FedCenter.gov
Program Areas
Quick Reference
 
 
 
Members
Not a Member? Join
Electronics Stewardship

  

This program area addresses the life-cycle management of electronics from procurement to disposal. Links, documents, and case studies are provided for the Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC), the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), and Energy Star.

In EO 13423, Section 2(h) requires that federal agencies:

  • when acquiring an electronic product to meet its requirements, meets at least 95 percent of those requirements withan Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered electronic product, unless there is no EPEAT standard for such product,
  • enable the Energy Star feature on agency computers and monitors,
  • establish and implement policies to extend the useful life of agency electronic equipment, and
  • use environmentally sound practices with respect to disposition of agency electronic equipment that has reached the end of its useful life.

Section 3(a) mandates that the heads of each agency implement within the agency sustainable practices for electronic equipment management.

EO 13423 Section 9 provides the following definitions applicable to this Program Area:

  • life-cycle cost-effective - the life-cycle costs of a product, project,or measure are estimated to be equal to or less than the base case (i.e. current or standard practice or product).
  • sustainable - to create and maintain conditions, under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.

Please use the links below to quickly jump to the information area needed or scroll down to view all items.



Regulations, Guidance, and Policy
This guidance, promulgated by the Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), specifies the conditions for agencies to meet the EO13423 and the EPACT 2005 Requirements. Each agency should meet the EO13423 Requirement as well as the EPACT 2005 Requirement. This document is dated January 28, 2008.
The electronics waste resource locator contains links to regulatory agencies and rules covering electronics waste and recycling topics.
This act was signed into law on August 8, 2005. the Act contains a multitude of provisions covering energy production, distribution, storage, efficiency, conservation, and research. The Act requires efficiency standards for certain large appliances and extends Daylight Saving Time to reduce consumption. It provides funding to improve efficiency in low-income housing and expands the Energy Star program. It also requires the federal government to increase the efficiency of its buildings and vehicles and provides tax credits for certain energy efficient purchases or improvements. Other topic of note are: renewable energy, expanding of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fuel production access in federal lands, the banning of drilling in the Great Lakes, electricity reliability, hydrogen vehicles, vehicle efficiency and alternative fuels, ethanol and motor fuels.
Federal agencies are required to purchase either energy-efficient, ENERGY STAR qualified, or EPEAT-registered products(computers, monitors, and laptops). The activation of power management settings on computers is also required. This page is designed to assist you in fulfilling these requirements.
Requiring Agencies to Purchase Energy Efficient Computer Equipment
21 April 1993
This EO directs the U.S. government to participate in the EPA Energy Star computer program by agreeing to buy energy-efficient computers, monitors, and printers. To the extent possible, Federal agencies must purchase only computer equipment that meets the EPA Energy Star requirements.
Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation at Federal Facilities
8 March 1994
This EO addresses agency goals and reporting requirements for energy and water efficiency at Federal facilities as well as suggestions on how to achieve those goals.
Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
18 May 2001
This EO establishes the mandate for federal agencies to prepare a Statement of Energy Effects when undertaking certain agency actions.
Energy Efficient Standby Power Devices
31 Jul 2004
This EO directs Federal agencies to purchase low wattage standby power devices.
Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management
24 January 2007
Executive Order 13423 "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management", signed by President Bush on January 24, 2007. The order sets goals in the areas of energy efficiency, acquisition, renewable energy, toxics reductions, recycling, renewable energy, sustainable buildings, electronics stewardship, fleets, and water conservation. In addition the order requires more widespread use of Environmental Management Systems as the framework in which to manage and continually improve these sustainable practices.
This document provides guidance for federal agencies that choose to include the purchase of Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) registered products as part of a strategy for achieving the toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials reduction goals of Executive Order (E.O.) 13423, "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management." Use of this guidance is not required for any federal agency or facility.
In accordance with Section 4(b) of Executive Order 13423, "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management", implementing instructions have been issued to Federal agencies to provide detail and direction to agencies as the work to fulfill the goals and requirement of the Executive Order. Section 8 of these instructions are specific to pollution prevention. These instructions are dated March 29, 2007.
Supporting Information and Tools
 
