are looking for and - just like magic - it tells you how the selected products stack up in terms of a minimal environmental footprint. Using EPEAT is a simple and effective way to make a positive impact on the environment and your bottom line. And that’s the bottom line!