Green IT

Green IT procurement policies are being introduced by organizations in the public, private and third sectors as they and their clients become more concerned about the environment.

In addition equipment suppliers increasingly seek to give their equipment a 'green' seal of approval.

Unfortunately, too few organizations know where to start or how to go about this. The information contained here is designed to help such organizations get started with a Green IT policy.

The Electronic Environmental Assessment Tool EPEAT may provide the answer. The organization behind EPEAT is incorporated as a 501(c)(4) “social benefit” not-for-profit organization in Portland, Oregon, USA and is managed and operated by staff contracted from the Green Electronics Council. The GEC is part of the International Sustainable Development Foundation which is also a 501(c)(3) “charitable” not-for-profit organization located in Portland.

Green IT Purchaser?

When you or your organization purchases a computer you will want to ensure that the particular make and model of the computer is as environmentally friendly (Green) as possible. In other words you will wnat to purchase a computer with a low carbon footprint, low energy usage, and does contribute more than it need to to the toxic stockpile in landfill or the the toxicity of the planet in general.

Green Criteria

If you wish to fully understand the criteria by which your future purchase can be evaluated it would be useful, but not mandatory, to purchase a copy of the IEEE public standard, IEEE 1680. Search for a copy of the IEEE 1680 standard here

The EPEAT Purchasing Evaluation Tool

EPEAT is a Free tool you can use to evaluate electronic products in relation to the 51 environmental criteria identified in IEEE 1680 - 23 required criteria and 28 optional criteria.

To qualify for registration as an EPEAT product, the product must conform to all the required criteria.

Products are also ranked in EPEAT according to three tiers of environmental performance - Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

All registered products must meet the required criteria, and achieve Bronze status. Silver and Gold status is achieved when the product meets additional optional criteria, as follows:

Obviously it would be good to know precisely what the environmental impact of your Green IT purchasing policy is. You can obtain a Free Calculator from the experts at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Get your Free Environmental Impact Assessment Calculator Here.

2009 European Enterprise Green IT Survey: Technology and Sustainable Development

The survey of how we work with IT and the impact we are having on the environment... and what are we doing about it?

The survey shows a mixed picture. On the one hand, investments still seem very weak, given what is at stake! On the other hand, awareness is manifestly on the increase and giving rise to many initiatives. However, for the time being, economic and regulatory considerations remain the chief driving forces - but is this set to change?

You can get the results of the green IT survey from our friends at Devoteam. Get your Free Copy of the Green IT Survey Here.

Green IT Supplier?

Want to Register for EPEAT Compliance

The IEEE 1680 standard contains the full description of environmental criteria used by the EPEAT tool.

If you are a producer of computer equipment seeking to declare your product as complying with the standard it is essential to own a copy of IEEE 1680.

Most EPEAT criteria refer to environmental performance characteristics of the specific product, and must be declared for each product registered.

However, some criteria relate to general corporate programs, such as a supplier's Corporate Environmental Policy or Environmental Management System.

These Corporate Criteria apply to all of a given manufacturer’s EPEAT registered products and participating manufacturers must declare to these criteria annually.

The IEEE 1680 Standard contains the full text of each criterion, to what types of product the criterion applies, what information a manufacturer must be prepared to provide to EPEAT to demonstrate conformance with the criterion, and additional references and details.

To see these important details, and to register any product in EPEAT, the Standard must be purchased from IEEE.

Search for a copy of the IEEE 1680 standard here

Stay Up-To-Date with Evolving Standards Interpretation

Over the course of EPEAT’s first two years and two verification rounds, the need for clarification and interpretation of some portions of the IEEE 1680 standard became clear.

In response, an IEEE Stakeholder Interpretations Group has issued some formal Interpretations of IEEE 1680, and the EPEAT Product Verification Committee (PVC) has issued some statements clarifying how they will interpret and apply specific criteria during verification. Suppliers - Start your product EPEAT verification process here.

Green IT Country?

EPEAT's Growing International Influence

Since its launch in 2006 EPEAT has extended its global coverage to some 42 countries - the latest being Singapore. Is your country doing enough for the future of the planet.

EPEAT's International Registry... Is your country here?

Acknowledgment of Copyright

e-service-expert.com acknowledges all trademarks and copyright associated with EPEAT, the Devoteam Group, The Green Electronics Council, The IEEE and the Center for Clean Products - University of Tennessee, Knoxville.