GreenerComputing reports that the recent announcement from Apple regarding its environmental policies has placed it in the top ten green electronics manufacturers in a report released by Greenpeace.

Previously Apple placed last - in part because Apple’s policy was to not disclose any environmental information about their products. Steve Jobs’ recent letter pretty much changed that, resulting in the change of placing for Apple.

The report is a good resource if you want to check out which manufacturers are the greenest. Of course all electronic equipment uses resources, produces waste and consumes energy, both in manufacture and in use - I’ve thrown together a quick checklist when buying electronic equipment if you are concerned about the environmental impact of your purchase:

• Only buy if you need to - can you get another 6 months out of that computer or phone before upgrading? Holding off extends the life of the computer (which makes better use of resources) but also means you can take advantage of the upgraded models that are no doubt just around the corner.
• Recycle your old stuff - did you know you can recycle your old mobile? There are options available for recycling other equipment like computers as well. Check with your local council.
• Get off standby - standby power consumes a lot of energy - between 5% and 10% according to some estimates. Look for equipment with a true “on/off” switch (some equipment only has a standby option) and also check that it has low standby power consumption as well, so that when it is on standby, your using the minimum amount of energy possible.