SAN FRANCISCO – The Green Electronics Council on Monday went international with a registry at EPEAT.net that shows how computers and monitors measure up when it comes to being eco-friendly.

The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) registry, which gives green ratings to computer desktops, laptops, and monitors, has been localized for specific countries.

“It is an exciting development,” said EPEAT executive director Jeff Omelchuck. “It is driven by a global demand for a system to evaluate these products.”

EPEAT was launched in the United States in 2006 with corporations and other large IT purchasers in mind, but now the registry is available for anyone to consult online for free and has been localized with info specific to 40 countries.

“Before, you might fall in love with a laptop on the registry only to find out it is not available in your country,” Omelchuck said. “Now, registries show products available in your country and environmental characteristics particular to your country.”

Registries unveiled on Monday were customized for places including Canada, Europe, China, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Mexico.

Electronics makers and other interested parties establish EPEAT criteria used to rate computers, with bronze, silver, and gold being the top rankings in succession.

“This is like cats and dogs playing together,” Omelchuck quipped, referring to manufacturers, health groups, environmentalists, consumers, recyclers, and others that collaborate to set EPEAT standards.

“Stakeholders that are often adversaries worked together for three years to define what a green PC is.”

EPEAT is seeing increased international participation in the green standards setting process.