Apple, Dell And HP Scrambling For Top Green Spot

Personal computer makers are targeting "green" goals, creating more options for customers focusing on their monetary and communal options.

Analysts note that going green has developed into a business approach: a way to stand out, and appeal to environmentally aware customers.

The three largest U.S. computer manufacturers, Hewlett-Packard Co, Dell Inc, and Apple Inc, say that customers receive benefits, like less power consumption in green-appraised display screens.

"It’s really a green arms race, in which they’re trying to one up each other," John Spooner, an analyst with Technology Business Research, said to Reuters News. "The good news is they’re all working in this direction and that’s going to benefit themselves, their customers and the environment."

Analysts note Dell’s recycling plan, Apple’s removal of hazardous raw materials, and HP’s packaging as things that are working well.

However, the IT industry still contributes 2% of global emissions of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide to the environment.

While Dell wants to be the "greenest technology company on Earth," Apple says they are the "greenest family of notebooks,” and HP insists that they have a long history of environmentalism.

While all three companies are taking different green steps, the green schema is benefiting from the competition between the companies. Campaigns from groups like Greenpeace have been exceptionally successful.

"Companies are realizing that consumers do use these environmental considerations as tiebreakers. It does help differentiate their products," Forrester’s Sally Cohen said.

70% of companies surveyed by Forrester Research recently referred to the need to stand out as a main reason for their environmental steps.

"It has struck a chord with consumers, businesses, stakeholders and NGOs," said Eric Lowitt, a research fellow at Accenture.

Several analysts think that what may be more noteworthy than the companies’ green goals is their ability to sell them on the market.

Tod Arbogast, Dell’s director of sustainable business, thinks that some cooperation around greener goals exists between the companies.

"I don’t think we’ve reached the tipping point yet, I think we’ll continue as an industry to innovate, challenge one another to go further and faster on these efforts," he said.

Bonnie Nixon, HP’s director of sustainability, feels that greener practices should be apart of the company.

HP’s "commitment has really been there, certainly through the 90′s and the fact that society is really focusing on green right now is great. We’re in an industry that can truly demonstrate" environmental leadership, she noted.