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Suitably unveiled in the green environs of Kew Gardens, the Evesham Crusader Carbon3 system emphasises its green credentials.

Evesham describes its latest PC as 'delivering an environmentally balanced approach to PC power consumption, cooling costs and noise pollution' and emphasises the VIA C7-D chip as the 'first ever carbon-neutral computer processor'.

Note, however, that we are not talking about biodegradable components in the processor - Via is simply offering to 'offset' the amount of carbon dioxide caused by the manufacture and operation of the chip through reforestation and 'promoting' alternative energy sources such as solar power and energy conservation. Via plans to plant at least four trees for each CPU manufactured.

Via says it works with environmental experts to calculate

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the electricity used by an average Carbon Free Computing product over its lifetime (assumed to be 3 years). Then from the amount of electricity used, Via calculates how much CO emissions will be released into the environment mainly as a result of fossil fuel burning power plants, and works with regional offset organizations to 'offset' that amount of CO.

Details of the Evesham Crusader Carbon Free PC (pictured) include: 256MB DDR2 533MHz RAM, a 40GB 7200rpm hard disk, a 15.4in TFT and a one year return to base warranty. For its part, Tranquil is a sponsor of the Zero Carbon Footprint campaign, more details of which can be found here.

It's RRP is £299 (ex VAT, with a £34 delivery charge), but Evesham's website says it has not yet got the machine in stock.

Of course, environmentalists can argue out that the practice of 'offsetting' targets - which is Via's approach - is merely a fig leaf to allow companies to continue building polluting products. While planting a tree to absorb the carbon dioxide caused by burning fossil fuels may help in the short term, the CO is still in the carbon cycle when the tree dies and the fossil fuels are better left in the ground.

What are your thoughts on the responsibility of PC manufacturers in this area? Is the latest initiative a step in the right, eco-friendly direction? Leave your comments via the link below.