Apple Exits "Green Hardware" Certification Program 405
westlake writes "CNET reports that Apple is turning its back on the EPA supported EPEAT hardware certification program. One of the problems EPEAT sees are barriers to recycling. Batteries and screens glued into place — that sort of thing. There is a price for Apple in this: CIO Journal notes that the U.S. government requires that 95 percent of its electronics bear the EPEAT seal of approval; large companies such as Ford and Kaiser Permanente require their CIOs to buy from EPEAT-certified firms; and many of the largest universities in the U.S. prefer to buy EPEAT-friendly gear."
Except phones and tablets (Score:5, Informative)
an increasing part of its product mix is made up of iPhones and iPads, which are not currently certifiable under EPEAT.
Re:No Surprise There (Score:5, Informative)
That's been hilarious for quite some time now.
Re:No Surprise There (Score:2, Informative)
For the iPhone-MacBook-iPad-owning-environmentalists this presents a dilemma (which I think will be hilarious to watch).
Why? Where's the dilemma? The only issue is that the Apple products can't be easily disassembled. It's not that Apple is using environmentally damaging materials in the manufacture of their products.
The environmentalist wackos can buy Apple gear and then, when it's useful life is over, give it to Apple for free environmentally responsible disposal / recycling.
Re:No Surprise There (Score:5, Informative)
Credit unions are exempt from federal income tax (though they pay lots of employment, property and sales tax) because they are not-for-profit and thus exempt from federal corporate income tax. A corporation that does not make a profit has no income on which to pay federal corporate income tax.
This is the reason that the boards of directors of credit unions are all volunteers and are member owned.
The members of a credit union pay taxes on their income from the credit union, just like anyone else.
Banks on the other hand, are entirely for profit, and thus pay taxes on their income because they are not required to re-invest all of their income in ways that benefit the members directly. A credit union does not have customers, it has members.
I hope that cleared things up a bit. I'd hate for you to make those assertions where people know who you are and can therefore peg you as a dope. A little bit of information inoculates you from that embarrassment.
Re:EPEAT = Ugly? (Score:5, Informative)
Well you could throw it away (tell me which dumpster you leave it in please, or you could pay $129-$199 for Apple to replace the battery for you so that it's brand new again.
http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro/service/battery/ [apple.com]
Doesn't seem like that pice is entirely out to lunch unless you shop the cheap 3rd party batteries for laptops. The OEM ones I've seen are generally around $100 anyway. Your call.
Re:No Surprise There (Score:5, Informative)
Re:No Surprise There (Score:5, Informative)
Ok...so, does anybody really look for some kind of 'green' label before purchasing a computer?
I mean...is there anyone out there that uses 'green' as a deciding factor between models they are considering??
Yes.
Not me personally, but as stated in TFA for many large organisations it's an absolute requirement. Without the cert the hardware simply isn't eligible for consideration.
Re:No Surprise There (Score:5, Informative)
just like the others who were advocating for marijuana legalization.
Controlled marijuana legalization, i.e. that it becomes an FDA approved drug for cancer and glaucoma is polling over 70%. That isn't a fringe. http://www.people-press.org/2010/04/01/public-support-for-legalizing-medical-marijuana/ [people-press.org] And from the same article in terms of recreational it is up to 41%. Again not a fringe position.