Gadgets are harmful to the environment in three ways: the energy they consume, the toxicity of their materials, and the way they are disposed. Just as Green Chemistry aims at utilizing alternative materials and methods to achieve eco- and conservation-friendly chemistry, people can help the environment by doing a little research and switching to eco-friendly gadgets. But how does one find these green gadgets?
Wired.com offers a few suggestions to help find green gadgets:
To find energy efficient gadgets, look for the Energy Star logo. Energy Star branded products can use up to 30% less energy than similar products. Gadgets with the Energy Star brand can be found on their website, at EnergyStar.gov.
To find gadgets made with safe, eco-friendly materials, look at Epeat.net. Epeat is a program that measures 51 toxicity parameters of products from product components to packing materials. Products that meet at least 23 parameters receive a bronze rating, and products meeting more parameters receive silver and gold ratings.
Lastly, to find recyclable gadgets, choose company brands with recycling programs, such as HP and Nokia. If you want to recycle a cell phone, check out Greenphone.com, which even pays for shipping.
Sources:
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/17-03/st_burningquestion
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