A year ago, VIA launched its C7-D desktop processor. Apart from being the most energy efficient desktop CPU on the market, the C7-D was also billed as the world’s first carbon free computing component. So, what does that mean?

First, a bit of background. All computing components require electricity to operate. This electricity if produced largely through the burning of fossil fuels like oil and coal. This, in turn, creates carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere and contributes to the warming climate our planet’s now experiencing.

So, VIA got together with environmental experts to calculate the electricity used by the C7-D processor, and from that determined how much carbon dioxide will be produced as a result of electricity provided by fossil fuel burning power plants. Finally, they worked with regional organizations to offset that carbon dioxide through various regional projects, such as tree planting and both solar and wind power developments, thereby effectively neutralizing the carbon footprint of the C7-D.

For a closer look at the offsetting projects VIA has been involved in, check out the Carbon Free page on the VIA website. There’s also this video, which explains in a bit more detail what I’ve just been talking about.