Over the past five years, consumers who bought electronics designed to be easier to recycle, less toxic and more energy efficient contributed to major reductions in environmental impact, according to global green electronics registry EPEAT®.

More than 441 million EPEAT® registered electronics have been sold since the rating system began assessing green gadgets in 2005 – adding up to a 78.6 million megawatt-hour reduction in energy use, the organization said.

Customers who opted for greener electronics also kept 14.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from being released into the atmosphere and prevented the release of 320,000 metric tons of hazardous waste, EPEAT® said.

So, what are EPEAT® registered electronics? Products must meet 23 required criteria to qualify for EPEAT® certification and can meet up to 28 additional optional criteria to achieve higher ratings, the organization said.

Many household names, including Lenovo, Toshiba and Sony, have attained EPEAT® certification for their gadgets. Visit the EPEAT® registry for a full listing of certified green electronics, and start using smarter tech choices to save energy, virgin resources, GHG emissions and more.

To learn more about how choosing eco-friendly electronics is good for the planet, check out the infographic below.

Recycling raw materials from end-of-life electronics is the most effective solution to the growing e-waste problem. Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals that can be recovered for future uses. By dismantling and providing reuse possibilities, intact natural resources are conserved and air and water pollution caused by hazardous disposal is avoided. Additionally, recycling reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the manufacturing of new products. AWS has e-waste collection programs for home, neighborhood or office. Contact us and we will help you responsibly recover salvageable e-waste materials.  It simply makes good sense and is efficient to recycle and to do our part to keep the environment green | 866-698-2874