Northern Micro is dedicated to providing computer products and services that meet or exceed the quality, operational performance and life cycle cost requirements of our customers. In an effort to continually improve our system we have implemented our Environmental Management System (EMS), which also meets the requirements of the ISO-14001 Environmental Management System. The Environmental Management System assures that NM computer products, their manufacturing, their delivery, and their recycling are processed under the control of the system. The System is designed to adhere to ISO 14001:2004 standard. The system assures conformance to legal and the company’s environmental policy and provides objective evidence of effective control.
Northern Micro attained its ISO 14001 certification in November 2006.
The policy focuses on areas which address all stages of the product life cycle. IEEE 1680 is the first U.S. standard to supply environmental guidelines for institutional purchasing decisions involving desktop and laptop computers and monitors. It offers criteria in eight categories - materials selection, environmentally sensitive materials, design for end of life, end-of-life management, energy conservation, product longevity and life-cycle extension, packaging, and corporate performance. IEEE 1680 and its product registration and verification system are part of the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT).
EPEAT is a program of the Green Electronics Council and provides a procurement tool to help institutional purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare and select desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT also provides a clear and consistent set of performance criteria for the design of products, and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to secure market recognition for efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its products. Northern Micro EPEAT certified products are listed on the EPEAT’s web site (http://www.epeat.net).
RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) - The reduction and/or elimination of environmentally sensitive materials and hazardous substances. As of July 31st 2005, all Northern Micro systems refreshed on the NMSO (National Master Standing Offer) utilize RoHS compliant components.
Flame retardants and plasticizers - The elimination of intentionally added flame retardants and plasticizers in certain applications.
Recycled plastics content - Ensuring that the product contains post consumer recycled plastic <5.0% by="" weight,="" measured="" as="" a="" percentage="" of="" total="" plastic="" (by="" weight)="" in="" each="" product="" or="" does="" not.="" this="" applies="" to="" all="" covered="" products="" that="" contain="" plastics,="" excluding="" pcb="" and="" packaging.
Renewable/bio based plastic materials - A declaration as to whether the product contains renewable/biobased plastic materials greater than 5.0 %, measured as a percentage of total plastic (by weight) in each product.
Toxins in packaging - Ensuring a reduction/elimination of intentionally added toxins in packaging
Power Management - Ensuring maximum efficiency without sacrificing performance in product design.
Thermal Consideration - Ensuring the proper case/motherboard/CPU configuration is developed to maintain the required Thermal levels.
Acoustic Levels - Ensuring systems conform to ISO 9296 declaration methodology and employing the ISO 7779 test methodology for acoustic levels.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to help save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Northern Micro is an active participant in the Energy Star and certifies its products as Energy Star compliant (as listed on their web site http://www.energystar.gov/)
The Microsoft WHQL program is used to qualify products that conform to industry standards for computer and related equipment. Among the criteria being measured are Power Management features (Wake On-LAN, ACPI , Sleep/Suspend/Hibernate) which greatly enhance the longevity of key system components, reduce power requirements and offer overall improved efficiency and performance to the user and the environment.
The 80 PLUS program is one of the latest power conservation initiatives that promote the maximum operating efficiency of power supplies within computer equipment. The performance specification requires power supplies in computers and servers to be 80% or greater energy efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% of rated load with a true power factor of 0.9 or greater.
TCO Development ensures that certified products are tested to conform to standards developed by them and which create a better working environment for office users. Northern Micro uses TCO ’03 certified LCD monitor products from its partners.
The EPSC (http://www.epsc.ca) is a not-for-profit organization and works with an array of partners and stakeholders to design, promote and implement sustainable solutions for Canada's electronic waste problem. These industry leaders are aware of both the pressures on municipalities for landfill management and the environmental necessity to handle the potentially hazardous content of electronics products and reuse the valuable resources they contain. EPS Canada was created to work with both industry and government to develop a flexible, workable Canadian solution. Northern Micro is an active member of the EPSC. The EPSC has recognized both Environment Canada’s ECO Logo and the corresponding US EPEAT programs as tools for developing environmentally friendly solutions.
Call2Recycle (https://www.call2recycle.ca), through their North American wide program recycles used portable rechargeable batteries and old cell phones typically found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys. Call2Recycle recycles the battery chemistries: Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd), Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion) and Small Sealed Lead (Pb). Call2Recycle is dedicated to keeping rechargeable batteries and cell phones out of our nation’s solid waste stream and preserving natural resources. Northern Micro participates in the Call2Recycle program and accepts without charge all batteries meeting the above specifications, regardless of when and through whom they were purchased.