Lady LUX

Buying a new gadget can be a difficult and daunting process for the eco-conscious consumer, as it’s not just about looking at how much you get for your money and our beloved product features.

Instead, you’ve got to look at the toxicity and cradle-to-cradle potential of the materials used, the carbon footprint of the product-making processes, the labor practices of the manufacturers, the length of the computer’s lifecycle and its inevitable planned obsolescence, and the quality of the end-of-life recycling programs the manufacturers have in place. –Siel, GreenLAgirl.com

As you can see LUXies, the whole process can be just a tad-bit overwhelming for even the tech-savvy! Good News though, the tech gurus have decided to help us by making the green research much more user-friendly. Several newly launched online guides and resources are now available to provide you with a variety of helpful hints.

First up, CNET Green Electronics Guide offers you a place to explore reviews for most major electronics. It evaluates different sustainability features, energy-efficient capabilities and compares your choices to each other. Most LUX about this site is their helpful hints on how to use it in an eco-friendly manner once it is yours!

Need more detail? Look for the “PC Mag.com GreenTech Approved seal.” This seal of approval is given to products that pass the green evaluation process of PC Mag.com. They evaluate standards for energy efficiency, recyclability, test performance and certifications earned. At this point, the only products that get this seal of approval are desktops, laptops, HDTVs, LCD monitors, hard drives, optical drives, cell phones, and headsets. If you want to trade out your old technology before purchasing, refer to PC Mag.com’s electronics recycling super guide.

Want an overview of how various tech companies compare to green initiatives? A guide for you to evaluate the company from a big picture perspective, although not a resource for detailed information, check out Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics.

The Greenpeace guide ranks the 17 top manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones, TV’s and games consoles according to their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change.

As you can see LUXies our green research has just got easier thanks to these online eco-resources. Be sure to check them out and use your consumer power to support the products that represent YOU.

Tagged in: pcmag.com greentech approved seal, cnet green electronics guide, online resource guides, recycling super guide, major electronics, green electronics, greenpeace's guide, eco-technology,