What Is Green Purchasing, Anyway?

What Is Green Purchasing, Anyway?
Dana Arnold Office of the Federal Environmental Executive

The Federal Footprint Spent $500 billion on goods and services in FY 2008 Owns or leases more than 645,000 non-tactical vehicles worldwide Manages or owns nearly 1 in every 5 acres in the U.S. Single largest domestic buyer and user of energy Real property portfolio of nearly 900,000 assets, including more than 400,000 buildings Spends $3.5 billion annually to provide energy to its facilities Purchases about $74 billion worth of IT equipment and services per year. No matter its mission, every Federal agency operates buildings and fleets, purchases products and services, and purchases and uses IT and other office electronic equipment. We therefore have an impact on materials, energy, and water use, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from these operations.

PROGRAM SCOPE Recycled content products
Energy- and water-efficient products Standby power devices ENERGY STAR and FEMP-designated products EPEAT-registered products WaterSense Alternative fuel vehicles/alternative fuels Biobased products Environmentally preferable products Green cleaning products and services Cafeteriaware, especially biobased content products Building products Green meetings and conference services Non-ozone depleting substances Low or non-toxic or non-hazardous chemicals The Federal green purchasing program is the broadest program in the world, which is something we can all be proud to know. The components of the program originate in a variety of statutes and E.O.s and, therefore, have different requirements or criteria for designating products. However, OFEE and OMB require agencies to develop and implement integrated, holistic green purchasing programs. The E.O implementing instructions require the managers of the program components – EPA, DOE, and USDA – to coordinate their efforts when designating products for Federal procurement.

The Federal Green Purchasing Program
The program components were established as individual programs by various statutes and executive orders. The purpose is to create, demonstrate the viability of, and sustain markets for green products and services.

Legal Basis Recycled content: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Section 6002 Biobased content: Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (2002 Farm Bill), Section 9002 Energy efficient products and alternative fuel vehicles: Energy Policy Act of 1992 and 2005 Building energy efficiency: Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Non-ozone depleting substances: Clean Air Act Chemicals: Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 Executive Orders 13423, 13221, and 13514 Federal Acquisition Regulation

WHY BUY GREEN? - President Barack Obama, October 5, 2009
"As the largest consumer of energy in the U.S. economy, the Federal Government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and use environmentally responsible products and technologies." - President Barack Obama, October 5, 2009 It has been Federal policy for more than 20 years to use our purchasing power to help develop, demonstrate the viability of, and sustain markets for various kinds of green products. On October 5, 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order 13514, which, among other things, directs Federal agencies to purchase environmentally responsible products and technologies. The products we purchase can have greenhouse gas impacts and a direct impact on our employees, the air inside our buildings, the surrounding communities and environment, and the larger, national environment.

WHY BUY GREEN? E.O , Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, 1/24/07 “The head of each agency shall require in agency acquisitions of goods and services, (i) use of sustainable environmental practices, including acquisition of biobased, environmentally preferable, energy-efficient, water-efficient, and recycled content products, and (ii) use of paper of at least 30% postconsumer fiber content.” In January of 2007, President Bush issued E.O This E.O. consolidates several Clinton era executive orders and builds on our progress under those E.O.s by setting new goals and objectives and expanding our stewardship activities. The focus is on making the operations underlying our respective missions more sustainable. The basic goal for acquisition is to purchase products and services that meet the components of the Federal green purchasing program. The E.O. also retains the requirement that the Federal agencies use office papers containing 30 percent postconsumer fiber.

WHY BUY GREEN? E.O , Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, 1/24/07 “The head of each agency shall ensure that the agency reduces the quantity of toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials acquired, used or disposed…..” The E.O. and the E.O. implementing instructions require each agency to have a plan for reducing their use of toxic and hazardous chemicals and products containing toxic and hazardous constituents. This includes an acquisition element. This means that you might be asked to buy different chemicals or products from those purchased in the past.

WHY BUY GREEN? E.O , Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, 1/24/07 “The head of each agency shall ensure that new construction and major renovation of agency buildings comply with the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings….” Prior to E.O , 19 Federal agencies had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable design/green buildings. The E.O. applies the MOU, including the guiding principles for green building, to all Federal agencies.

