HP First to Hit Gold Computing Standard
by Mark Ontkush, Boston, Massachusetts, USA on 06. 7.07
HP just released the first PC on the market to achieve EPEAT (Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool) gold status. EPEAT-registered products are designated as "bronze," "silver," or "gold," depending on the number of environmental features they possess, such as reduced levels of hazardous materials, improved energy efficiency, and ease of upgrade and recycle. The EPEAT standard was developed over the course of 2 years with full involvement from all major computing equipment vendors, and was funded from the US EPA; it is the gold standard of all the environmental computing standards.
The HP's rp5700 Business Desktop PC comes with a standard 80 percent efficient power supply; many PCs settle on 65 percent. That extra efficiency means lower electrical usage as well as less heat, all of which contributes to cost savings. Also, the systems have an (unheard of) five-year lifecycle. According to HP, the systems are built with 95 percent recyclable components, and the plastic components are made, on average, of at least 10 percent post-consumer recycled plastics. Additionally, the outer packaging contains at least 25 percent post-consumer recycled cardboard. But there's still more.
HP also has developed a solar renewable energy source as an alternative power choice for the computer. Called the Solar PowerPac II, when charged it can provide up to 600 watt-hours of power for small loads. The PowerPac is big and costly - it weighs 60 pounds and has a price tag of $1,325 - but is a innovative option. Like other PCs that have recently made it to the market, both from HP and Dell, only certain configurations of the rp5700 meet the Energy Star 4.0 standard, and it is questionable whether Microsoft Vista will run on such a system. But the rp5700 supports both Windows 2000 and XP as well, which is what Treehugger recommends over Vista. Great job HP on your victory! :: Infoworld :: HP
The hp solar pack at $1400: http://tinyurl.com/2y69xx
is EXACTLY this item available for $800: http://store.sundancesolar.com/40wasoensywi.html
You can also put these parts together yourself for about $500 or build it from scratch for $400: http://gosunsolutions.com/home/content/view/39/2/
Go solar!
A 5 year life-cycle is not unheard of. It makes sense to have a 5 year life-cycle, from an energy perspective.
With 80% of the computer's life-time energy consumption already consumed, to use the computer for 1 year longer and delay the purchase of the next one makes a big difference (about 20% of total life-time energy).
All of our computers have been having a 5 year life-cycle for many years.
80% efficient power supplies are standard for all computers listed on EPEAT. This is nothing special.
Better engineered electronics can save an additional 5 to 10%.
EPEAT, just like ROHS, do not regulate "all" hazardous substances:
Sheet metal stamping requires oil sprayed on the sheet metal while it travels through the stamping tool. Only in Europe are regulations that oil cannot be sprayed without the air being cleaned afterwards, one of the reasons they don't spray, so the air doesn't need to be cleaned up. A lot of the sprayed paint also ends up in the environment and is not filtered. Many companies in Europe do not spray paint, they use pre-painted sheet metal.
HP's website says that this computer exceeds ROHS regulations, which are basically the same EPEATs (EPEAT goes further on recycling, etc. which is not part of ROHS), but they don't say how they exceed it.
Maybe it is a little bit early to congratulate HP to their "victory". Who wins? The PR department of HP?
The solar pack is an interesting idea. But it is hardly unique to HP. Any computer can be hooked up to this device as it converts 12V back into 110V and provides a standard electrical outlet. That means my computers can be solar powered too, or anybody else's for that matter.
Best regards
Thomas Schramm
GreenMachineShop.com
America's Greenest Computer