Databases/Software Tools
This is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.
This tool, fielded July 24, 2006, helps purchasers rank computer desktops, laptops and monitors based on their environmental attributes. The three-tiered EPEAT rating system includes 23 required criteria and 28 optional criteria. The optional criteria are used to determine if the equipment receives EPEAT Bronze, Silver, or Gold recognition.
The software application measures the environmental benefits associated with decisions relating to computers, monitors and cell phones. The benefits it measures include energy savings, electricity cost savings, and reductions in greenhouse gases, hazardous waste, municipal solid waste, air pollution, water pollution, primary materials and toxic materials. To be user friendly, the software can express the benefits in terms of equivalencies. Energy savings, for example, can be translated into the number of homes powered by the corresponding amount of electricity. Greenhouse gas reductions, meanwhile, could be expressed as the equivalent number of passenger cars removed from the road.
These calculators allow users to enter their own input values (e.g., utility rates, hours of use, etc.) to estimate the energy cost savings from buying a more efficient product. Calculators are available for: compact fluorescent lamps, commercial unitary air conditioners, air cooled chillers, water-cooled chillers, commercial heat pumps, boilers, refrigerators, freezers, beverage vending machines, computers, monitors, faxes, printers, copiers, faucet/showerheads, toilet/urinals, central air conditioners, gas furnaces, electric/gas water heaters, clothes washers, and dish washers.
GSA has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to offer the federal community a broad range of energy efficient products. GSA wants to assist in efforts to meet energy reduction goals by offering a variety of energy efficient and water conserving products. GSA makes these items available to federal buyers through the GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program.
GSA has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to offer the federal community a broad range of energy efficient products. GSA wants to assist in efforts to meet energy reduction goals by offering a variety of energy efficient and water conserving products. GSA makes these items available to federal buyers through the GSA Multiple Award Schedules (MAS) program.
Version 2.5.5 of this software allows energy auditors in the DOE SAVEnergy Program to quickly evaluate renewable energy opportunities and energy systems options for possible inclusion in a facility's energy program.
You can use the Power Profiler to generate a report about your own electricity use. All you need is your ZIP code.
TCO is a tool that systematically accounts for the indirect and direct life cycle costs related to an information technology (IT) investment decision. FEC resources are available to help Federal facilities evaluate the life cycle costs of their electronics purchases or leases.
Directories/Catalogs/Newsletters
You can now use the NRC calculator to compute environmental benefits from recycling carpets, personal computers, clay brick, aggregate and fly ash. In addition, the calculator has been updated with the most recent data from the U.S. EPA on energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions resulting from recycling.
Libraries/Repositories
The EERE Information Center answers questions on EERE's products, services, and 10 technology programs, refers callers to the most appropriate EERE resources, and refers qualified callers to the appropriate expert networks.
Organizations
Founded in 1977, the Alliance to Save Energy is a non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders. The Alliance to Save Energy supports energy efficiency as a cost-effective energy resource under existing market conditions and advocates energy-efficiency policies that minimize costs to society and individual consumers, and that lessen greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the global climate. To carry out its mission, the Alliance to Save Energy undertakes research, educational programs, and policy advocacy, designs and implements energy-efficiency projects, promotes technology development and deployment, and builds public-private partnerships, in the U.S. and other countries.
ACEEE a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.
The commission promotes the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency through building standards; streamlining energy use in agriculture, manufacturing, water systems, and processing functions; and analyzing demand and consumption trends.
This Web site, a project of CREST and the EPA Office of Policy's State and Local Climate Change Program, documents state and local government activities that have resulted in reducing or preventing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency and/or renewable energy technologies, better municipal planning, and progressive sustainable energy and resource practices.
The CFL program specifically matches the computer needs of schools and educational nonprofit organization with excess equipment in Federal agencies.
A government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
The Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) works to reduce the cost and environmental impact of the Federal government by advancing energy efficiency and water conservation, promoting the use of distributed and renewable energy, and improving utility management decisions at Federal sites.
A global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems. In furtherance of its mission, The Green Grid is focused on the following: defining meaningful, user-centric models and metrics; developing standards, measurement methods, processes and new technologies to improve data center performance against the defined metrics; and promoting the adoption of energy efficient standards, processes, measurements and technologies.
This environmental aisle is designed to allow direct access to the variety of environmental products and services that GSA offers. Note: Except for Energy Star claims, all of the claims about green attributes (e.g., recycled content, energy efficiency other than Energy Star, biobased content, chemicals content) are self-claims by the product vendors.
IREC is a non-profit organization dedicated to moving renewable energy resources into the marketplace. IREC emphasizes education and outreach, stakeholder coordination, technical assistance, workforce development, the adoption and implementation of uniform guidelines and standards, consumer protection and building networks to share experiences and information. Their site contains information about grants, courses, and energy events.
The NCER is dedicated to the enhancement of the national infrastructure for recycling used electronics under the direction of an Industry Advisory Committee of manufacturers who are the leaders in the environmental field.
A consumer electronics campaign working to increase the number of electronic devices collected and safely recycled in the United States. Launched in January 2003, Plug-In To eCycling is one component of EPA's Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC), a national effort to find flexible, yet more protective ways to conserve our valuable resources. Plug-In To eCycling focuses on three major areas:
  • Providing the public with information about electronics recycling and increasing opportunities to safely recycle old electronics.
  • Facilitating partnerships with communities, electronics manufacturers, and retailers to promote shared responsibility for safe electronics recycling.
  • Establishing pilot projects to test innovative approaches to safe electronics recycling.
A voluntary program to promote environmentally responsible disposal of these household appliances, which will significantly reduce emissions as well as save consumers money. As part of the Program, EPA serves as a technical clearinghouse on responsible appliance disposal program development and implementation.
Supporting Information and Tools Bottom Border
 
