Many computer manufacturers participate in the Energy Star® program, a voluntary leadership program established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. This program requires machines to have a power-management feature, and it establishes guidelines for maximum energy consumption for computers and monitors during "sleep" mode. Although screen savers may extend the life of monitors, they do not provide the same energy savings as sleep functions.
Computer equipment contains materials that can pose a threat to the environment if not managed carefully at the end of their useful life. Desktop color monitors typically contain about two or more pounds of lead, and lead can also be found inside in the circuit boards of the computer. Most desktop computers use some type of on-board battery that may contain lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals. As toxic materials, lead and other heavy metals should not be released into the environment. Additionally, laptop computers typically are powered by a rechargeable battery that must be specially disposed of or recycled.
By using leasing programs or purchase agreements that require the retailer, distributor, or manufacturer to take equipment back, you can avoid the need to manage it as a waste. This transfers the responsibility for the management of toxic materials to those who provide the equipment. Furthermore, depending upon the replacement schedule, your machines or their various components could have value for reuseProducts or materials that, after serving their original function, can be used again in their present form; some are designed to be reused repeatedly, while others not specifically designed for reuse are creatively used to fill a need..
More savings can be gained by purchasingThe act and the function of responsibility for the acquisition of equipment, materials, supplies, and services. In a narrow sense, the term describes the process of buying. In a broader sense, the term describes determining the need, selecting the supplier, arriving at a fair and reasonable price and terms, preparing the contract or purchase order, and following up to ensure timely delivery. computers that are easily upgraded without special tools and that have expandable memory and storage capacity. These choices can reduce the need for replacement equipment as well as the frequency with which the office must pay to manage waste machines.
Current standards require computers to use as little as 15% or less of the usual energy flow during sleep mode. According to Energy Star® guidelines, monitors equipped with a sleep feature can save 60% to 80% of the energy that would otherwise be wasted, depending on use.
The only difference in performance of computers and monitors with sleep features is the few seconds it takes to "wake up" the machine from sleep mode. This is a small compromise for the benefits of saving energy and significantly extending the life of the machines, especially monitor screens.
It is important to check that the sleep function is fully activated. Vendors may not always deliver Energy Star® compliant equipment with the sleep function activated, thus requiring users to set the function themselves. Most system software packages allow the user to set the sleep function for the computer and the monitor, although some widely used Microsoft NT operating system products do not. For example, those using NT 4.0 Workstation previous to ServicePack 5 need to activate the computer's sleep functions directly in the computer hardware's BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). The monitor's sleep functions will work if they are set on-screen with the monitor's own controls. If, however, they rely on the computer's BIOS, the sleep settings will have to be enabled in the BIOS before starting NT or Windows (or whichever operating system is installed). Other computers will merely require a change to be made via the operating system. Ask your office technical support staff if you need help making these adjustments.
Also ensure that no screen savers will prevent the machine from going into sleep mode. Although screen savers can extend the life of monitors, most do not save energy because of this conflict.
Hundreds of computers, monitors, and terminals have been certified as Energy Star® compliant. Visit the Energy Star® web site to view a complete, up-to-date list of qualifying models.
Leasing
Several national and local companies provide computer leasing
services, ranging from a few machines to hundreds.
Take-Back
A growing number of computer manufacturers and distributors are
responding to the environmental and financial interests of their
customers by offering to take back their equipment at the end of its
service life. Currently, a limited but growing number of computer
processing companies in Minnesota offer local opportunities for
computer equipment vendors to process equipment they take back.
Energy Star® compliant computer equipment saves money by cutting energy costs. Energy Star® compliant computer equipment typically costs no more to buy than comparable models without power-management features. The sleep feature also reduces stress and wear on the equipment, extending its life well beyond that of equipment without power management features.
To estimate potential energy cost savings for your workplace's computers, copiers, printers and other equipment, visit the Energy Star® web site to use the Energy Star® Cost Calculator Tools. These online tools calculate lifetime energy cost savings for specific products at various efficiency levels and hours of operation.
Leasing
Computer leasing can offer financial benefits over outright
purchasing, depending upon your workplace's needs, the expected
replacement or upgrade schedule for equipment, and the terms of the
agreement with the leasing company. Leasing should also mean your
organization does not have to budget for disposal costs or be
concerned about environmental liabilities because the leasing
company maintains ownership of the equipment. However, interest
rates for leasing may mean a higher initial cost compared to
purchasing.
