16. Sustainable_Green_Acquisition.pdf

SUSTAINABLE “GREEN” ACQUISITION

Recycled Content Products

Recycled content products are products that are made from or contain recovered materials. That means replacing virgin materials with recycled materials, including post-consumer materials.

There are currently more than 60 designated products in eight categories: paper and paper products, vehicular, construction, landscaping, park and recreation, transportation, non-paper office, and miscellaneous products.

Examples of designated products include structural fiberboard, printing and writing papers. The current list of designated products, EPA's guidance, and related technical information can be found on EPA's web site at http://www.epa.gov

Energy-Efficient Products: Energy Star@, FEMP-Designated, and Low Standby Power

EPAct of 2005, Section 104 and FAR 23.203 require federal agencies to purchase Management Program (FEMP)-designated products when procuring energy consuming products.

The technical requirements that each product must meet to become Energy Star qualified are available at ENERGY STAR Qualified Products: ENERGY STAR.

Information on FEMP-designated products can be found at http://www.eere.energy.gov.

Information on low standby power products can be found on FEMP's web site at:

http://www.eere.energy.gov.

Bio-based Products

Biobased products are products determined by the Secretary of Agriculture to be commercial or industrial products (other than food or feed) that are composed in whole, or in significant part, of biological products or renewable domestic agricultural materials and forestry materials. Examples of USDA-designated bio-based products include mobile equipment, hydraulic fluids, roof coatings, diesel fuel additives, and towels. USDA is responsible for implementing the Bio- Preferred procurement preference program. Information on these designated products, USDA's guidance, and related documentation can be found at USDA's web site at www.biopreferred.gov.

(The FAR is being revised to require that Federal agencies procure designated items composed of the highest percentage of bio-based content practicable [FAR Case 2010-004].)

Environmentally Preferable Products and Services

Environmentally Preferable Products (EPP) are products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal of the products or services.

Examples of environmentally preferable products include cleaning products that are non-toxic, non-volatile, and biodegradable; and paint with no or low volatile organic compounds. This program is managed by EPA which maintains a database of products and specifications defined by federal, state, and local agencies, and other nations. The database can be found at www.epa.gov/epp along with EPA's Guidance on the Acquisition of Environmentally Preferable Products and Services located at http://www.epa.govLepp/pubs/index.htm.

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Products http://www.epa.gov/ http://www.eere.energy.gov/ http://www.eere.energy.gov/ http://www.biopreferred.gov/ http://www.epa.gov/epp http://www.epa.govlepp/pubs/index.htm

EPEAT is a tool for evaluating the environmental performance of electronic products throughout their life cycle. EPEAT is intended to help purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare and select desktop computers, notebooks and monitors based on their environmental attributes. EPEAT also provides a clear and consistent set of performance criteria for the design of products, and provides an opportunity for manufacturers to secure market recognition for efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its products. Available at: http://www.epeat.net/.

Water-Efficient Products

A water-efficient product is in the upper 25% of water efficiency for all similar products, or is at least 10% more efficient than the minimum level meeting U.S. Federal Government standards.

Examples of products that have met the EPA WaterSense label include: high efficiency toilets, sink faucets, showerheads, urinals, and landscape irrigation systems. Information about the WaterSense Program is available at www.epa.gov/watersense.

Non-Ozone Depleting Substances

E.O. 13423 and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Implementing Instructions require that each agency give preference to the purchase of non-ozone depleting substances, as identified in EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. FAR 23.803 states that agencies shall give preference to the procurement of alternative products that reduce overall risks to human health and the environment by lessening the depletion of ozone in the upper stratosphere. It further requires that in preparing specifications and purchase descriptions, and the acquisition of supplies and services, agencies shall comply with the requirements of the Clean Air Act and substitute safe alternatives to ozone-depleting substances. SNAP provides lists of acceptable and unacceptable substitutes in the following sectors: fire suppressants, aerosol solvents and propellants, refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, and adhesives and coatings. SNAP is managed by EPA. Information about the SNAP Program is available on http://www.epa.gov/ozoneLstrathome.html.

http://www.epeat.net/ http://www.epa.gov/watersense http://www.epa.gov/ozoneLstrathome.html