Tech Shout!

The crucial issue of global warming has finally come out in the open as a rude shock to the world. This phenomenon, which is feverishly affecting Earth, has slowly been building up, and has now exploded into a full-fledged global crisis. It is for this reason that most technology companies, today, are taking the green path and are making every effort to refrain from contributing to the destruction of the only place that we can call home.

I write this as the world celebrates World Earth Day (April 22), and I think to myself that it is no real reason to celebrate per se. Perhaps those who are smart enough to understand the seriousness of the issue will indeed be hosting huge rallies and conferences in an effort to spread awareness. Then again, unknowingly they will probably be giving away pamphlets that may have required the carnage of millions of trees to come into being in the first place.

It is common knowledge that a number of electronics companies actually contribute to the slow devastation of the Earth. They use toxic materials such as mercury cadmium, brominated flame retardants and hexavalent chromium in their production processes, which are clearly harmful to the environment.

Technology companies not only have a reputation to maintain but also an environmental obligation to comply with. One could say that some of them are doing their part in helping preserve the environment. Technology giants such as Dell, Samsung, Lenovo, Nokia, Motorola and many more are taking a step in the right direction by adopting green protection measures.

Then, there are non-profit organizations such as Greenpeace, which are helping others in this fight to save the planet. Recently, Greenpeace had released its 2007 rankings of the world’s most eco-friendly technology firms. Computer maker Lenovo emerged a winner, while Apple came out last, for the use of harmful toxic substances in its production processes.

Cell phone manufacturer Samsung will soon be coming out with an eco-friendly phone that runs on a fuel cell battery, possibly methanol as against the traditionally used Lithium-ion batteries.

Samsung has also demonstrated the world’s smallest fuel cell mobile devices charger. This charger incorporates a user-replaceable methanol cartridge that recharges the battery system in a device, be it a PDA, cell phone, digital camera or even a personal media player.

Closer to home, Samsung India launched a special series of monitors that emit Anions and Far Infrared rays that help to keep the environment fresh and also helps to ease the strain on the user’s eyes.

Search engine giant, Yahoo has also gone the green way and is currently supporting environmental protection with the launch of a Web site called Yahoo Autos Green Center. This Web site is devoted entirely to alternative fuel vehicles.

Yahoo Autos has also teamed up with a non-profit organization called ‘Environment Defense’, to give vehicles “green ratings”. These green ratings rank from one to hundred based on the proportion of greenhouse gas emissions, polluting exhaust, and fuel economy.

In India HCL Infosystems introduced a complete lineup of eco-efficient notebooks. These eco-friendly laptops are compliant with the RoHS (Restrictive of Hazardous Substances) directive.

When HCL launched the eco-friendly notebooks, George Paul, Executive Vice President, HCL Infosystems Ltd. commented, “E-waste has been a subject of concern globally and nationally. HCL, as a socially responsible corporate citizen, has a comprehensive program to ensure protection of the environment, health and safety of all its stakeholders, which also recognizes the need to minimize the hazardous impact of e-wastes of its products on the environment.”

It is indeed assuring to know that huge companies like the above-mentioned ones are making an effort to go green. Then again, so many unethical companies do not care one bit about the environment. One thing’s for sure; those that are going the green way will definitely be trusted on a greater level by shareholders and customers alike.