Microsoft ‘Challenges’ Companies’ PC Purchasing Behavior

Microsoft has launched a challenge and website to help companies and consumers better understand the environmental impact of buying, using and disposing of a PC.

The Greener IT Challenge website has video and text about environmentally friendly PCs. It includes a “training” section that gives business customers the information they need to purchase PCs that have been manufactured in more sustainable ways and understand power options to make PC use more energy-efficient, Microsoft says. It also instructs how to dispose of used electronics so they can be reused and recycled.

The site also has links to green IT standards including the Electronic Product Environmental Tool (EPEAT), e-Stewards, WEEELabex, Energy Star and R2 Solutions.

For its own part, in fiscal year 2013 Microsoft says it recycled more than 37,000 PCs and follows internal policies on buying more environmentally friendly PCs, configuring them to use the power-saving features in the Windows operating system and disposing of old machines so they don’t end up in landfills.

A 2012 shared paper explains the company’s energy savings practices that lowered energy consumption by 32 percent, cutting Microsoft’s CO2 emissions and saving money.

UL Environment and the Green Electronics Council last month teamed up to add a mobile-device category to the EPEAT global registry for greener electronics. The organizations say they’ll work with manufacturers, environmental groups and purchasers to align the UL 110 sustainability standard for mobile phones with GEC’s requirement for EPEAT.

After approval, the updated standard is expected to debut in early 2014.

The global registry also rates televisions, printers, copiers and other imaging equipment, and computers and displays.