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January 17, 2007

Green Machines: Dell PC Trees

Dell Computer, long known for their computer recycling program, has launched several new environmental programs recently. By joining with partners like carbonfund.org, Dell has launched a new program to make it simple to offset their purchased computers' carbon emissions by planting trees.

You just add the tree to your cart when you purchase your new computer!

Plant a Tree for Me empowers you to neutralize the carbon footprint of your product use.

Donation amounts are based on expected average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the production of electricity needed to power the systems over three years – for a notebook .42 tons and for a desktop 1.26 tons. The cost of the carbon offset is $4.75 per ton. It costs approximately $6.31 per tree planted. On average a tree will sequester 1.33 tons of CO2 over 70 years through the program. Thus, the offset donation required to neutralize the carbon impact for notebooks is $2 and $6 for desktops.

More At: Dell.com: Plant a Tree For Me

Of late, it's nice to see realistic ideas from conservation organizations. Instead of the cold turkey approach, we seem to have come to the realization that weaning outselves off our heavy dependence on fossil fuels and pollutant-producing practices is the way to approach our environmental issues. Often, one can only "reduce" so far. The idea behind carbon offsets is that what carbon emissions you cannot eradicate entirely, you offset by doing something that negates carbon dioxide emissions elsewhere.

For now, most carbon offsets seem to be alternative energy initiatives and reforestation (thus the tree planting), but what's exciting about this is that there seem to be infinite creative ways one could help others reduce their carbon footprints. And we're not just talking about funding community transportation programs. Since carbon dioxide emissions are a global problem, it can be approached from a variety of angles such as focusing on helping major producers of emissions to minimize their footprint while targetting some of the simpler solutions to carbon emissions elsewhere. For example, by providing the native people living on the borders of the Amazon rainforest with more efficient and renewable fuels for heating and cooking, as well as occupations that protect the forests instead of destroy them, we can combat the deforestation occuring and reduce the carbon emissions produced.

Posted by sorsha at January 17, 2007 5:08 PM