Posts Tagged environment

Apple Mac Mini: The Eco Friendly Machine


354_7_apple_mac_miniEnvironment is becoming a growing concern across the globe. Computers are adding to this problem every day. There is an increased focus amongst users and manufacturers to create and innovate environment friendly machines, without compromising the growing need of effective and efficient powerful computing.enviro_recycle20090303

Apple has been a pioneer in technology innovation. They have answered the call of people and nature together by creating Mac Mini. This is probably the most environment friendly machine available off the shelf today.

The following elements determine the environment friendliness of any computer:

  1. Degree of toxins used in manufacturing cycles
  2. Packaging of the computers
  3. Recyclability of computer components
  4. Energy consumption of various devices

Apple has managed to address all these elements aggressively with their MacMini product.

Elimination of Toxins

Apple has made tremendous improvements in reduction of toxins that are part of the computer manufacturing process. They have removed Brominated Flame Retardents(BFRs) and Polyvinyl Chloride(PVC) from circuit boards, internal cables, connectors and many such internal components in Mac Mini.

Packaging

Apple has not only reduced the size of the machine, but also used a combination of highly recyclable aluminum and polycarbonate to construct the external casing. This makes it one of the most material efficient desktop computers in the world.

The outer packaging of the finished product is also about 60% smaller than its competitors and previous Mac versions. This also results in reduced impact on our environment.

Energy Consumption

The hardware components used in Mac Mini are ENERGY compliant and use very little energy. This clubbed with capabilities of Mac OS X allows dynamic adjustment of power consumption. It allows longer battery life also. According to Apple, this machine uses up to 45% less energy than its predecessors. This computer is also certified by ENERGY STAR and meets the requirements of Energy Star version 5.0.

Recyclability

Mac Mini is EPAT Gold certified, which is the highest rating for recyclability of computers. This not only looks at the recycling, but also looks at energy efficiency, designing and manufacturing.

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Tags: Apple, consumption, environment, Green, Mac, macintosh, Mini, OS X, power, recycle

Green & Clean Windows 7


Technology has covered every aspect of our lives. While we are trying to focus on our environment, it will be unfair and unintelligent of us to exclude the device that touches our lives so closely and can contribute to a Greener environment: The Personal Computer.

Here is some food for thought:

1. The average computers idle time consumes 69 to 97 percent of its total energy use.

2. With the computer turned on and all peripherals activated, the system consumed an average of 171 watts which is equivalent to having thirteen 13 watt CFL powered lamps turned on.

In our existing environmental situation, PCs can contribute a lot with the degree of penetration that these devices have, even in developing countries. While there is constant focus amongst hardware manufacturers to produce devices that consume less electricity, it is also the responsibility of Software vendors to provide interface to users to save power consumption.

This is one of the aspects that Microsoft has attempted to address with Windows 7. Microsoft has claimed that Windows 7 will provide better power management capabilities than Windows Vista or XP. Windows 7 will manage standby and hibernate modes more efficiently, which is not such a stable feature in Vista or XP. This will allow users to utilize these functions of the Operating System and save both power and environment. This would also tranlate to better battery time for Laptop Users.

Good Job Microsoft. Keep working on the environment while the cash registers keep ringing.

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Tags: environment, Green, Microsoft, Windows 7