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Green computing is more achievable than you think if you opt for a computer lease program for your next desktop or laptop purchase. You’ll cut your up-front costs while supporting a complete lifecycle management system that keeps waste and toxins out of landfills and reduces virgin natural resource use.

How to lease a computer

We’ve all felt the frustration of having to replace a relatively new computer that’s no longer making the cut. It’s slow, outdated, and exhibits the "blue screen of death" far too frequently. Having to shell out big bucks for a replacement—especially if you need to replace multiple units—can be hard to compute. So before you get out your green credit card to pay for yet another upgrade, check out computer lease options—they’re not only easier on your pocketbook, but also easier on the earth. Here's how to navigate the world of computer leases:

Your wish list

Do some homework before you seek quotes to put together your own desired feature list. Fast operation, extensive software packages, and huge memory capacity may all be on your checklist when looking into a new computer for your church, office, or school. If you’re not yet sure what you’ll need, browse through manufacture websites to see what’s on offer and make a short wish list for your new machine. But don’t forget about other important green features such as:

• ENERGY STAR qualification.
• Recycled materials and parts used in the production of your machine—parts that are also designed to be reused and recycled in a manufacturer takeback e-waste program.
• EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliance.

Obtaining quotes

You’ll want to compare the prices and service options of several companies before choosing a lease package, so get some quotes before going too far. Before making your calls, gather some basic information together: number of computers needed and purpose of each, how long you’ve been in business, and credit history statistics.

• Apple has two lease options. Their 10 Percent Purchase Option Lease allows you to pay only 10 percent of the equipment’s original cost and then negotiate a lease rate. The Fair Market Value Lease is similar, but you purchase the equipment at the current market value. Both programs give you the option of returning the used equipment at the end of the lease term and upgrading to something newer and better.
• Dell offers several leasing options, including a Fair Market Value solution and a QuickLease Buy-Out plan. Once the term is up, you can extend the lease, purchase the equipment outright, or upgrade. Returned units will be recycled or reused.
• With HP’s Fair Market Value (Operating) Lease, you can avoid the upfront costs of equipment ownership while paying low monthly or quarterly fees. Once the lease is over, you can purchase the computer or laptop from them, or upgrade to something new.
• IBM’s financing options include their Lifecycle Management plan and their Equity Upgrade Lease. Whether you simply return your unit at the end of the term or upgrade to something more cutting edge, they’ll be sure to properly dispose of your old unit.
• Zonbu’s desktop was the first EPEAT Gold certified machine. They’re also ENERGY STAR qualified and meet RoHS standards. These lightweight machines consume four times fewer chems than conventional desktops and they can be sent back to the company free of charge for recycling. With three subscription plans to choose from starting at just $14.95 monthly, unlimited support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, these guys are hard to beat.

Asking questions

Once you’ve received a few quotes, get the specifics of any proposed agreements.

• Is the proposed agreement a capital- or operating-style lease? Capital leases are basically financing arrangements meant to leave you (the lessee) as the owner of the machine at the end of the lease term. An operating lease leaves the ownership of the computer in the hands of the lessor (the dealer or manufacturer) once the lease is up. Operational leases are eco-preferable because they put the responsibility for recycling and reuse on the lessor.
• Once the lease term is up, will the equipment be returned to the manufacturer or be sold on the second-hand market? Sending the machine back to the manufacturer greatly increases the chances that it will be properly remanufactured and reused multiple times. If, on the other hand, the machine is sold on the secondhand market, end-of-life disposal of the unit becomes the responsibility of the last purchaser, which means it may not be recycled in the end. Therefore, programs where the manufacturer (or its leasing subsidiary) assumes continuous responsibility for the unit are the most environmentally sound.
• Who’s responsible for equipment repairs during the lease term? If it’s covered, does it include parts and labor? Get a comprehensive list of included parts from each quoter so you can compare accurately.
• Do they have a response-time policy for repairs and maintenance? Get it in writing. You don’t want to halt operations for days as you wait for a serviceperson to fix your computer.
• Are replacement parts kept on hand? The last thing you need is to experience down-time waiting for more memory or a new video card.
• Is a loaner service available? In other words, if your machine needs significant repairs, will you be stuck without equipment, or will they give you a computer of equal or greater specs while you wait?
• Are there options for upgrading the equipment during or after the lease terms? If so, what are the associated costs?

Leasing a computer helps you go green because…

• It encourages manufacturers to reuse and recycle their products and components.
• It can prevent toxic electronic parts from ending up in landfills or being incinerated.

The average consumer faces many challenges when contemplating how to dispose of their used electronics—insufficient education and awareness about the problems associated with e-waste, lack of conveniently available recycling services, and often high costs for eco-friendly disposal. As a result, electronic waste is the fastest growing portion of the US waste stream, growing at rates around 8 percent per year.[1]

Fewer than ten percent of these outdated electronics are refurbished or recycled, the rest of which end up in landfills or incinerators where they can then enter the water or air supply and cause harm to human and ecosystem health.[2] The Institute for Local Self-Reliance estimates that about 75 percent of obsolete electronics exist in storage until the best options for recycling or reuse are identified. Industry recyclers are concerned about how to handle this recycling volume when the equipment finally emerges from storerooms.

Operational leasing, on the other hand, takes the responsibility for electronics disposal away from the consumer and gives it to the manufacturer. When manufacturers are responsible for end-of-life disposal of used electronics, they are motivated to make a better quality product that will stand the passage of time and tests of abuse, recoup any residual value remaining in the product once the lease ends, and reduce waste removal costs once the machine can no longer be reused.

Though operational leasing programs can go a long way to keeping solid waste and toxic components out of landfills, it doesn’t go quite as far as extended product responsibility (EPR) legislation. Similar to leasing initiatives, EPR programs encourage manufacturers to be part of the lifecycle management of their products, but EPRs also involve retailers, users, and disposers, and they set goals and targets for waste reduction and recycling rates (leasing programs are generally volunteer-based and targets are not necessarily set). The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to develop mandatory take-back programs for many electronics. A combination of operational leases and EPR legislation should work well to provide comprehensive solutions to the growing e-waste problem.[3]

External links

• Computer TakeBack Campaign - Recycling Your Computer: Which Computer Companies Will Take Back Your Old Computer?
• Environment Canada - Environmental Life Cycle Management: Guide for better business decisions
• INFORM - Extended Producer Responsibility: A Materials Policy for the 21st Century
• Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition - Producer Take-Back, “EPR”: Extended Producer Responsibility Creates the Incentive for Green Design
• US Environmental Protection Agency - Product Stewardship
• US Environmental Protection Agency - EPA Waste Wise Update: Electronics Reuse and Recycling