Apple Inc. (AAPL): 21.5-inch iMac Sucks Half as Much Energy as Last Gen Model

Apple Inc. (NADSAQ:AAPL) released its mammoth “Apple and the Environment” data earlier today, and despite the wealth of information covered, we haven’t really seen any outlets make their way through it yet. We’ve already summarized two of the tech giant’s primary reports, the Facilities Environmental Report and the Environmental Progress framework (see our HIGHLIGHTS here).

With that being said, there are some interesting details to note about Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s 21.5-inch iMac. In the specific environmental report for the latest iteration of the device, which was officially introduced on October 23, 2012 (model numbers MD093 and MD094), Cupertino covers “climate change, energy efficiency, material efficiency, and restricted substances.”

Climate Change

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) mentions that most of its greenhouse gas emissions are related to “production, transport, use, and recycling of its products,” which total 640 kg CO2e, less than the 27-inch iMac (1010 kg CO2e), but more than the Mac mini (290 kg CO2e). Within this proverbial pie chart, these emissions are attributed to different parts of its life cycle. The graph can be seen below:

The real meat of the report, though, comes in the next section….titled Energy Efficiency. In it, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) mentions that device uses “49 percent less energy than the previous-generation 21.5-inch iMac.” This is a particularly large increase in efficiency over one generation of any device, let alone a desktop unit.

These improvements are likely a result of a multitude of factors, but the one of the most important may be Apple’s material efficiency. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) mentions:

The 21.5-inch iMac retail packaging consumes 56 percent less volume and weighs 39 percent less than the original 15-inch iMac packaging.

Along with the following chart:

In the report, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) also details restricted substances and recycling programs, but we’ll let you read that for yourself.

With Apple investors unquestionably uncertain what the future will bring, it’s important for them to track all things Cupertino-related. Interestingly, some of the world’s most talented money managers are still very bullish on the company’s prospects moving forward. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is one of the five most popular stocks in the hedge fund industry, which is a fact that’s at least worth storing in your back pocket.

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Disclosure: none