Via launches 'green' systems

Chipmaker VIA has announced what it claims are the world's first 'carbon free' computer systems based around its new low-drain C7-D processor.

The claim is based on the fact that the company promises to plant enough trees to offset the carbon dioxide produced in generating the power drawn by the C7-D over three years. Manufacturers similarly buy trees to offset the CO2 'bill' of systems using the processor.

The C7-D, and systems using it, will carry a 'carbon free' logo – though there were immediate questions about whether it could be completely justified.

The announcement came on the day that the Advertising Standards Authority warned companies against claiming green credentials they could not substantiate. It ordered Scottish & Southern Energy to stop using a leaflet claiming that a similar tree-planting scheme would settle the CO2 'bill' of homes on its 'green electricity' tariff.

Via reckons four trees will be enough to offset the C7-D's carbon use , compared with 31 trees for an Intel Pentium-D. Intel's low-powered core architecture was not considered. Calculations were based on both systems being at full load for a certain period of time - and did not take into account that a C7-D is a lot slower than a Pentium-D and might have to be left on for ten times longer to complete a task

An estimated 2.6 percent of UK energy is used by computers, according to Best Foot Forward, which Via employed to do its research.  But VIA admits its figures to not account for C02 released during manufacturing, which means that when buying a processor or system it is already very carbon un-neutral product.

Eighty percent of all the energy used by a processor over its working life will have been during its manufacture, according to the United Nations University .

VIA currently have certified two systems from Tranquil and Evesham, which should be widely available next year.

David Thompson from Tranquil PCs said his company put the cost of getting the badge at £1 per machine. Tranquil gives the money to Carbon Footprint, which plants the trees. The first batch have been planted in Manchester and future batches will go to Kenya.

Via was keen to stress that the Carbon Free logo, which will also go on the C7-D, will be good for the image of companies using it. Marketing manager Keith Kowal said be believed the C7-D will eventually account for 40 percent of Via's processor sales.