WHY BUY GREEN? E.O , Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, 1/24/07 “The head of each agency shall ensure that the agency, when acquiring an electronic product to meet its requirements, meets at least 95% of those requirements with an Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered product, unless there is no EPEAT standard for such product…..” The E.O. also requires that, when purchasing office electronic products covered by the EPEAT standard, 95 percent of what an agency buys must be EPEAT-registered. We’ll return to the EPEAT standard later.

Why Buy Green? E.O , Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, 10/5/09 The head of each agency shall advance sustainable acquisition to ensure that 95 percent of new contract actions including task and delivery orders, for products and services include green products Products include: recycled content products, Energy Star and FEMP-designated energy-efficient products, water-efficient products, biobased products, environmentally preferable products and services, Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)-registered products, products containing non-ozone depleting substances, or non-toxic or less-toxic alternatives Exception if products and services don’t meet agency performance requirements 30 percent postconsumer fiber requirement for office papers President Obama’s E.O directs Federal agencies to advance sustainable acquisition. It reiterates that the minimum content level for office papers is 30 percent postconsumer fiber content.

Why Buy Green? E.O greenhouse gas reductions – scope 3 emissions (other indirect GHG emissions) – include purchased products and services. Pursue opportunities with vendors and contractors to address and incorporate incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (such as changes to manufacturing, utility or delivery services, modes of transportation used, or other changes in supply chain activities) Implement strategies and accommodations for transit, travel, training, and conferencing that actively support lower-carbon commuting and travel by agency staff One of the key goals of E.O is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Scope 3, or indirect emissions, can include emissions related to the products and services we purchase and the emissions associated with transit, travel, meetings, and conferences.

Why Buy Green? Other E.O. 13514 goals have acquisition implications
Landscaping: Reduce water consumption and implement integrated pest management Alternative chemicals: Same as E.O Reduce and minimize the quantity of toxic and hazardous chemicals acquired Facility siting: Ensure that planning for new Federal facilities or new leases includes consideration of sites that are pedestrian friendly, near existing employment centers, and accessible to public transit, and emphasizes existing central cities and, in rural communities, existing or planned town centers Other E.O goals have acquisition implications. This means that product or service specifiers might specify different products or services than they have in the past.

Why Buy Green? Other E.O goals with acquisition implications (cont’d) High performance/sustainable buildings: Continue existing E.O. and statutory requirements + design for zero-net-energy beginning in 2020 planning process HP/SBs: Use innovative strategies to minimize consumption of energy, water, and materials, including reflective and vegetative roofs HP/SBs: Incorporate recovery, reuse, and recycling of C&D materials and debris during construction or renovation activities

Why Buy Green? Other E.O goals with acquisition implications (cont’d) Renewable energy: purchased electricity from renewable generating sources and installation of on-site projects Electronics: Purchase office equipment with duplexing capability and other environmentally preferable features, Energy Star or energy efficient data center equipment, and recycling or environmentally sound disposal services for end-of-life management of excess or surplus equipment

MYTHS ABOUT BUYING GREEN
Inconsistent with efforts to be more like corporate America. Inconsistent with buying COTS items. Inconsistent with requirement to buy from mandatory sources. For about 15 years, the Federal acquisition community has been engaged in “acquisition reform” – changing the way we buy products and services to be more like the way corporate America buys products and services. There are hundreds of American companies committed to buying recycled content products and/or manufacturing their products with recycled content materials. More recently, companies have also focused on energy efficiency, the toxic and hazardous chemicals used in their products, and product end-of-life issues. So, if we are going to be more like corporate America, we should be buying green products and services. Similarly, as part of “acquisition reform,” the Federal government is moving away from government-specific specifications to buying commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items. All of the products covered by the Federal green purchasing program are COTS items. They are not experimental or developmental items, and for the most part, they are available from multiple sources, including mandatory sources such as the blind (NIB), severely disabled (NISH), small-, minority- and women-owned business, service disabled vets, etc.

