A Searchable Green IT Database

Softchoice, EPEAT, and CNET recently announced the launch of a new, searchable online database that allows you to sort through hundreds of thousands of IT products to find those with the highest 'green' rankings.

Nonprofits can use this resource to help narrow the field when purchasing new equipment. Use the site's search filters to identify which of the roughly 350,000 products in Softchoice’s database are environmentally preferable products registered under the EPEAT greener electronics program, a rankings system that evaluates electronic products according to three tiers of environmental performance: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Each EPEAT-registered computer, laptop, or monitor complies with 23 mandatory environmental performance criteria to attain Bronze (entry-level) registration. Meeting differing levels of an additional 28 optional criteria qualify products at the higher Silver and Gold levels. Key benchmarks include the elimination of environmentally sensitive materials in the manufacturing process, product longevity, end-of-life management, energy conservation, and packaging.

As with all products labeled 'green,' we encourage you to look into the criteria used to determine eco-friendliness and the verification system used to validate those criteria.

Happy shopping!