9 Greenest Laptops on the Market

A durable, reliable laptop is the kind of gadget you can end up feeling attached to at the hip -- and why not choose one with energy efficiency, recycling programs, and LED screens help you save money in the long run?
The nine laptops on this list deliver all the tech perks you need with a lighter footprint on the earth.

Dell Latitude Series

Dell has made environmental initiatives a priority for several years, implementing everything from compostable bamboo packaging to a ban on sending e-waste to developing countries (their efforts earned them a nod as the top green company of 2010 from Newsweek).

The EPEAT Gold-rated Latitude series has a 5.0 Energy Star rating, is completely recyclable as part of the company's Asset Recovery Service. Plus, they are easy to upgrade and meet the stricter-than-the-U.S. toxin laws implemented in Europe.

Asus UL30A

When Greenpeace released its annual report on the greenest electronics on the market, the Asus UL30A scored higher than any other notebook among the 21 companies that submitted their products for review.

The Asus comes with a low-voltage processor and allows users to turn off certain parts of the hardware to save energy (which also earned it rave reviews for its battery life).

As a whole, the company emphasizes lead-free and halogen-free manufacturing processes, and "enforces adherence to hazardous substance guidelines," according to its Web site.


Acer TravelMate

The second highest-scoring laptop on Greenpeace's list is the Acer TravelMate, which comes with an 11.6 inch screen and LED backlight technology.

Like the Asus, it earned its rating based on the company's phasing out of toxic chemicals, product lifespan, energy used in production, and innovation.

It weighs less than three pounds, so it's easy enough to take everywhere you go, and it's Energy Star-certified so you can be energy-efficient even on the road.




MacBook Air

Released in October 2010, Apple's MacBook Air, is smaller than ever: At its thinnest point, the closed laptop is only .11 inches thick. It uses the same Flash technology that allows other Apple products to turn on instantly, and includes a more efficient power adapter to get the most from your wall outlet.

The Air is made from aluminum -- a highly recyclable material -- and made without lead, PVC, mercury, or arsenic.

Plus, it's EPEAT Gold rated, Energy Star 5.0 certified, and the company will recycle your old computer when you buy a new one.


HP Elitebook 2540p

HP designed the EPEAT Gold-rated Elitebook 2540p for business people on the go -- at just over three pounds, it's the lightest entry in the Elitebook category.

But the company still brags that it meets military standards for durability (so if you're tough on laptops, this one may last longer than most), and includes an LED-backlit screen.

You can also configure yours to meet Energy Star certifications.


Toshiba Portege R700

By 2007, Toshiba had more EPEAT Gold-rated laptops than any other company, and they've continued to emphasize environmental responsibility: Their recycling program promotes the proper disposal and salvage of old machines, and their new machines are made with recycled materials and designed to minimize waste.

The Portege includes 500 GB of file storage, an LED-backlit screen, and an EPEAT Gold rating -- plus two USB ports and an 8-hour battery life.


Lenovo Thinkpad L Series

The L Series Thinkpad from Lenovo promises "more uptime, less IT hassle" and claims to increase security by 50 percent over 4-year-old PCs, but it's also got some solid environmental qualifications.

It's EPEAT Gold and Energy Star 5.0-certified; the packaging is entire recyclable; the company offers disposal programs that don't put your information at risk; and the power settings allow users to trim their energy consumption by up to 40 percent.


Apple iPad

If you're in the market for a full laptop, then the iPad is not for you. But if you spend all day at your desk, don't take work home, and just need a machine for internet browsing, emailing, paying your bills online, and other light personal use, then investing in an iPad can help you save money and resources.

The iPad includes an LED-backlit screen, a durable battery, and, like the Air, it's toxin-free -- plus, you can take advantage of the green apps to add some sustainability to the rest of your life.

The One You Already Have

In a society where people update everything from their cell phones to their iPods in a matter of just a few years, updating the computer you already use can have a bigger impact than buying a new, eco-friendly machine.

Users already working on Energy Star-rated machines have even more of an advantage, here: Updating the memory, processing speed, and internal components can leave you with a laptop that's just as reliable-- without the waste.

Better yet, look for a hand-me-down computer from friends or coworkers, and put a fraction of the cost of a new laptop into fixing it up.

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