EPEAT™ Hardware Selection

EPEAT™ and ENERGY STAR Hardware

As computers become more ingrained into corporate America monitoring the effect of the waste and energy consumption of these machines becomes increasingly important. To control this problem U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created a set of acceptable standards for future PC manufacturing.

EPEAT

EPEAT was started in 2006 as a result of a three year EPA funded project. The EPA brought together environmental groups IT purchasers government officials disposal services and PC manufacturers to collaborate on the acceptable PC environmental standards. Today many organizations require only EPEAT products be purchased including the US Federal Government Canadian Government and the State of California.

The first six months of EPEAT hardware sales resulted in the following benefits:

• Savings of almost 14 billion kWh of electricity and more that 24 million metric tons of materials.
• Prevention of the release of 56.5 million metric tons of air pollution and over 118000 metric tons of water pollution.
• Reduction of toxic materials use by 1070 metric tons.
• Avoidance of the disposal of 41100 metric tons of hazardous waste equivalent to the weight of 20.5 million bricks.

Over the next five years the U.S. EPA estimates the environmental and cost savings to be consistent with the findings above. To calculate your own potential impact by purchasing EPEAT products try using the EPEAT Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator or Lenovo Energy Calculator.

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is a program of both the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy to help us reduce the energy consumed as well as reduce energy bills by creating energy efficient products and practices.

According to www.energystar.gov

• “Americans with the help of ENERGY STAR saved enough energy in 2007 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars — all while saving $16 billion on their utility bills.”
• Corporations can produce twice the savings of both energy and cost than individuals.
• ENERGY STAR is already being used in 62000 building across the country.

EPEAT™ Performance Tiers

EPEAT evaluates electronic products according to three tiers of environmental performance: Bronze Silver and Gold. The complete set of performance criteria includes 23 required criteria and 28 optional criteria in 8 categories. To be EPEAT registered products must meet all the required criteria. Learn more