GREEN PURCHASING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH:
Purchase card/fleet card purchases Simplified acquisitions (<$100,000) Larger (>$100,000) purchases of supplies Support services contracts Detailed scopes of work or performance-based contracting Purchases from mandatory sources There are no statutory or E.O. exceptions to the green purchasing requirements for any of the mechanisms we use to buy products and services.

What’s in the FAR? Part 23- Environment, Energy and Water Efficiency, Renewable Energy Technologies, Occupational Safety, and Drug-Free Workplace Policy- “Government policy on the use of recovered materials and biobased products considers cost, availability of competition, and performance.” The objective is to acquire competitively, in a cost-effective manner, products that meet reasonable performance requirements and that are composed of the highest percentage of recovered materials or biobased materials practicable. The overall environmental and energy procurement policy is found in Part 23 of the FAR. Subpart contains the overall policy for purchasing recycled content and biobased products.

What’s in the FAR? Policy: “The Government’s policy is to acquire supplies and services that promote energy and water efficiency, advance the use of renewable energy products, and help foster markets for emerging technologies. This policy extends to all acquisitions, including those below the simplified acquisition threshold.” FAR subpart contains the policy and requirements for purchasing energy and water efficient products and renewable energy.

What’s in the FAR? Policy: Government policy on the acquisition of environmentally preferable, energy efficient, and water conserving products and services.

What’s in the FAR? Think green from the start of an acquisition.
FAR Section 7.105(b)(16) requires written acquisition plans to: “discuss all applicable environmental and energy conservation objectives associated with the acquisition…” The FAR requires that acquisition planning include consideration of environmental and energy objectives. When these objectives are considered right from the beginning of the solicitation development is when we have our best success in the Federal community in buying green products and services.

What’s in the FAR? Incorporate green products when describing agency needs FAR Section (d)(1): “When agencies acquire products and services, various statutes and executive orders require consideration of: Energy-efficient products and services Products and services that utilize renewable energy technologies Products containing energy-efficient standby power Products containing recovered materials Biobased products Environmentally preferable products and services” FAR Part 11 requires the incorporation of green products into specifications, standards, drawings, and other documents identifying the government’s needs.

What’s in the FAR? Minimum need for paper
FAR Section 4.302 Policy: “A contractor should submit paper documents….printed or copied double-sided on recycled paper whenever practicable. If the contractor cannot print or copy double-sided, it should print or copy single-sided on recycled paper. FAR Section : Our minimum need is for 30% postconsumer content printing and office paper: Offer documents Reports and studies Training materials Publications Financial and technical progress reports Part 11 also incorporates the requirement to purchase paper containing 30 percent postconsumer fiber, including paper used by contractors to products deliverables. The yellow bulleted items are examples of documents that you can require contractors to print and copy on recycled content paper (if you don’t already require electronic submission).

What’s in the FAR? The green purchasing requirements apply to:
Direct purchases of products Products supplied or used in the performance of a contract Micro-purchases Simplified acquisitions Purchases of commercial items

What’s in the FAR? When buying green, we can use detailed scopes of work or performance-based contracting. Performance-based contracting was used successfully to incorporate green elements into the Pentagon renovations. The renovations to the Pentagon are being accomplished through a performance based contract. The language is simple, for example: “meet the goals and objectives of the executive order and use Energy Star products.” The contractor and Pentagon facility staff work together to evaluate products. Both the performance based approach and the use of green products are viewed favorably by the contractor and the Pentagon staff. During the Phoenix project – the expedited reconstruction of the section of the Pentagon destroyed during the September 11th attacks – green products were incorporated. Recycled content materials are also incorporated into the blast walls being installed throughout the Pentagon. Why? Because the use of recycled materials produces a stronger material than conventional materials.

