Go Green Without Reducing Your Geek Chic

Dell has launched its Studio Hybrid their greenest consumer desktop PC. Their smallest design is about 80% smaller than standard desktops, and it contains about 75% less printed documentation by weight when compared to typical tower desktops.

Going green without cramping your style, Studio Hybrid, personalisation is easy with 6 interchangeable color sleeves or also one in bamboo (for an extra $130 USD (or £110 in the UK with a 15 day extra wait on delivered systems), but what's $130, when your saving the planet). So why the huge extra cost in the UK? and why charge an extra £30 to select the colour of your choice, when you charge £29.99 for two covers, surely multiple plastic covers are not a good thing right? and in the US Dell charge no fee to choose another base colour? and only £10 for extra plastic covers.

However, the Hybrid uses about 70% less power than a typical desktop, and meets Energy Star® 4.0 standards with an 87% efficient power supply. The system uses only 1 watt of power when off or in hibernate mode, 26W while sitting idle, and 44W when pushed to the limit. Studio Hybrid packaging is made from 95% recyclable materials. And the Studio Hybrid comes with a system-recycling kit, so you can help preserve and protect the environment.

Systems in the US start at $499 (ex del) and in the UK at £399 (inc del).

Related Articles
Paper & Plastic?
Energy Saving Tip - Staples
Picture: Gadgets Threaten Energy Savings

Voluntary Bulb Ban Initiated

The highest wattage incandescent bulbs will no longer be available on the shelves of some high street stores across the UK from early next year as part of an effort to reduce energy use and 5m tonnes of CO2 emissions (0.9% of UK CO2 emissions).

The voluntary initiative is being backed by leading retailers, (ASDA, B&Q, The Co-operative Group, Home Retail Group (Argos and Homebase), IKEA, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco, Waitrose, Wickes, Woolworths, British Retail Consortium, Association of Convenience Stores and the British Hardware Federation) and energy suppliers as part of their activities through the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT).

“Retailers are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and play an active role in helping consumers reduce their own environmental impact. This is just the latest in a number of initiatives in which retailers are helping to shape consumer habits through the promotion of energy saving products. We look forward to working closely with Government and manufacturers in the lead up to the 2011 deadline to ensure the supply of energy saving light bulbs matches demand, and that they become a viable alternative to conventional light bulbs for consumers of all incomes”
Kevin Hawkins, Director General, British Retail Consortium

“We fully support the idea of phasing out inefficient lighting in favour of energy efficient light-bulbs. In most homes, lighting accounts for 10 – 15% of the electricity bill and UK households currently use £1.8 billion worth of electricity every year on lighting. An energy saving light bulb can last up to 10 times longer than a non-efficient version. Just one energy saving bulb could save up to £7 a year, fit all the lights in your house with energy saving bulbs and you could save around £600 over the lifetime of the bulbs. If everyone in the UK installed three energy saving light bulbs, we would save enough energy to power all the UK’s street lighting for a year.”
Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive, Energy Saving Trust

The government has proposed, as an illustrative schedule for the phase out of inefficient lamps, that retailers are suggested to follow:

• By January 2008, cease replacing stock of all inefficient (General Lighting Service, GLS) A-shaped incandescent lamps of energy rating higher than 100W (predominantly 150W lamps).
• By January 2009, cease selling all inefficient GLS A-shaped lamps of energy rating higher than 60W (predominantly 150W lamps, 100W lamps, plus some 75W lamps)
• By January 2010, cease selling all GLS A-shaped lamps of efficacy of energy rating higher than 40W (predominantly 60W lamps)
• By 31 December 2011, cease selling all remaining inefficient GLS A-shaped lamps and 60W "candle" and "golfball" lamps. (predominantly 40W and 25W A-shaped GLS bulbs, and 60W candles and golfballs).

Each house in the UK currently has on average 23.5 light bulbs. Lighting accounts for 19% of electricity use worldwide, and using the most efficient lighting, such as CFLs or LED lighting can reduce electricity use through lighting by up to 90%, potentially saving £120 a year per household.

“Britain is leading the way in getting rid of energy-guzzling light bulbs and helping consumers reduce their carbon footprint. Choosing energy saving light bulbs can help tackle climate change, and also cut household bills, with each bulb saving up to £60 over its lifetime. I am delighted that major companies have said they are prepared to help deliver this ambitious timetable and offer products which will help their own customers play their part in combating climate change. But there are many more energy hungry gadgets on sale in shops that waste too much energy. That’s why I want to see today’s initiative widened. I want to see more retailers, manufacturers and service providers taking action to phase out the least efficient products from their ranges, for example, certain set top boxes and TVs, and so help offer greener choices to their customers.”
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment

This voluntary initiative will be an effective curb on carbon emissions from the home for the near future, and could potentially lead to an annual reduction of CO2 emissions of 5m tonnes (0.9% of UK CO2 emissions), equivalent to taking 1.8m cars off the roads. The benefits of this will be felt by all parties, with the negative impact being felt only by those who oppose energy efficient bulbs for whatever ideology (Matt Wright explains the most common excuses). There is one important factor to consider for the future and that is the disposal of the bulbs as they contain mercury. They are now covered under WEEE, but educating the public of the need to recycle could be a greater task than having previously asked them to buy energy saving bulbs in the first place.

