How to Establish a Green Purchasing Program Case Studies and Examples

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How to Establish a Green Purchasing ProgramCase
Studies and Examples

• Melissa Podeszwa
• U.S. Department of Energy
• Seattle Regional Office
• 2003 Build and Buy Green Conference and Expo
• April 22,2003
• Honolulu, Hawaii

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Energy Star Purchasing

• California June 2001 Memo Where
  FEMP-recommended supplies are available, all
  state agencies shall purchase only those products
  that meet the recommended standards. All products
  displaying the ENERGY STAR label meet the FEMP
  standards.
• Maryland March 2001 The State shall purchase
  ENERGY STAR products when purchasing energy-using
  products, including computers, printers, copiers
  and other office equipment.

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Federal Examples

• Department of Interior, WA D.C.- Incorporated
  green language into the scope of custodial
  services. The 5-year, 6.28 million contract
  covers the cleaning of 1.4 million square feet of
  space.
• NASA and Copiers-With approximately 2,000 copiers
  throughout its 14 nationwide facilities, NASA
  saved 4.5 million dollars during a 5-year
  service contract. Include recycled-content paper
  and EE requirements.

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Federal Examples

• Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
• To reduce the number, volume, and environ.
  Effects of the paints it uses
• Contracted w/Green Seal to identify relevant
  environmental attributes
• Then established EPP standards for the
  installation, focusing on lower levels of VOCs
  and reduced toxicity.
• Ended up with annual savings of 60,000

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Wisconsins example

• Following 1989 Wisconsin Law requiring the
  purchase of recycled-content products from a
  variety of categories, established program and
  clearinghouse.
• More than 50 of Wisconsin state agencies were
  buying recycled-content paper in 1995.
• By 1999, 98 of copy paper purchased by Wisconsin
  state agencies and universities was recycled
  content.
• After October 1999, WI Dept. of Admin. did not
  include funding. DOA was no longer able to
  actively support EPP efforts or maintain the
  clearinghouse.
• Although DOA support was eliminated, federal
  Clean Air Act standards led them to purchase
  almost 1,400 alternative fuel vehicles.

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Wisconsins example

• Low income weatherization Refrigerator and
  window replacement explicitly specifies ENERGY
  STAR
• State Master Specs for all State-Owned building
  projects include ENERGY STAR for some products.
• State Commodity Purchasing/ Procurement Copiers,
  Printers, Scanners, Fax Machines, LED traffic
  signal, computers and monitors all specify ENERGY
  STAR.
• Incentives for commercial clothes washers, LED
  traffic signals, numerous residential appliances.
• Wisconsin also produces an ENERGY STAR Extra
  newsletter
• For more information, visit www.wifocusonenergy.co
  m

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City of Santa Monica

• Citywide, replaced its traditional cleaning
  products with less toxic or nontoxic alternatives
  in 15 of 17 categories, reducing spending by
  about 5 .
• Switched to integrated pest management, which
  costs up to 30 less.
• Purchases a wide range of recycled products,
  including office paper, recycled paint and trash
  can liners.

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City of Santa Monica

• Success came from features such as
• Having support from the top
• Including end-users in decision-making
• Conducting up-front research
• Creating partnerships between environmental and
  purchasing staff
• Maintaining flexibility
• Providing hands-on training by experts
• Holding face-to-face meetings with vendors

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King Countys Example

• Voluntary program
• Began in 1989 with a policy of 15 price
  preference for recycled-content paper and a 10
  price preference for re-refined motor oil
• Established a buy recycled program through
  employee training and outreach strategies such as
  workshops, field trips and a newsletter.

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King Countys Example

• By 1996, increased purchase of recycled- content
  paper from 8 to 90 percent. Paper contained
  15-25 higher post-consumer content than EPA was
  promoting.
• Also buying recycled-content concrete aggregate,
  asphalt, compost, paint, plastic lumber, glass
  aggregate, and trashcan liners, plus re-refined
  antifreeze and motor oil, remanufactured toner
  cartridges, and retread tires.

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King Countys Example

• In 2000, they had gone beyond to include advanced
  energy and water efficiency purchases,
  low-toxicity cleaning products, renewable energy
  projects using solar and fuel cells, green
  buildings and integrated pest management.
• Remains collaborative rather than prescriptive.
  Two EPP experts educate employees, maintain a web
  site, a monthly newsletter.
• Last year they purchased nearly 4 million dollars
  worth of products, saving 550,000 doing so.

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Green Purchasing Resources

• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Starter
  Kit--National Association of Counties (NACO)
  www.naco.org
• Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource
  Center Checklist and numerous examples/asst.
  www.pprc.org
• Greening Federal Facilities Guide--Federal Energy
  Management Program www.eren.doe.gov/femp

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Green Purchasing Resources

• Energy Star for Small Business Guide
  www.energystar.gov
• Free Energy Star Online Presentations
  www.energystar.gov/business improvement
• EPA EPP Case Studies 1999-2000-Federal/State and
  Local/Private
• Purchasing collective for institutional buyers
  www.greenorder.com
• Federal Network for Sustainability
  www.federalsustainability.org