Dell has expanded its Plant a Tree for Me program. You can now purchase carbon offset credits for your computer even if you don't buy a Dell.

Launched in January, the Plant a Tree for Me program asks Dell customers to voluntarily donate a couple of bucks at check-out to offset their computer purchase. That money is then given to the Conservation Fund and Carbonfund to plant trees as a way of offsetting your PC carbon footprint.

The idea is to get Dell customers to offset the electricity usage of their computer over three years (the estimated lifetime of the computer). Now with the no-purchase necessary angle, anyone can buy these credits.

You can offset a notebook for $2, a desktop for $6, your choice of monitors (CRT for $4, LCD for $3). A server is $40 and there is even an option to offset yourself for $99. All of the proceeds go to the Conservation Fund and the Carbonfund (Dell says they're picking up the admin costs for the program.)

And whether or not you choose to purchase credits, anyone can download a PDF Certificate of Participation for planting a tree through Dell. Although, I'd suggest instead of having the link on the program home page that they include the PDF link in the e-mail confirmation after a purchase.

The decision to reach out to a wider audience may have stemmed from customer feedback from Dell's IdeaStorm, an online suggestion box where ideas for improvements (green and otherwise) are welcome. The expansion will also help to enhance their green image.

Expect to see Dell in the headlines again next month with another round of Plant a Tree publicity when the company announces that it will be available to customers outside of the US.

Via Dell
More information available at The New York Times; TreeHugger