EPEAT rates environmental standards for computers

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or Epeat, an electronics rating system available free at www.epeat.net.

The system, formed in mid-2006, is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and is meant primarily for bulk buyers. But it is useful for individuals, too. Electronics — only computers now, with more products to follow — can be achieve ratings of gold, silver or bronze.

Honor system ratings are subject to reviews by the Green Electronics Council, a nonprofit group in Portland, Ore., who maintains the list. Manufacturers score their products against a set of environmental standards, including levels of hazardous substances, energy efficiency and ease of recycling.

More than 300 types of desktops, laptops and monitors have received at least a bronze, and most also have a silver rating, which means that they also meet at least half of 28 optional standards. None of the computers have it to gold, which means that they would meet all the required standards as well as three-quarters of the optional ones.