Lessons Learned
 
Acquisition
Generic procurement language used to specify the purchase of all ENERGY STAR products.
The model language aids Federal agencies to incorporate the performance criteria used for ENERGY STAR®-qualified and FEMP-designated products into procurement contracts for energy consuming products and systems. These include guide and project specifications; construction, renovation and service contracts; and the evaluations of offers. Products for which model language is available include: compact fluorescent lamps, exit signs, refrigerators, freezers, dish washers, clothes washers, heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters, chillers, ice machines, griddles, fryers, faucets, showerheads, toilets, computers, monitors, printers, roof products, and windows.
Year-end review of environmental benefits derived from 2007 EPEAT purchasing.
Developed by the FEC, this document identifies actions you can take to "green" the procurement process and list departments responsible for implementing them. You can then use the checklist to record actions that have been completed.
Purchasing specifications for 50 types of products commonly purchased by federal agencies. For each product a 1-2 page summary with buyer tips, cost-effectiveness examples, and additional product information resources. Products for which specifications are available include: compact fluorescent lamps, exit signs, refrigerators, freezers, dish washers, clothes washers, heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces, water heaters, chillers, ice machines, griddles, fryers, faucets, showerheads, toilets, computers, monitors, printers, roof products, and windows.
This environmental aisle is designed to allow direct access to the variety of environmental products and services that GSA offers. Note: Except for Energy Star claims, all of the claims about green attributes (e.g., recycled content, energy efficiency other than Energy Star, biobased content, chemicals content) are self-claims by the product vendors.
This site advertises that they "do the work to ensure you are FAR, JWOD and environmentally compliant." There is a "green items" button that links to a list of NSN items with environmental attributes.
This document explains how certain types of leasing arrangements can help your agency procure “greener” electronic equipment, extend the product life cycle, and ensure proper management of equipment at the end of life.
This resource provides model contract language that FEC Partners can use to specify EPEAT-registered products in acquisition and procurement contracts.
The Spring 2004 FEMP Focus details how GSA has incorporated language into the new contract that would place responsibility for energy conservation and management squarely on the shoulders of the service contractor, and uses incentives to motivate the contractors to not only meet, but exceed, the conservation goals of the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) and related Executive Orders.
The Spring 2004 FEMP Focus details how GSA has incorporated language into the new contract that would place responsibility for energy conservation and management squarely on the shoulders of the service contractor, and uses incentives to motivate the contractors to not only meet, but exceed, the conservation goals of the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) and related Executive Orders.
Produced by the Responsible Purchasing Network (RPN), this is a comprehensive resource for the responsible use, purchasing, and disposal of computers, monitors, and laptops.
This Guide provides information and recommendations on purchasing responsible printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners, and multifunction devices (MFDs). The guide is developed by the Responsible Purchasing Network
This guide covers fluorescent lamps, including compact fluorescent bulbs, ballasts and tubes and outlines best practices for a responsible lighting system.
Award Winners
This document includes a list of the 2007 winners as well as a short overview of each winner and their award-winning efforts.
Identifies the Gold, Silver, or Bronze FEC winners. Also includes Leadership Awards and Champion Awards.
The winner for 2007 is the Department of Energy HQ Green Team for their entry titled “Green Electronics Partners.”
The civilian winner for 2008 is the Transportation Security Administration's Electronics Stewardship Team for their entry titled Electronics Stewardship at TSA.
Disposal
EPA is awarding contracts to help the entire federal government recycle or properly dispose of computers and other electronic equipment. The new program will prevent hazardous substances inside these items from entering landfills. For example, each computer monitor contains six pounds of lead. All of this equipment contains components that can be reused in the current marketplace or recycled.
Helps users to identify available recycling services in their state and city for items such as: cell phones, computers, Nicad batteries, monitors, office machines, printers, printer cartridges, and telephone equipment.
