*NEWS*USA::E.P.A. LAUNCHES….E.P.E.A.T.

[Anonymous]

The greening of your copy machine
SAN
FRANCISCO – The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching this
week the first steps toward new green standards for copiers and other
imaging devices. This effort builds on the success of EPEAT – an
on-line tool to help institutional buyers identify and buy greener
electronic equipment.

On February 20, 2008 EPA will host a
two-day roundtable to kick-off the development process for the new
environmental standards. The forum will bring together representatives
from manufacturers, suppliers, public and private sector purchasers,
public interest groups and experts in electronics design to define the
scope of the products to be covered, look at other standards and
labels, and begin to develop potential environmental performance
criteria for the new standards.

“EPEAT is a trusted resource for
buyers looking for greener computers, because it was developed by all
the stakeholders,” said David Jones, Associate Director of the Waste
Division in EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “The success of EPEAT has
led to significant environmental benefits. EPA is committed to
supporting stakeholder efforts to now reduce the impact of printers and
copiers as well.”

EPEAT – the electronic product environmental
assessment tool – was launched in 2006, focusing on desktop and laptop
computers and monitors. It includes a set of environmental criteria and
a system for registering and verifying equipment that meets those
criteria. EPEAT-registered computers have reduced levels of toxics, are
more energy efficient, are easier to upgrade and recycle, and use more
sustainable packaging than conventional equipment. EPA supported the
development of EPEAT, but it is now a largely self-sustaining system
operated by the Green Electronics Council.

Purchasers have
embraced EPEAT enthusiastically. Nearly all electronic equipment
purchases by the U.S. government must be EPEAT-registered. In addition,
more than six states and dozens of local governments and colleges and
universities have adopted EPEAT in their procurement for computers.
Major private companies are using the tool as well. That success has
driven demand by purchasers for additional products to be added to
EPEAT.

The February 20th workshop will begin a 12-18 month
process to craft the criteria for imaging devices. EPA will not develop
the new standard itself, but is providing funding and staff support to
bring stakeholders together to do so. The standard will be finalized
the IEEE Standards Association.

For information on the EPEAT
standard and the searchable database listing all EPEAT-registered
computer products, visit: http://www.epeat.net. Additional information
on the Green Electronics Council is available at
http://www.greenelectronicscouncil.org.

[Author]

February 20, 2008 at 2:35 PM