D-Link extends green initiative to Network Attached Storage products

D-Link introduces green packaging to reduce plastic and paper waste

Malaysia, December 24, 2008 – D-Link International, one of the world's biggest suppliers of network products, today announced the environmental upgrades for the company's Network Attached Storage (NAS) product line and the introduction of green packaging.

A part of D-Link's plan for conserving energy and reducing waste, the NAS upgrade features a hibernation function for the hard drive that conserves power during idle stages. Integrated Smart Fans automatically turn off when the systems reach a low temperature state to reduce noise and energy. The 2-bay DNS-323 and 4-bay DNS-343 are both environmentally friendly when shipped, while users of the DNS-313 will need to download and install the Fireware 1.02 upgrade to add the green feature.

With such upgrades and certification, the NAS product line joins the company's growing list of environmentally friendly product lines, which already includes the first of industry Green Ethernet Switch and Green Wi-Fi Router (available in 2009). All of these products meet the criteria of the European Union's RoHS to restrict the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star to provide efficient energy-saving products.

"We are very pleased to be taking another positive step towards improving out products to meet community needs," said Tony Tsao, CEO and President, D-Link Corporation. "By continuing to provide full product lines better suited to the environment, along with the introduction of green packaging in all of our product lines, our company is on pace towards accomplishing its green initiative."

The implementation of green packaging reflects D-Link's commitment towards reducing waste. As part of this commitment, D-Link has re-designed product boxes to reduce the waste of plastic and paper. Quick installation guides are also printed in black and white, instead of the previous four-colour design.

To continue the company's green initiative, D-Link is also currently working towards extending green technology across other product lines, including Switches, Broadband, WLAN and Digital Home, to achieve further energy savings. The company also plans for the second generation of Green Ethernet Switches to be released in 2009.

To date, D-Link has received many awards and acknowledgements for its green initiative, including the Interop 2008 'Best of Show' Award in Japan, Techworld 2008 'Green Product of the Year' Award in the United Kingdom, 2008 Taiwan Excellence Silver Award, 2008 AeA Harvey Mudd College Green Engineering Award Finalist in the United States, ZDNet Australia & CeBIT 2008 'Emerging Innovation' Award Finalist and 2008 International Engineering Consortium InfoVision Award in the United Kingdom.