With the increased number of hours spent online, forget about the ill effects that social networking may be having on your real life social life, do you know just how your laptop notebook is affecting your health?Below are four reasons why you need a green laptop notebook.

I don't mean go out and get the latest lime green laptop on the market but be sure to look out for the following criteria when buying your green laptop notebook;

ENERGY STAR

Buy energy star rated products.

RECYCLABILITY

How simple will it be to dispose off your laptop once it's lifespan has ended.Can it be recycled or will it end up in a dump site.

EPEAT

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool [EPEAT] is a system that will help you find and compare the environmental aspects of your next laptop. EPEAT rates items with bronze, silver, or gold stamps.[see EPEAT RATINGS BELOW]

Several of the laptop notebooks currently on the market contain several harmful chemicals which could be a silent killer affecting your health.Change won't happen overnight but several manufacturers are launching new and safer green laptop notebooks which are good for both you and the planet. Here are four chemicals to look for and the green laptop notebooks which reduce their consumption of these harmful substances.

• Where it's found: Solder on circuit boards, monitor glass in cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays.
• Why it's bad: Can be harmful to the brain and kidneys after long term exposure.
• How to avoid it: Opt for liquid crystal display (LCD) that doesn't use fluorescent lights.

• Where it's found: Back lights that illuminate laptop and LCD monitors.
• Why it's bad: Can damage the brain, kidneys, and lungs over long term exposure.
• How to avoid it: Some new screens, such as Apple's MacBook Air and Apple's MacBook Air use LED (light-emitting diode) technology, which is mercury-free.
• Apple's MacBookAir is rated gold by EPEAT and is also energy star compliant.
  

• Where it's found: Coating for internal steel parts.
• Why it's bad: Harms the lungs, irritates the stomach and may cause kidney disease.
• How to avoid it: Find a bronze-rated EPEAT machine, which has no more than a tenth of a percent by weight of cadmium. One Green Laptop Notebook the Asus U6V-V2-Bamboo 12.1-Inch Laptop has a revolutionary, certified “green” design with case and touch pad made of sleek, natural bamboo. Asus U6V-V2-Bamboo 12.1-Inch Laptop is also energy star rated and has a silver EPEAT rating.
  

• Where it's found: Corrosion-inhibiting coating for connectors and screws inside a computer.
• Why it's bad: Causes ulcers and irritation to the nasal septum.
• How to avoid it: Buy only EPEAT rated products.Any material used in a computer rated EPEAT bronze contains no more than a tenth of a percent by weight of chromiuim VI.One such green laptop notebook is The Lenovo Thinkpad X301, which is rated Gold by the EPEAT and is also energy star compliant.