The benefits far outweigh the potential negatives and could not only reduce emissions but improve the quality of life through reduced air pollution, government from the reduced adverse social impacts of power stations will also benefit financially. Energy companies and government will also be able to effectively increase renewable energy rates in percentage points in a short period of time, and as more renewable energy farms are built they will provide a greater proportion of total national usage than they would have previously. It's only a shame they didn't phase it in faster. Goodbye Bulb!

Freezing Electricity Consumption

Our household has one under counter fridge in the house, a fridge freezer and an under counter freezer in the garage, both are over ten years old. For about a week I have been contemplating purchasing a new tall freezer to replace those that are in the garage, as an environmental and financially sound idea. Today I ordered a Hotpoint RZA54G graphite tall freezer with an energy rating of A, from the product specifications it should use approximately 257kWh per year. Using statistics I researched previously, due to the age of the appliances I have they could use up to four times the energy as the new energy efficient models. Thus I believe the new purchase could prevent me using 750kWh a year and 380kg of CO2 emissions through electricity generation (even though I am on a green tariff, but the less green energy I use, the more for someone else). Assuming my calculations are correct, the freezer will have paid for itself in less than four years through reduced electricity consumption.

Find energy saving washing machines, fridges, heating, lighting and televisions.

But the purchase also poses another question, what to do with my old appliances, as fridges are covered by WEEE, they need to be recycled in a controlled manner, as they always should even before WEEE. Curry's, a leading UK electrics retailer recently launched their free delivery and recycling service with a purchase of A rated energy efficient appliances over £249. Tesco also offer a collection service for an additional fee to that of the appliance, approximately £12.

However a phone call to your local council maybe all that is necessary for a free-of-charge collection of your unwanted bulky household items for recycling. My local council offers this service, however demand is often high and you may need to wait several weeks before collection. Find your Local Council.

My local council area, Lisburn City Council recycled 42.68 tonnes of fridges and freezers between January and March 2006.

"The Longest WEEE in History"

From today, 01 July 2007, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive is now enforcable in the UK. After many delays the legislation was initially intended to be in force in August 2005. Implementing the scheme into the UK is estimated to have cost £111m - £133m, and by 2017 will have cost £331m - £434m according to figures from the Department of Trade and Industry.

Covered under the legislation is ten types of product each given their own specific category;

• Large household appliances: fridges, freezers, microwave ovens, washing machines
• Small household appliances: vacuum cleaners, toasters, coffee machines, electric toothbrushes
• IT and telecommunications equipment: PCs, laptops, monitors, keyboards, printers, cordless phones
• Consumer equipment: radios, TVs, DVD players, video recorders etc
• Lighting equipment: low-energy Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are classified as WEEE
• Electric tools: all tools such as drills, saws, sewing machines. Only large, stationary industrial tools are exempt
• Toys, sport and leisure equipment: electric trains, game consoles, cycle computers etc
• Medical devices: implanted or infected products are exempt
• Monitoring and control devices: smoke alarms, thermostats, etc
• Automated devices: this classification covers all appliances that automatically deliver products, for example, drinks, food, money, etc.

The WEEE directive obligates manufactures and importers of electrical equipment covered under the scheme responsible for the recycling of their products at no cost to the consumer, the intention is that this will increase the amount of electronics being recycled and reduce the amount of ewaste which ends up in our landfill sites, which pose a substaintial environmental threat from the dangerous substances that are contained within. I have previously written about mobile phones and CFL bulbs, each of which contain dangerous chemicals which need to be disposed or reclaimed of in a controlled manner.

Under the directive each of the European Union nations must meet a target of recycling a minimum 4kg of ewaste per resident. Whilst manufactures and importers are obligated, there is not obligation on the consumer to recycle their ewaste, however since August 2005, most electronic devices have been issued with a new logo (pictured above) to try discourage disposal in general household waste.

To guage how big a problem ewaste is in the UK, each year we dispose of 1.2m tonnes of waste electronics, the majority of which makes its way to landfills. Through the implementation of WEEE, it is anticipated that 20% will be diverted from landfill, however industry analysts predict that this figure will be far greater.

Whilst the implementation has taken longer than expected the systems in place to help reduce waste going to landfill are welcomed by all, any reduction in ewaste is a benefit to the environment. With the new legislation in place it will also act as an incentive to companies to ensure that their products are made from materials which can easily and cost effectively be recycled, ultimately the cost of the scheme will be bourne by the consumer, but in the compeitive high demand world of electronics this will be a marginal increase on the price of each product.