Take-Back
Take-back clauses may or may not save money overall. A vendor
may seek to charge an up-front fee or incorporate the cost of
disposal or recycling in the purchase cost of the equipment.
Alternatively,
there may be no difference in price, or even a credit if there is
remaining market value in the item. This will vary case by case.
However, consider the cost your organization will face for proper
disposal and recycling -
and the cost of staff time to arrange for it -
if your contract does not include a take-back requirement.
The Energy Star® program has published the Energy Star® Purchasing Tool Kit offering sample procurement language for Energy Star® compliant computers and monitors, specifications for Energy Star® compliant equipment, success stories, savings calculators and other informative resources. The Tool Kit is available online or by calling Energy Star® toll-free at 888/STAR-YES (888/782-7937).
A general specification in a bid solicitation can be used to establish a requirement for Energy Star® compliance, such as the following:
"All computer equipment must meet federal Energy Star® power consumption guidelines and be shipped with the Energy Star® functions enabled."
Take-Back
In both leasing agreements and purchase contracts, use take-back
clauses. These clauses should specify that any units -
or lead-bearing components
resulting from unit disassembly -
are to be processed to recover and
recycle the lead if the unit or components are determined to have no
market value or are obsolete. This is particularly important with
color monitors, which contain a significant amount of lead.
There should also be a clause specifying that any batteries containing heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, lithium, or silver, are properly removed and either recycled or managed as a hazardous waste before the unit is disposed. Consider specifying that the vendor make every attempt to assure recycling of the plastic, metal, and glass resulting from processing obsolete machines.
Contracts should require a certification of final disposition that documents what happens to the units, particularly the lead from the monitor's cathode ray tube (CRT) and batteries. This is especially wise if your organization owned the equipment.
If prospective vendors are not aware of options for recovery and processing, you may direct them to the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance or to county solid or hazardous waste offices (see Appendix C) for referrals to businesses in Minnesota and the surrounding area that perform these services. This may lead them to agree to take-back clauses in your agreement or contract.
State contracts for computer equipment are now available. The contracts require that computer equipment be Energy Star® compliant, and they include leasing opportunities. In addition, a new state contract to manage the disposal of computers is available. This contract provides for the pickup, transportation, recycling, and proper disposal of electronic hazardous waste by-products. See the contracts listed below and Cooperative Purchasing Venture for information on accessing these contracts.
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C-405(5) Computers: Apple HW, SW, Maintenance
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C-809(5) Computers: Compaq HW, SW, Peripherals
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C-813(5) Computers: Comark HW, SW, Maintenance
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C-808(5) Computers: Gateway HW, SW, Maintenance
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C-705(5) Computers: Micron Personal
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C-738(5) Computers: Unisys HW, SW, Maintenance
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C-787(5) Computers: Omnitech
Cooperative Purchasing -
U.S. Communities Program
Many
environmentally-preferable computer equipment options are available
through the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance, often
with preferred pricing. Counties, cities, and schools may join this
program to access contracts with six national vendors that provide
equipment sales, technical support, and repair services: Comark,
CompUSA, Gateway, IBM, MicronPC, and Software Spectrum. See Cooperative
Purchasing - U.S. Communities for information on this
program, or visit the U.S.
Communities web site.
Other Vendors
Visit the Energy Star®
web site to view a complete, up-to-date list of Energy Star®
compliant computers, monitors, and terminals.
Leasing programs are offered by most national computer companies, such as Dell, IBM, Apple, Compaq, and Gateway. National financing companies, such as GE Capital, also provide this service. To readily locate vendors on the Internet, use a search engine to look for "computer leasing." The Yellow Pages also provides local vendor options under "Computers."
Some of the larger leasing companies offer plans to resell whole machines or components, or to process obsolete equipment to recover lead and other materials. Some smaller vendors and local companies draw on the processing services of other companies; at least six electronics and computer processing companies in Minnesota use various methods to recover materials.
Energy Star® "sleep" features help reduce energy use, but computers and monitors should still be turned off for maximum energy savings.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 4/00. The SWMCB includes members from the Minnesota metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington, with ex-officio members from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Last Revised April 18, 2008 - 9:10am