| > | | | | be disposed of somehow, which means all that |
| | | | lead ends up somewhere. Even if many parts find |
| The article covers the new trend of | | | | there way into reused PCs and Refurbished |
| environmentally friendly computers being | | | | Laptops, landfills still have an enormous amount o |
| manufactured, as well as their possible impact on | | | | lead to deal with. |
| Global Warming. | | | | Europe has begun to take the computer disposal |
| Global Warming as most know is a phenomenon | | | | problem seriously. With lead-free computing the |
| that is changing the climate of the Earth slowly | | | | goal, several regulations are currently being |
| and dramatically. One of the primary causes is | | | | established to help promote the concept of a |
| carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere | | | | Green PC. In America, Dell Inc pledged to |
| which helps trap heat that the earth would | | | | plant a tree for every PC they sell beginning in |
| normally release. The trapped heat builds up | | | | early 2008. This type of environmental concern |
| over time and causes climate shifts across the | | | | is not new to Dell. In 2004 they started a |
| globe. These shifts in general mean that warmer | | | | program where they would recycle |
| climates can cool down, and cooler climates may | | | | anyone’s old PC if they upgraded to Dell |
| warm up. When the coldest areas on earth such | | | | hardware. |
| as the North and South Poles warm up, the ice in | | | | PC World is currently working on a carbon neutral |
| these areas begins to melt. The result is an | | | | PC that focuses primarily on decreasing the |
| enormous amount of new water in the | | | | power requirements of the computer meaning |
| Earth’s oceans, and the coastal regions will | | | | less carbon in the atmosphere over time. While |
| end up submerged. Computers have been a | | | | this is a strong step in the right direction, it is only |
| growing part in the Global warming problem.Coal | | | | a start. Almost 75% of all the environmental |
| pits, air conditioners, cars and factories are all | | | | damage a computer will do over its lifetime is |
| obvious culprits in the Global Warming issue. | | | | done before the consumer turns it on according |
| Computers however have gone for the most | | | | to a 2004 UN University report. The |
| part unnoticed by many who are concerned by | | | | manufacturing process PCs go through is the real |
| the environment. A PC draws between 200 and | | | | environmental concern as on average 10 times |
| 700 watts when left on. Compared to an | | | | the weight of the PC in raw materials will be |
| automobile commuting 2 hours a day this | | | | burned through during its creation. This is a |
| isn’t much, but it is much more than a | | | | problem bigger than the US as a great deal of |
| DVD player or a TV. 600 watts over time will | | | | hardware used in American computers is |
| add considerably to an electric bill, and it will send | | | | imported. Companies such as Dell and Gateway |
| a great deal of CO2 into the atmosphere over | | | | will have to become more mindful of where the |
| the course of a year. | | | | parts they are using come from, and perhaps |
| Computer components contain a considerable | | | | refuse to purchase from firms that are not |
| amount of lead. In a single PC this is no issue at | | | | environmentally friendly. This would more than |
| all, but when looking at computers globally it | | | | likely increase the cost of computers immediately, |
| becomes a huge problem. The computers must | | | | but that may be a necessary change. |