|
space Press Releases, News Stories |
|
Greenwire 15 August 2002 -- NEC launched on Monday the first environmentally-friendly personal computer, the PowerMate eco. Although intended for business users, the computer features design concepts that could be applied to home PCs. Those features include: a fully recyclable plastic called NuCycle that contains no toxic flame-retardant coatings, a lead-free solder in the main circuitry of the PC that makes reclaiming the motherboard easier for recyclers and less hazardous to the water supply, and an energy-efficient 900 MHz Crusoe processor that consumes one-third the electricity and produces one-third the heat of conventional desktop PC processors. NEC is only offering the machine through select online retailers, but the first shipment in early August is already sold out (Mike Langberg, San Jose Mercury News, Aug. 15). Although NEC is the first computer manufacturer to make environmental friendliness a design goal, and one that is marketable to buyers, the eco still contains toxic metals such as mercury. And there are still questions swirling about the recycling of so-called "e-waste." California prohibited state landfills last year from accepting any more TVs or computer monitors, which commonly contain toxic materials. New legislation being considered by the state Assembly and already passed by the state Senate would add as much as $30 to the cost of a new computer and TV set by 2004 to help cities and trash companies pay for the expensive collection process. The proposal would also call on electronics makers to put a warning label on each new computer and TV that contains hazardous material (Greenwire, June 26). A San Jose Mercury News editorial: "Green PCs like the PowerMate won't be enough to offset a growing environmental danger." The paper adds: "Officials from Bay Area cities, including San Francisco, San Jose and Mountain View, plan to announce today proposals that would require retailers to take back PCs and TVs at no cost to consumers. A far better approach would be to require that PCs, like other products needing special disposal, include the cost of their safe disposal in their price". FAIR USE NOTICE. This document contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The Basel Action Network is making this article available in our efforts to advance understanding of ecological sustainability and environmental justice issues. We believe that this constitutes a `fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond `fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. More News |