Mobile Phone Recycling

Every hour in the UK 1712 people upgrade their mobile phone. Only 30% of the redundant phones will be eventually recycled with the rest abandonned in drawers or sent to landfills. In the UK alone it is estimated there is in excess of 80m outdated phones gathering dust with an annual increase of 10m.

Waste from mobile phones has become a major environmental issue, in particular some of the many substances used to manufacture mobiles contain the deadliest toxins known to man, these include Arsenic, Mercury, Cadmium, Palladium, Lead and Beryllium. It therefore is essential that mobile phones are recycles to ensure disposal of any harmful toxins in a controlled manner.

Phones that are able to be refurbished are often refurbished, to an as new standard, extending the product life, the phones are then exported to developing countries providing affordable first time communication equipment and improving local communities and economies.

Phones that can be broken down for parts that can be reused, materials that can be extracted and recycled into the production of new phones. Remaining unsalvageable parts are sent for certified safe disposal to meet WEEE legislation that governs the cycle of electrical waste into the environment.

In the UK there are many schemes and companies offering mobile phone recycling, here are a few;

Tesco, has for several years offered mobile phone recycling, for exchanging your old functioning mobile phone you can claim 500 clubcard points or alternatively donate £5 to charity. Also available is ink jet cartridge recycling.

Oxfam recycle phones with all profits going towards their charitible work. In the UK alone their scheme has ensured 22 500 kilos of electronic waste has been diverted from landfill sites.

In the US the following organisations offer cellular phone recycling;

Collective Good offer a recycling service, a donation is made to a chosen charity for each phone and the owner of the phone is able to claim a tax credit.

Wireless Recycling offer a database of 40 000 locations where you can recycle your phone and help charities.

If you would like to recycle your mobile phone but can not find a solution in your country or area you can send them to, eWaste Recycling, 1 Conway Street, Lisburn, BT27 4AD, United Kingdom. For each working phone received a minimum donation of £5 will be given to Christian Aid. Christian Aid work in over 50 of the world's poorest countries regardless of race or faith.

Green to the Core ... A Greener Apple

Apple have been in the past critised for its impact on the environment. In April it ranked at the bottom of electronics manufactures compiled by Greenpeace, and their Cupertino offices and conferences have seen banner-waving activists driving the issue to the forefront of the mind of Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

"Apple has been criticized by some environmental organizations for not being a leader in removing toxic chemicals from its new products, and for not aggressively or properly recycling its old products"

A Greener Apple, Apple Inc

So it was no surprise that Apple announced yesterday, in a press release from Steve Jobs on the home page of apple.com that they said the company would stop using toxic and hazardous chemicals in manufacturing. In the statement Apple explained what it had already done to clean up its manufacturing processes and laid out how it was planning to make them greener.


Summary of "A Greener Apple"

• Apple now no longer offer CRT monitors (A typical CRT monitor contains 1.3kg of Lead)
• Apple phased out Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Decabromodiphenyl Ether in all products several years ago to comply with RoSH
• Apple plans to completely eliminate the use of arsenic in all of its displays by the end of 2008
• Apple plans to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of mercury by transitioning to LED backlighting for all displays when technically and economically feasible.
• Apple plans to completely eliminate the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in its products by the end of 2008
• All the ewaste collected in North America is processed in the U.S., and nothing is shipped overseas for disposal
• Apple started recycling in 1994 and today it operates recycling programs in countries where more than 82% of all Macs and iPods are sold. By the end of this year, that figure will increase to 93%
• All of Apple’s U.S. retail stores, which now number more than 150, take back unwanted iPods for environmentally friendly disposal free of charge. As an incentive, they even offer customers a 10% discount on a new iPod when they bring their old iPod to their stores for proper disposal

"Today we're changing our policy."
Steve Jobs, Apple Inc CEO

Greenpeace reacted to the statement by ... releasing a statement, praising the efforts of Apple "bringing us closer to the greener apple that Mac users all over the world have been asking for."

However one issue that has arisen is the US only commitment not to dump ewaste on Asia and India. Elsewhere in the world, an Apple product today can still be tomorrow's ewaste. Other manufacturers offer worldwide takeback and recycling, if Apple really want to compete on green credentials they should too.

"They've made clear what they want-- an Apple which isn't just skin-deep green, but green to the core"

Tasty News From Apple, Greenpeace

Hopefully other electronics firms will follow suit and reduce the harmful chemicals contained in their products. But this also raises concern of how our ewaste is disposed, with large numbers of CRT monitors still in homes around the world. In Europe, disposal of CRT monitors are covered by the WEEE Directive. In October 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency created rules for disposing of CRTs stating that they must be brought to special recycling centres. In November 2002, the EPA began fining companies that disposed of CRTs through landfills or incineration.

If you have a CRT monitor you need recycled in the UK, contact the manufacture direct or contact your local authority. Contact details are available from DirectGov.