Computer maker Dell has announced that through increased operations efficiency, investment in renewable energy, and carbon offset purchases, the computer retailer has met the goal of offsetting its environmental impacts and reached a carbon neutral status, five months earlier than scheduled. Dell has offset their entire amount of energy consumption by purchasing renewable energy supplies.

Dell has invested in over 550 million kilowatt hours in wind, solar and gas renewable power supplies.

As part of the company's "walk-the-walk" effort, Dell is requiring suppliers to audit and report their carbon dioxide emissions as part of the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration. CDP is a non-profit organization that brings together shareholders and corporations on climate change issues and solutions.

Dell is part of EPA’s Fortune 500 Challenge, in which companies voluntarily increase their energy efficiency and use of renewable energy.

Dell moved up to number three on the list, ahead of competitors HP, Apple and IBM, but behind Intel and PepsiCo.

Dell offers consumers an opportunity to cut their carbon footprint by paying for the planting of a tree during the PC purchase process.

Dell’s other environmental efforts include waste reduction by eliminating-when feasible- harmful parts of products and by using products that can be easily recycled. Dell also uses and continues to increase their use of recycled products for office supplies and computer equipment.

Dell also announced a new line of environmentally safe desktops. The OptiPlex line includes a PC that requires 43 percent less energy than previous PCs, is made of 10 percent post consumer waste plastic, and comes in a package made from nearly 100 percent  recycled materials. Dell also offers consumers with easy disposal opportunities for old and unwanted Dell computers to prevent computers and harmful toxic parts from ending up in landfills.