These days, a computer is a necessary part of school—especially if your child is heading off to college. College educators generally agree that a personal computer is essential—if not obligatory—to one’s college education. If your family can afford a computer think of it as an investment. If your family can not afford a computer, your child’s college should be able to recommend academic discount applications and computer financing options.

Affordable or not, buying a computer could not come at a better time. Just three weeks ago, The Environmental Protection Agency announced updated Energy Star computer requirements—Energy Star 4.0 certification. To receive the Energy Star 4.0 badge, computers must meet these requirements:

- Internal power supplies must run 80 percent efficient (a third better than most computers now).

- A mid-level powered-on desktop should use less than 65 watts of power (30 - 40 percent better than most current desktops)

- A standard powered-on laptop should use less than 14 watts of power (half of what most laptops currently use).

- Computers with external power supplies must use an Energy Star rated supply to obtain an Energy Star ranking for the machine

The Energy Star 4.0 certification is so new that most energy efficient desktops and laptops meet the previous Energy Star requirements and have not yet passed the the Energy Star 4.0 qualification. There are, however, some diamonds in the ruff, and as computer manufacturers realize the importance of energy efficiency, the number of 4.0 Stars is growing every day. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over the next five years, the updated Energy Star computer spec will save American businesses and consumers $1.8 billion in energy costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the emissions of 2.7 million cars.

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post on those Energy Star 4.0 computers available now . . . just in time for back-to-school.

Posted on August 16th, 2007 by Olivia Zaleski