The green-computing movement, which begin with back in 1992, strives to ensure that the computer industry adopts various environmentally sustainable practices, such as creating more environmentally sound products and ensuring that those products' manufacturing processes, overall design, everyday use and eventual disposal have as small an environmental impact as possible.
It's no secret that not every manufacturer is as eco-centric as they could be, but with the help of and a handful of selected software, you can do your part.
One example of poor eco-design comes courtesy of the new USB Eco Button.
Saving some money on your energy bills is one thing, but saving the entire planet is a much more admirable goal. Unfortunately the , which promises to save both the planet and your wallet, fails on both counts, adding to the ever-growing list of .
The , which is essentially a USB-powered plastic button, puts any Windows based machine, except those running Windows 7, into a . Once activated, the included software will then monitor your computers power usage, in addition to recording how much CO2 the Eco Button has saved.
The problem? The Eco Button is largely unnecessary, since such low-power modes can be implemented via software-only fixes. Considering the materials and energy used to manufacture it, the Eco Button could be doing more harm than good. The final icing on this not-so-green cake? The seems to be a second-rate imitation of another .
That said, there are numerous other ways to green up your OC.
Environmentally Sound Solutions
Lowering your CO2 emissions () by reducing your power consumption can be achieved by turning to more environmentally friendly products and services. Francine Kizner looks at how you can with this run-down of eight handy eco-gadgets, but for those more concerned with be sure to read over the following tips:
Manage Your PC's Power Usage With Eco Software
Now that we've established that you do not need a plastic button to put your computer to sleep,here are a number of programs can do the job by putting your PC into the deepest sleep possible without compromising your session:
In addition to the various software solutions, the major OSes all have built-in power-saving modes, such as OS X's Energy Saver and Windows' Power Options control panel and sleep mode, which my colleague Jason Cross .
Switching To Green Hardware
Changing your PC's various components, amongst other gadgets, to greener alternatives is another way to reduce your environmental impact. Apple is well-known for its recent green efforts, even and moving up a place in their rankings. Sony Ericsson has also been getting in on the eco-act this year with . Unfortunately due to the economic downturn the interest in , but some companies are still offering ecological hardware options:
By using some of the products mentioned above , along with various other alternatives, you can save yourself some money over time, while doing your bit for Planet Earth.
Have you gone green, or do you make use of some green products when it comes to computing? Be sure to let us know in the comments and share your eco-experience.
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