It’s easy to be green – Creating Green Technology

February 2nd, 2009 in .Green Tech
Gogo Ubari
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ASUS is passionate about embracing green technology. We look at what we can do to create the ultimate green machine…

As the world faces up to its environmental responsibilities, there are tough challenges ahead for the technology industry. Computers are not only responsible for huge carbon emissions, but discarded machines clog up landfill sites. The chemicals used can cause poisonous leaks – often in developing countries that can’t afford the huge clean-up bills.

Computers create thousands of tons of carbon emissions every day – 75% of the time, your PC is overpowered for the tasks it performs. Components like processors and graphics cards radiate heat, wasting 30% of the energy they use. The challenge is to make PCs more efficient while reducing harmful chemicals. Here are 12 areas where ASUS is striving to reduce the environmental impact of its technologies.

ASUS Super Hybrid Engine reduces one laptop’s yearly CO2 emissions by 12.3kg. Six million ASUS notebooks are manufactured each year – that’s 3.8 million kilograms of CO2, equal to saving 36 million trees.”

Efficient running

Most PCs waste energy by radiating heat, so energy is drawn which isn’t even used. Computers everywhere are needlessly producing tons of carbon emissions. ASUS’s new EPU Six-Engine guards against this by monitoring the power supply, lowering heat and providing 96% power efficiency. You’ll find it on the P5Q motherboard!
ASUS Super Hybrid Engine

Back in control

The new ASUS Super Hybrid Engine (SHE) can extend battery life by half and at the same time boost performance by 10%! It does this by monitoring your processor’s needs and reducing power accordingly. SHE reduces one laptop’s yearly CO2 emissions by 12.3kg. Six million ASUS notebooks are manufactured each year – that’s 3.8 million kilograms of CO2, equal to saving 36 million trees.

Green on the inside

ASUS has identified and banished 37 hazardous substances, including all lead and mercury, from its products. This goes beyond the six polluting chemicals identified in the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. ASUS strives to be greener, working to eliminate the use of halogen in its notebooks.

Green from the top down!

To ensure all its products are green, ASUS requires that its vendors make sure that supplied parts are certified by third party organisations, have complete lists of included materials, and thorough testing reports. Only then can ASUS start building new systems guaranteed to be green.

A common aim

ASUS staff are getting behind green principles and making all aspects of the company an environmental success. Green design, manufacturing and procurement systems are in place, as well as investment into green-oriented staff education programs. Everyone does what they can to make products more environmentally friendly.

Safer processes

ASUS is committed to protecting the environment in many ways, especially in its manufacturing processes. Since 2000 we have developed Taiwan’s first lead-free motherboard, and first Green Parts Management System. One focus of the GreenASUS projects is Green Design – steps are taken to monitor and eliminate toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process.

Recycle…

ASUS builds its PCs with one eye on the future, designing them to be dismantled quickly and easily. Disposing of your ASUS laptop is as easy as buying it. In 2006 ASUS was the first computer company to start a recycling program in the US, reusing or recycling old products.

Bamboo

The groundbreaking new Bamboo laptop combines environmentally-friendly design with computing power. The notebook is clad with authentic Bamboo, which is clean, green and sustainable. This embodies ASUS’s attitude to its products. On the inside is the new Super Hybrid Engine, which can extend battery life up to 70%, and is free of 37 hazardous substances.

By giving usable computers to schools in disadvantaged communities, ASUS is helping children to benefit from technology that would otherwise have ended up in landfill sites.”

…and reuse

Through its recycling programs ASUS has already collected over 5600 PCs and donated over 1000 usable computers to schools in disadvantaged communities. Thanks to the company thousands of under-privileged children are benefiting from ASUS technology, which would otherwise have ended up in landfill sites.

Top of the tree

ASUS was recognised as one of the most environmentally friendly companies in 2007 by OEKOM, an independent analyst studying the environmental impact of big businesses. This body has gained an outstanding reputation among experts in the field, financial service providers and institutional investors. The recognition highlights the hard work ASUS has put into making its products green.

Old for new

As products reach the end of their useful life, ASUS advocates responsible end-of-life management. The company follows the European Union directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and is part of programs for recycling and reusing PCs worldwide. Since September 2006 customers in the US have been recycling old ASUS computers free of charge.

IECQ certified

All of the manufacturing sites used by ASUS are accredited by the IECQ. This means that ASUS plants are free of environmentally harmful hazardous chemicals and, more importantly, that there are clear strategies to ensure that this remains true into the future.

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