Under READ services, EPA has awarded eight Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) to small businesses (three nationwide, three in the eastern U.S. and two in western U.S.). Under the contracts, companies will evaluate each item and its components, and then, in decreasing preference:
  • refurbish and resell them, using the proceeds to offset costs;
  • donate them to charitable causes;
  • recycle as much as possible; and
  • properly dispose of the remainder.
The FEC has created this review tool to guide you in the process of determining whether potential waste electronics processing vendors are reputable, and can meet the recycling needs of your organization.
This initiative was created to bring stakeholders together to develop solutions to the issue of electronic products management. The infrastructure for collecting, reusing and recycling electronics in the United States has not kept pace with this growing waste stream, and the number of electronic products entering the waste stream is projected to increase dramatically unless reuse and recycling options expand. All stakeholders involved, federal, state and local governments, manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, and environmental groups, are concerned about and motivated to find a solution to this issue.
This document provides Federal agencies engaged in managing their end-of-life electronics with an overview of relevant General Services Administration guidelines and requirements.
This document provides step-by-step guidance on packaging equipment prior to transfer for recycling. It includes instructions for electronic peripherals, CPUs, and computer monitors, and lists specific packaging materials that can be used to prevent breakage and contamination.
This information sheet will help you to better understand what you can do to prepare to donate used electronics.
This document, dated October 2008, is a set of guidelines for accredited certification programs to assess electronics recyclers' environmental, worker health and safety, and security practices. The voluntary R2 practices include general principles and specific practices for recyclers disassembling or reclaiming used electronics equipment including those electronics that are exported for refurbishment and recycling.
This is an informational flyer addressing the issues of reuse of electronic equipment. This document outlines standard options for surplusing Federal electronic property and gives specific information about redeployment and transferring of electronic equipment has been handled at the U.S. EPA. This document should be useful for IT equipment managers, facilities and/or property management departments.
Federal Electronics Challenge
This checklist outlines questions to consider throughout the electronics acquisition and procurement process. This checklist can assist you in planning and purchasing environmentally preferable electronic products and services. Completion of this document is required for all FEC award levels. PLEASE NOTE: Completion of either this document, or the Acquisition and Procurement Checklist previously posted here, are both acceptable for meeting the 2007 Federal Electronics Challenge Award requirements.
Overview of TCO modeling and guidance on how to utilize TCO to make purchasing decisions for information technology products.
The case studies provide background information on how other federal facilities are meeting the Federal Electronics Challenge. Each case study highlights the successes and lessons learned of Facility Partners. Included are: DOE, DOI, VA, EPA, GSA, and NASA
When evaluating products or services, purchasing staff usually consider factors such as technical approach, corporate experience, and price. This document identifies environmental attributes and elements that can serve as evaluation criteria during best value procurement analyses.
The TCO Calculator Tool allows users to compare the costs of different options for the life cycle management of IT equipment with an emphasis on decisions that may have an environmental impact.
An eco-label identifies a product that meets specified environmental performance criteria or standards, and is awarded by a third-party organization to products or services that are determined to meet the criteria or standards. This document provides an overview of eco-labels, including a summary of current eco-label programs in the U.S. and abroad.
Training, Presentations, and Briefings
Presentation by Juan Lopez from Office of Federal Environmental Executive
Link to the presentations from the Energy 2005 workshop held August 14-17, 2005, including:
  • Effective O&M Solutions
  • Energy Project Financing Solutions
  • Leadership, Strategies, and Performance
  • New Technologies for New Horizons
  • Procurement Makes it Happen
  • Renewables - Endless Energy
  • Secure Your Energy Future
  • Sustainability: Strategies for Success
Would you like to find out more about ENERGY STAR and learn about the process and benefits of benchmarking your facility or complete portfolio of buildings? Find out how to bulk purchase ENERGY STAR labeled products and explore the financing options for energy efficiency projects?

