Government body provides free loans for low-carbon PCs

 

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By Hani Megerisi

Posted on 23 Mar 2010 at 15:25

Businesses can now apply for interest-free loans for energy-efficient PCs under a new scheme.

The Carbon Trust, which provides loans for businesses to purchase low-carbon equipment, will be lending the money to organisations to upgrade their computers to Broadleaf energy-efficient systems provided by VeryPC.

Loans of between £3,000 and £50,000 will be granted, provided firms save at least 1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions per £1,000 borrowed. The loans are repayable between one and four years, although VeryPC argues that the savings in energy costs will cover the loan repayments.

“An example PC will emit approximately a tonne of CO2 per year,” said Peter Hopton, managing director of VeryPC. “So businesses will be able to switch their IT equipment for computers that are 90-95% more energy efficient. Up to 40% of a business’s energy is used for computers.”

The Broadleaf BL32 series computers being offered in the VeryPC scheme are all recommended by the Energy Saving Trust, and any organisation in the UK can apply for the loan provided they spend less than £500,000 a year on energy.

VeryPC has provided a online calculator to help firms decide if they qualify for the scheme.