FAR Clauses – Recycled Content
For recycled content paper: Printed or Copied Double-Sided on Recycled Paper For affirmative procurement: Recovered Materials Certification (revised 4/22/08 to change “products” to “items”) Certification and Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA Designated Items (Use only on contracts exceeding $100,000; revised 4/22/08 to change “products” to “items”.) For support services and O&M contractors: - FAR Waste Reduction Program The FAR now contains solicitation provisions and contract clauses for recycled content, biobased products, energy-efficient, and EPEAT-registered products. Note that there are two versions of certification for recycled content products. The statute that created the buy-recycled program, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act section 6002, requires contracting officials to obtain estimates and certification of recycled content. The certifications are that the product to be supplied or used contain the recycled content specified in the applicable specifications or contractual requirements. “Estimates” are what the product actually contains. The idea was that, if the contract called for say, 30 percent postconsumer fiber in copier paper, and the offerors estimated that their products contained 40 percent, then the agency would know that it could ask for higher content in its next solicitation. In reality, this does not happen. Therefore, Congress amended RCRA to require that we obtain estimations only for larger contracts. The other clause, the -10 clause, is to be used for our support services and O&M contractors doing work at our facilities. It requires to implement the E.O. and to supply or use EPA-designated recycled content products.

FAR Clauses – Recycled Content
Affirmative Procurement of EPA-Designated Items in Services and Construction Contracts (effective May 22, 2008) FAR clause , like the biobased counterpart on the following page, were added for use in service or construction solicitations and contracts unless the contracts will not involve the supply or use of EPA-designated recycled content products. This clause makes clear that the requirement to use recycled content products apply to services and construction contracts.

FAR Clauses -- Biobased
Biobased Product Certification (effective December 7, 2007) Affirmative Procurement of Biobased Products Under Service and Construction Contracts (effective December 7, 2007) These two clauses are similar to the recycled content certification clause and the recycled content clause for services and construction contracts. As with clause , the -2 clause makes clear that implementation of the requirements to purchase biobased products apply to services and construction contracts.

FAR Clauses – Energy Star and Energy Efficient Products
(b)(1)(viii) Terms and Conditions – Simplified Acquisitions (effective December 24, 2007) Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products (effective December 24, 2007) Applies to products delivered, used in the performance of the work, furnished for government use, or specified in the design of a building or work. These new FAR clauses implement section 104 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which requires Federal agencies to purchase Energy Star or FEMP-designated products unless the head of the agency certifies in writing that products meeting the agency’s needs are not reasonably available or are not cost effective. Note that clause applies to building construction as well as to supply of energy efficient products or the use of energy efficient products in the performance of the contract’s scope of work.

FAR Clauses – EPEAT-Registered Products
– basic clause for purchasing EPEAT bronze products Alternate I – used for purchasing EPEAT silver products These new FAR clauses implement the requirement in E.O that when purchasing products covered by an Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool standard, 95% of the products must be EPEAT-registered. Because the EPEAT standards include Energy Star requirements, purchasing EPEAT-registered products can also satisfy the requirement to purchase Energy Star products.

Pending FAR Revisions Conforming changes for E.O.s and 13514

Recycled Content Products
Legal basis: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act section 6002, E.O What’s required: Purchase EPA-designated recycled content products Each of the next sections describes each component of the Federal green purchasing program. It provides the legal basis for the component, what is required by statute or E.O., examples of the types of products, where to purchase the products, and where to find additional information (i.e., the URL for the specific EPA, DOE, or USDA web site for the program. The buy-recycled program is our oldest program, dating back 20 years. EPA designates the recycled content products for Federal agencies to purchase and provides recommendations regarding the percentage(s) of recycled content, applicable specifications, and other useful information.

EPA’s 8 Product Categories
Vehicles Construction Transportation Parks and Recreation Landscaping Non-Paper Office Products Miscellaneous Paper and Paper Products EPA designates the products in a document called the Comprehensive Procurement Guideline or CPG. The CPG is divided into the 8 product categories shown in this slide. To date, EPA has designated more than 60 products.

What To Buy Green Office products Printing services
Fleet maintenance products Building construction, renovation, and maintenance (janitorial, landscaping) products Traffic control Parks and recreation products Another way of looking at the products that EPA has designated is by our typical operations. Note that there are designated products across the gamut of our operations and that buying recycled means more than purchasing recycled content copier paper and toner cartridges.

Where to Buy Green GSA Advantage! (CPG symbol, recycling symbol)
DoD EMALL AbilityOne UNICOR/Federal Prison Industries Commercial sources We can buy green products, including recycled content products, from all of the places we usually buy products or services (such as janitorial services) that include the supply or use of products. GSA provides icons to help make it easier to find green products and services.