ENERGY STAR invites you to take advantage of the on-line training sessions and presentations available to your organization at no cost. You can participate in the session using your own computer and phone, or gather interested colleagues together around a central phone and computer to train several people in your organization at the same time. During the session, you can discuss questions with energy and financing experts.

Presentation by the manager of EPA’s Energy Star Program discussing the benefits of the program and tools for commercial buildings. The Energy Star program offers an energy performance rating system to help design Energy Star buildings or assess the energy performance of existing buildings. The program also provides energy management guidance and best practices from the top Energy Star partners. One of the tools helps to make the business case, although it currently does not provide information in the form and format needed for budget submissions to OMB.
This presentation, dated February 2007, discusses the OMB Environmental Stewardship Scorecard, providing an overview of the Scorecard goals, standards for success, and Agency scores.
The course focuses on managing lighting efficiency retrofits for the workplace. It is designed for building or facility Energy Managers, or anyone who wants to get up-to-speed and up-to-date on lighting efficiency for the workplace. The class addresses workplace lighting, including offices, institutional, industrial and warehouse spaces. The class does not cover special issues for outdoor lighting, retail or residential lighting. Students are given fifteen weeks from the start of the registration period to finish course materials, which consists of 36 lessons and nine quizzes. The course is free.
Powerpoint presentation dated January 10, 2008 addressing GSA'a environmental products website, online purchasing tools, and industry partners.
This presentation covers the acquisition and procurement of environmentally preferable electronic equipment. It lists criteria that can be used to determine if a product is "green" and explains why it is important to purchase green electronic equipment. The presentation describes how to build environmental considerations into purchasing decisions and features a case study on the Department of the Interior. It also lists the acquisition and procurement activities that FEC partners must implement to achieve the bronze, silver, and gold recognition levels.
Presentation on extending the lifespan of a product, reducing paper use, and reducing energy consumption.
This presentation, dated April 2007, walks through how to use the Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator to convert your electronics stewardship activities into environmental outcomes.
Discussion of alternative financing approaches to use in meeting the energy-related goals of EO 13423. Presentation given at the Federal Environmental Symposium – East, June 2008 by David McAndrew of FEMP.
This presentation, dated March 2007, provides information on what Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) modeling is, how it can help your organization and instructions on using the TCO Calculator Tool
Describes FEC and how to partner with FEC in order to meet the electronics stewardship goals. Presentation given at the Federal Environmental Symposium – East, June 2008 by Cate Berard, EPA.
Conferences and Events
No Items Available
Back to Top  Page Top
Last Updated: December 04, 2007