Green IT ratings go global

Firms looking to purchase green IT equipment should find it easier to identify the most environmentally friendly models from this week, following the global launch of the US-based Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).

The US Green Electronics Council, which launched the EPEAT registry in 2006, yesterday unveiled new versions of the registry detailing the greenest computers, monitors and notebooks available in 40 different countries, including the UK, Canada, China, Japan, Australia, Brazil and Mexico.

EPEAT executive director Jeff Omelchuck told news agency AFP that the new registries had been developed in response to growing global demand for EPEAT-approved products.

"Before, you might fall in love with a laptop on the registry only to find it is not available in your country," he said. "Now, registries show products available in your country and environmental characteristics particular to your country."

The EPEAT registry is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive green IT certification schemes available. Unlike the popular Energy Star labelling initiative, it combines an assessment of a product's energy efficiency with other environmental credentials such as life span, packaging, recyclability and use of toxic components.

Products have to meet a minimum of 23 criteria to attain an EPEAT bronze certificate, while those wishing to gain the silver or gold rating have to meet a further 14 or 21 optional criteria respectively.

The scheme has become highly popular in the US, where an estimated $60bn (£36bn) worth of computer purchase contracts each year now demand that products have an EPEAT rating of some form. Meanwhile, growing numbers of public and private sector bodies refuse to purchase any products that do not have a gold certificate.

According to figures released last year by the Green Electronics Council, global sales of EPEAT-qualified products more than doubled during 2007 to 109 million units as firms demanded greener products.

Tashweka Anderson, sustainable IT business manager at UK-based IT reseller Computacenter, said the new UK registry would make it far easier for firms to navigate the maze of green IT claims that have become a common feature of IT industry marketing claims.

"Using EPEAT makes it easy to identify computer hardware solutions for our clients that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminate toxic substances, increase recycled content and reduce energy use, at no added cost and with no restrictions on product or supplier choice," she said. "This expansion of the registry will make the procurement process even easier and more effective."