Cool Stuff EPA entered into a blanket purchase agreement with Corporate Express to supply recycled content and environmentally preferable office products. The Naval Undersea Warfare Division, Newport, has an agreement with Office Depot to supply green office products. Both agreements require the vendor to report what was purchased. The next few slides provide examples of tools and techniques Federal agencies have used to purchase recycled content products. The examples are drawn from winners of the White House Closing the Circle Awards. In the case of recycled content products, the theme behind the examples selected is “how to make it easy to find products.” One such tool is blanket purchase agreements. This is an example of a technique that can be used to purchase green products. In both cases, the agency was switching to an on-line supply catalog and on-line ordering. Both required to vendor to highlight green products in the catalog. The Navy facility required Office Depot to supply only recycled content products whether or not the specifier asked for recycled content. The Navy BPA is not mandatory, but the EPA BPA is and is mandatory for all of EPA’s offices in the United States. EPA’s BPA also requires Corporate Express to identify small business sources of the products.

Cool Stuff Homestead Air Reserve Base created an Environmentally Friendly Products Section at the base supply store. Sandia National Labs added green contract language to the template for all construction contracts. This template is used by all project managers when requesting proposals from new contractors and developing work scope for pre- approved contractors. Many facilities have an on-site supply store. In Homestead ARB’s case, the environmental office received complaints about the difficulty in finding green products. The environmental office worked with the supply store to provide green products, making it easy for purchasers to find the products. Sandia contracts for millions of dollars worth of construction annually. After issuing several contracts requiring the use of recycled content construction products and helping, thereby, to create local sources of supply, Sandia decided to create a template for use in all construction contracts. This template lists the EPA-designated recycled content construction products that construction contractors must use. It also requires the contractor to submit reports on the products used when invoices are submitted.

Where to Find More Information

ENERGY STAR® and FEMP-Designated Products and Low Standby Power Devices
Legal basis: Energy Policy Act, Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, E.O.s 13423, 13514, and 13221 What’s required: Reduce building energy use; purchase ENERGY STAR and FEMP- designated products, products that use minimal standby power; renewable energy; and EPEAT-registered products Energy efficient product requirements have two aspects – products used to construct, renovate, and maintain our buildings and fuels used in our vehicles. This section addresses the building energy efficient products. There are multiple statutory and E.O. requirements: the purchase and use of Energy Star and FEMP-designated energy efficient products, reduction of building energy intensity by 3% per year until 2015, purchase products that us minimal standby power, purchase a specified percentage of renewable energy to meet agency energy needs, and purchase products that are registered as meeting the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool or EPEAT.

What To Buy Green Electronic office products
Low standby power devices EPEAT-registered products Building construction products Appliances (residential and commercial) Lighting Water-saving products As with recycled content products, the requirements to purchase ENERGY STAR and energy efficient products cut across our operations.

ENERGY STAR and Energy Efficient Products
Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires Federal agencies to purchase ENERGY STAR and FEMP-designated energy efficient products Exception: Head of agency determines, in writing, that Not cost effective over the life of the product or No product is reasonably available that meets the agency’s functional requirements

ENERGY STAR and Energy Efficient Products (Cont’d)
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires Federal agencies to purchase products using low wattages of power in standby mode. DOE to create a list of products and wattage levels. This statutory provision codifies the requirements of E.O

New energy efficiency standards for more than a dozen consumer and commercial products, including: Fluorescent lamps and lamp ballasts Illuminated exit signs Transformers Ceiling fans/ceiling fan light kits Commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment Refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers Commercial ice makers Commercial clothes washers Note that EPAct 2005 required new or revised standards for many products. Be aware that might mean revising the reference to standards and specifications that were used in previous contracts to reflect the latest version of a standard or specification.

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 added additional energy efficiency standards for various products and/or required DOE or EPA to establish additional energy efficiency standards.

New ENERGY STAR web site for Federal purchasers: Designed to assist Federal agencies in meeting the requirements to purchase Energy Star, FEMP-designated, and EPEAT-registered products and those with low standby power.

