Penn State introduces environmental standards into computer purchasing
November 19, 2008
Penn State Purchasing has been recognized for its commitment to establishing environmental standards when buying University computer equipment.
The Pennsylvania Recycling Market Center and Northeast Recycling Council distinguished the University as a leader in green purchasing and has requested Penn State to be a part of a case study to measure the benefits of the EPEAT environmental standards.
The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) standard is a project that is lead by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and evaluates the environmental attributes of desktop, laptops and monitors.
“When it comes to being green, identifying what is good is a challenge for purchasers,” Meg Harpster, strategic purchasing manager, said. “The EPEAT program has clear standards that are easy to follow and are beneficial to everyone.”
By measuring these attributes, products are rated by gold, silver and bronze standards. Items that are reviewed in the EPEAT certification include disposing and disassembly options, reduced electricity during use and toxin-free packaging.
“This year we have been able to buy over 3,500 laptops and desktops that meet the EPEAT gold standard,” Joyce Haney, director of procurement services, said. “These purchases will help us make significant reductions in energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and waste.”
As a part of the efforts of Penn State’s Finance and Business Environmental Stewardship Key Initiative, Purchasing was able to buy EPEAT-certified lab and office computer products at a reasonable bulk rate.
“This is a great opportunity for Penn State to be recognized as a leader in environmental purchasing,” Haney said. “We were able to collaborate with Information Technology Services (ITS) to get this going and the results have been very significant.”
The University has taken many steps to instill environmentally friendly practices into its routine. Working with Dell Inc., ITS was able to benefit from an “eco-packaging” program that reduced the amount of manuals, foam and boxes when the lab computers were shipped.
“It’s a lot less waste and is a more efficient deployment process for the labs,” Harpster said.
For more information on Penn State Purchasing's green efforts, visit http://www.purchasing.psu.edu/environmental.shtml.
Contact Meg Harpster
Email: meg.harpster@psu.edu.