We Recycle and Reuse Computers, Computer Components, and Electronics
Computers and other office electronics play a big role in our lives, helping us perform tasks in an efficient manner. But electronic equipment is part of an increasing and complex waste stream that poses challenging environmental management problems because of the hazardous constituents in many of these products.
As company policy, we take part in the reuse and recycling of electronic items, computer components and accessories such as servers, monitors, keyboards, mice, routers, cables, hard drives, batteries, diskettes, CDs/DVDs and their jewel cases, and video, audio, and computer tapes and their cases. Any items that can be reused are placed in a centralized location easily accessed by all employees. Those items that cannot be reused can be collected and shipped offsite for recycling.
Our Efficiency Strategy
We have an efficiency strategy that is comprehensive around all the different environments: design, office, and enterprise computing that focuses on four key areas: virtualization, consolidation, standardization, and optimization.
- Virtualization of servers program that takes soft resources and allocates them out in a pool to combine computing resources into a shared environment.
- Consolidatation of data as much as possible to prevent the over installation of unnecessary servers.
- Standardization in building design and construction, using state-of-the-art green renewable resources and power sources, so new future environmentally-centric data centers can be built quickly and affordably.
- Optimization of existing infrastructure and transportation options, including the use of alternative work modes such as telecommuting and teleconferencing.
We Support Green Power
Heightened interest in global climate change, acid rain, respiratory ailments,
and smog have raised concerns about emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, mercury, and particulate matter from the burning of fossil fuels.
Concerns also exist about the other environmental impacts associated with traditional
electricity generation fuel sources, such as the environmental and economic impacts
of mining, drilling, processing, transporting, and disposing of fuels.
The procurement of renewable energy sources and improvement in the efficiency and
performance of conventional data centers - benefits the environment, expands the
diversity of our country's energy supply, and improves the reliability of local
power supply systems. We support the development of the green power market,
which is a critical component in the company's long-term strategy to protect
our environment while maintaining mission critical network services.
Additional Green Practices:
- We use low voltage computer components in our servers, such as green hard drives and processors.
- We are members of, and contribute to, many green organizations.
- We source our power from renewable energy sources.
- We use recycled construction materials.
- We use Energy Star appliances in our office kitchen.
- We have an in-office recycling program for paper, boxes, plastic, glass bottles, aluminum.
- We encourage our staff to go green at home by recommending things they can do to lower their carbon footprints.
- We develop software that elimates the need to use DVDs, external flash drives, CD-ROMs, and paper.
- We do not offer printed manuals or boxed software.
- We offer 10% discounts to non-profit organizations.
- We participate in many green discussion groups on the web.
- We attend conferences, conventions, and workshops for clean green technology.
- We use low VOC paint to paint our walls in the office.
- We use bamboo flooring for many parts of the office.
- We work in dimmer than normal lighting and use energy efficient light bulbs.
- We encourage staff to turn off lights when leaving a room.
- We only purchase desktop computers that are rated bronze or better according to the criteria listed by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool.
- We only purchase environmentally preferable electronics that contain fewer toxics.
- We donate purged electronics to needy people instead of throwing them away.
- We purchase less toxic cleaning supplies to improve worker safety and indoor air quality.
- We allow employees to work during off-peak times to reduce the amount of time spent in a car.
- We conduct meetings via the Web instead of in-person as much as possible.
- We book rooms at green, ecologically sensitive hotels.
- We rent hybrid vehicles on business trips.
- We encourage employees to purchase green power.
- We use task lighting at desks and only when necessary.
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