Sample contract language: The Vendor Must: Provide new and repaired computers, monitors, and integrated computer-monitor systems that earn the ENERGY STAR and are configured properly for automatic energy-saving features, as per current ENERGY STAR specifications. The vendor shall provide customer support with respect to power management features, such that these features remain properly enabled and repaired if a malfunction occurs. The vendor is encouraged to visit for complete product specifications and an updated list of qualifying products.

Buying EPEAT™ Registered Products
Update all contracts to reflect E.O and requirements to buy EPEAT-registered products. Specify EPEAT-registered products in every task order. Use list of EPEAT-registered products at Buy from resellers who identify EPEAT- registered products. Buy off Government Wide Acquisition Contracts which identify EPEAT registered products (NASA SEWP IV and ODIN, GSA Alliant). E.O.s and require agencies to meet at least 95 percent of their electronic product needs with EPEAT-registered products, unless there is no EPEAT standard for such product. At this time, there is an EPEAT standard for computers, monitors, and laptops. There are more than 1,000 registered products from large electronics manufacturers such as Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, NEC, Sony, Toshiba, and small business re-sellers. There are large contracts, such as NASA’s SEWP IV and ODIN or GSA’s schedules, through which you can purchase these products.

EPEAT Tiers EPEAT Bronze– Meets all 23 mandatory criteria
EPEAT Silver– Meets all mandatory criteria and at least 50% of the optional criteria EPEAT Gold– Meets all mandatory criteria and at least 75% of the optional criteria

Recommended Contract Language
There are a number of mandates that require federal procurement officials to assess and give preference to those products and services that are environmentally preferable, including Executive Order *****, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) subpart (Agency/Department) is also one of the twelve Federal Agencies participating in the White House's Federal Electronics Challenge ( demonstrating our commitment to reducing the impact of electronics on the natural environment throughout their life cycle. As part of our work under this Challenge, (Agency/Department) has committed to buying products that meet the mandatory criteria of the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). All desktops, laptops, and computer monitors provided under this contract are required to have achieved Bronze registration or higher under the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT). EPEAT is a procurement tool designed to help large volume purchasers evaluate, compare, and select desktop computers, laptops, and monitors based upon their environmental attributes as specified in the consensus-based IEEE Standard for the Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products (1680). Additional consideration will be provided for products that have achieved EPEAT Silver or EPEAT Gold registration. The registration criteria and a list of all registered equipment are provided at . EPA developed this model language based on solicitation and contract language successfully used by Federal agencies to purchase EPEAT-registered products.

Recommended Contract Language
Suppliers are required to indicate EPEAT registered products on their electronic catalogs that customers may buy from through this contract. Suppliers are required to provide quarterly reports quantifying the number of EPEAT registered products purchased under this contract. The information must be reported in a matrix providing the following data for the current quarter, the fiscal year, and the duration of the contract.

EPEAT Registered Products (as of 10/22/09)
EPEAT Quick Search Tool Product Total Desktops 5 31 57 93 Integrated Desktop Computers 38 11 49 Monitors 1 422 70 493 Notebooks 25 341 270 636 Totals 32 841 424 1297

Building Energy Reduction Goals
E.O added new energy reduction goals, compared to FY 2003 – reduce energy intensity by 3% annually through end of FY 2015 OR 30% by end of FY 2015 Includes industrial and laboratory facilities Under E.O , method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Federal Building Performance Standards
If life-cycle cost effective, new buildings must be designed to achieve energy consumption levels 30% below ASHRAE Standard or the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code Sustainable design principles must be applied to the siting, design, and construction of all new and replacement buildings

Renewable Energy Portfolio
EPAct 2005: When economically feasible and technically practicable, Federal government is to use renewable energy from solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, waves, geothermal, MSW, or new or expanded hydro sources: FY 2007 – 2009 – not less than 3% FY 2010 – 2012 – not less than 5% FY 2013 and after – not less than 7.5% E.O : Buy half from “new” sources, put in place after 1/1/99

Where to Buy Green GSA Advantage! (Energy Star symbol, EE symbol)
DoD EMALL Commercial sources

