| #ffffff;" /> | | | | manufacturers, including heavyweights like IBM and |
| Way back in 2004, the United Nations issued a report | | | | Lenovo, offer their discontinued parts and accessories |
| that showed the value of refurbished desktop | | | | for sale through resellers. Whatever you need to |
| computers, at least indirectly, when it highlighted the | | | | service your desktop, you can probably find it. |
| problem of e-waste. Now, with the economy slowing, | | | | Buying Used Desktops Makes Good Eco-Sense |
| there is one more reason to consider used or | | | | Back to that UN report. The report urged governments |
| refurbished computers – they cost less. | | | | to “slow the growth of high-tech trash”. |
| Refurbished Desktop Computers Make Good Financial | | | | UN researchers found that: |
| Sense | | | | “...the average 24 kg desktop computer with |
| Why pay full price when you can get a refurbished | | | | monitor requires at least ten times its weight in fossil |
| computer that performs just as well (or better) than a | | | | fuels and chemicals to manufacture, much more |
| new machine? | | | | materials intensive than an automobile or refrigerator, |
| Refurbished desktop computers come from a variety | | | | which only require 1-2 times their weight in fossil fuels. |
| of sources – customer returns, cast-offs after | | | | Researchers found that manufacturing one desktop |
| an upgrade, off-lease. When the machines are | | | | computer and 17-inch CRT monitor uses at least 240 |
| refurbished, they are thoroughly tested and cleaned to | | | | kg of fossil fuels, 22 kg of chemicals and 1,500 kg of |
| ensure they perform according to the | | | | water – a total of 1.8 tonnes of materials.” |
| manufacturer’s original specifications. | | | | Of course most desktops now use LCD monitors, but |
| Sometimes the original equipment manufacturer | | | | the environmental impact of these machines is clear. |
| refurbishes the computer, and sometimes an | | | | The UN also made note of “the rapid rate at |
| authorized reseller does it. Either way, the computer is | | | | which [desktops] are discarded for newer |
| usable, suitable to most business applications, and | | | | machines.” |
| much cheaper than a new one. | | | | If you buy used equipment, you are making a good |
| Can a refurbished desktop meet your processing | | | | environmental choice. Yes, computers are still being |
| needs? Yes. Equipment manufacturers will try to tell | | | | manufactured using chemicals and fossil fuels, but you |
| you through their advertising that you need the latest | | | | will not be contributing to the demand for new |
| and greatest computer, but that is rarely the case. | | | | machines when you buy a used or refurbished one. |
| Unless you are in a highly specialized field, like graphic | | | | Further, you will be keeping a computer and monitor |
| design or CAD applications, you can very likely get buy | | | | out of the waste stream. |
| with a machine that is 2, 3 or even 5 years old. | | | | Bottom Line: Refurbished Desktop Computers Make |
| You may also have concerns that a refurbished | | | | Good Business Sense |
| machine will be too old to service; that parts will be | | | | Save money, reduce waste and still perform your daily |
| hard to come by. That is not usually the case. Many | | | | computing tasks. |