November 5, 2007—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Green Electronics Council recently recognized an elite group of pioneering organizations for using EPEAT, the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, when purchasing electronic products.
EPA and the Council presented the Green Electronics Champions Award to the city of San Jose, Kaiser Permanente, California Integrated Waste Management Board and Department of General Services, San Francisco-based McKesson Corporation, and the city of Phoenix for using the EPEAT green-purchasing standard to buy desktop computers, laptops, and monitors that meet strict environmental standards.
The five organizations collectively bought more than 91,930 desktop computers and notebooks and 72,394 monitors, all registered with EPEAT. Their combined purchases reportedly reduced 4,800 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, saved 61,000 megawatts of electricity; reduced the use of more than 12,000 pounds of toxic chemicals, saved 243 million pounds of primary materials, and saved a combined $5.3 million.
According to the Green Electronics Council, the nonprofit organization that manages the EPEAT system, compared to conventional computer equipment, all EPEAT-registered computers have reduced levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury to better protect human health. They are more energy efficient, which reduces emissions of climate changing greenhouse gases. They are also easier to upgrade and recycle. In addition, manufacturers must offer safe recycling options for the products when they are no longer useable.
For information on the EPEAT standard and the searchable database listing all EPEAT-registered computer products, visit EPEAT.