Cool Stuff The U.S. Air Force is the largest Federal user of energy from renewable sources and the 7th largest user of EPA’s Green Power partners. EPA uses green power for 100% of its national electricity consumption. Purchased power Renewable energy certificates (tags) Federal agencies installed more than 3,000 solar energy systems by the end of 2003. The Federal government is a leader in purchasing renewable power. Agencies can purchase either renewable power directly from a renewable energy source, such as wind power, or renewable energy credits or certificates. The credits represent the global climate change benefit of purchasing energy from a renewable source because these sources do not emit carbon dioxide. The Defense Energy Support Center can purchase renewable energy credits for you.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles/Alternative Fuels
Legal basis: Energy Policy Act, E.O and 13514 What’s required: Purchase alternative fuel vehicles, alternative fuels, and recycled content vehicular products; use low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles; reduce petroleum consumption The Federal government is a large purchaser of alternative fuel vehicles and alternative fuels. Alternative fuel vehicles include flexible fuel vehicles that can use either gasoline or E85 ethanol and vehicles powered by compressed natural gas. In addition, Federal facilities are substituting biodiesel (B20) for 100% petro-diesel.

Use of Alternative Fuels
Sec. 701 of Energy Policy Act of 2005: Alternative fuels must be used in dual fuel vehicles unless agency certifies and DOE grants a waiver because: Fuel is not available Unreasonable cost compared to gasoline

Greenhouse Gases The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 addresses greenhouse gas emissions: Purchase light duty motor vehicles or medium duty passenger vehicles that are “low greenhouse gas emitting,” as determined by EPA Alternative or synthetic fuels must have lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from production and combustion that are lower than that of conventional fuels. These two requirements were added by the Energy Independence and Security Act of EPA is required to provide guidance with respect to vehicles that are low greenhouse gas emitting.

What To Buy Green Alternative fuel vehicles
Neighborhood electric vehicles Alternative fuels (e.g., ethanol, CNG, LNG, biodiesel) EPA-designated recycled content vehicular products

Where to Buy Green GSA (vehicles) Defense Energy Support Center (ethanol, biodiesel) Defense Supply Center Richmond (re-refined oil) Commercial sources

Cool Stuff In FY 2007, alternative fuel vehicles accounted for more than 100% of covered light-duty vehicle acquisitions – well above our 75% requirement. We buy ethanol, biodiesel, CNG, and LNG, and use hybrids and other electric vehicles. Naval Base Ventura County recycles used cooking oil into biodiesel. Both Army and Marine Corps using hybrid HUMVEEs.

Biobased Products Legal basis: Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 section 9002, E.O What’s required: Purchase USDA-designated biobased products The purchase of biobased products is the newest component of the Federal green purchasing program. It’s objective is to create and sustain markets for products made with biobased feedstocks, including agriculture-based feedstocks and recovered forestry materials.

Biobased Products USDA designations (3/16/06):
Mobile equipment hydraulic fluids* Urethane roof coatings Water tank coatings – effective 11/20/07 Diesel fuel additives* Penetrating lubricants* Bedding, bed linens, towels – effective 11/20/07 * excluding combat, combat-related, and space-related applications These are the first six products designated by USDA. The requirement to purchase them went into effect in March of this year. USDA proposed to designate an additional 30 products and is researching as many as 70 more. Note that there are exclusions for combat, combat-related, and space-related applications of some of the products.

Biobased Products (cont'd)
Round 2 (5/14/08) Adhesive and Mastic Removers Disposable Containers Fluid-Filled Transformers Composite Panels Fertilizers Grease and Graffiti Removers Hand Cleaners and Sanitizers Plastic Insulating Foam for Residential and Commercial Construction Sorbents On May 14, 2008, USDA designated three additional rounds of 27 product designations. At least 60 additional products are under consideration for designation. This slide and the next two slides list the products designated in “rounds” 2, 3, and 4.

