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Golden State Agencies Receive Green Award: California Integrated Waste Management Board, Department of General Services, Recognized as "Green Electronics Champions"
SACRAMENTO--The Department of General Services (DGS) and the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) were honored this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their leadership in spearheading State efforts to purchase "greener" computers.
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| Since July 2006, the State has purchased nearly 9,000
computers, laptops, and monitors from vendors that have
registered their products with the Electronic Product
Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT),
guaranteeing the equipment contains reduced levels of certain
chemicals, operates more energy efficiently, and reduces
greenhouse gas emissions. "The time has come for the State of
California to buy green and EPEAT has given us the tool to push
vendors to provide us with "greener" products," said DGS
Director Will Bush. "I encourage the general public to buy EPEAT
registered products as well and realize the same energy savings
and environmental benefits we are seeing in State government." |
 U.S.
EPA's Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri presented the Green
Electronics Champions Award. The award was accepted by CIWMB
Chair Margo Reid Brown and DGS Interim Deputy Director,
Procurement Division Adrian Farley.
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| CIWMB Chair Margo Reid Brown received the
State's Green Electronics Champion Award in
San Jose on Tuesday
from the U.S. EPA and the Green Electronics Council. "It is a
pleasure and an honor to receive an award that demonstrates that
buying greener computers has environmental and economic
benefits," said CIWMB Chair Margo Reid Brown. |
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 Chair
Margo Reid Brown asked that staff member Kathy Fevert CIWMB
Sustainability Program joins her and Wayne Nastri in recognition
of staff work for the Green Electronics Champions Award. |
Compared to conventional computer equipment, all
EPEAT-registered computers have reduced levels of cadmium, lead,
and mercury to better protect human health. They are more energy
efficient, which reduces emissions of climate changing
greenhouse gases. They are also easier to upgrade and recycle.
Manufacturers must also offer safe recycling options for the
products when they are no longer useable. |
| In 2003,
SB 20--California's e-waste legislation, was enacted and
required the State to develop guidelines for purchasing greener
electronic products. The CIWMB and DGS have since worked to
adopt EPEAT as the State's purchasing standard. DGS is
continuing to push vendors to adopt the standard as well or risk
losing State business. More information on
EPEAT. |
 CIWMB Chair Margo Reid Brown, Kathy Frevert of the Sustainability Program, and DGS Deputy Director proudly pose with the Green Electronics Champions Award.
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