Biobased Products (cont’d)
Round 3 (5/14/08) 2-Cycle Engine Oils Disposable Cutlery Films Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners Carpets Dust Suppressants Glass Cleaners Greases Stationary Equipment Hydraulic Fluid Lip Care Products

Round 4 (5/14/08) Bathroom and Spa Cleaners Concrete and Asphalt Release Fluids Metalworking fluids General Purpose De-Icers Firearm Lubricants Floor Strippers Laundry Products Wood and Concrete Sealers

Round 5 (10/27/2008) Chain and Cable Lubricants Corrosion Preventatives Food Cleaners Forming Lubricants Gear Lubricants General Purpose Household Cleaners Industrial Cleaners Multipurpose Cleaners Parts Wash Solutions On October 27, 2009, USDA designated nine additional biobased items. Agencies are required to purchase these items containing biobased content beginning October 27, 2010.

Where to Buy Green GSA Advantage! (biobased symbol)
Defense Energy Supply Center DoD EMALL AbilityOne Commercial sources

Cool Stuff Seymour Johnson AFB looked for biobased floor scrubbers to help its local wastewater treatment plant reduce phosphate concentrations and pH levels. Commercial floor scrubbers Goal: Formulate a biobased detergent low in phosphates, pH neutral, aggressive in cleaning, and competitively priced Able to meet needs for cleaning golf cart facilities, supply warehouse, and aircraft hangar. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Pope Air Force Base provide examples of the benefits of trying biobased products. In both instances, the bases found that the products performed as well and provided human health, environmental, and cost benefits compared to the conventional alternatives.

Cool Stuff Pope AFB looked for cleaners for the Aerospace Ground Equipment and Propulsion shops that were lower pH but compatible with oil/water separators. Goals: lower pH, solvent-free, left floors meeting safety requirements. Focused on biobased enzymatic products. Used for shop spills of hydraulic fluids, engine oil – and incidently, cleaned oils in the floor scrubbing equipment. Cost per gallon of 90 cents!

Cool Stuff Many Federal facilities now use biobased hydraulic oils, greases, lubricants, oils, cleaning products, cafeteria ware, carpet, mastic removers, construction products, and other products. PTO recently installed carpet containing a soy-based backing.

Environmentally Preferable Products
Legal basis: E.O.s and 13514 What’s required: Purchase environmentally preferable products and services Until E.O , the purchase of environmentally preferable products and services was voluntary. E.O and make it mandatory. The implementing instructions for E.O directs agencies to purchase environmentally preferable janitorial products and services, building construction and renovation products and services, landscaping products and services, EPEAT-registered products, desktop office supplies, and meeting and conference services.

What To Buy Green Cleaning products and services Cafeteriaware
Electronic office equipment EPEAT-registered equipment Meetings and conference services Furniture Building renovation, construction, and maintenance (janitorial, landscaping) products

New BIFMA Sustainability Standard
The furniture industry developed a multiple criteria sustainability standard for office furniture, plus a third-party certification program, known as “level.” For more information about the standard and the certification program, visit

Where to Buy Green GSA Advantage! (trees symbol) DoD EMALL AbilityOne
UNICOR/Federal Prison Industries Commercial sources

Cool Stuff Department of the Interior led the way in switching to green cleaning products and now uses a NISH provider to clean with green cleaners. NISH providers also clean the Pentagon and other Federal buildings with green cleaners. Even Statue of Liberty National Park is cleaned with green cleaners. OFEE recommends that agencies use cleaning products that meet Green Seal’s GS-37 standard or that were formulated in conjunction with EPA’s Design for the Environment program. Some of these products are available from affiliates of the National Industries for the Blind. One way to buy green and meet your requirements to purchase products and services from JWOD program affiliates is to contract with one of the NISH offering green cleaning services.

Cool Stuff In 2003, the Navy revised its mandatory catalog of technical purchase descriptions for shipboard cleaning products and dispensers to identify environmentally preferable alternatives.

Cool Stuff 2007 revision to EPA’s acquisition regulations requires offerors for meeting and conference services to provide information about environmentally preferable features and practices at the offerors’ facilities. There are 14 questions about attributes such as: Recycling services Proximity to mass transportation Energy and water efficiency practices in lodging In 2007, EPA revised its acquisition regulation to enable it to contract for environmentally preferable meeting and conference services. The questions are: (1) Do you have a recycling program? If so, please describe. (2) Do you have a linen/towel reuse option that is communicated to guests? (3) Do guests have easy access to public transportation or shuttle services at your facility? (4) Are lights and air conditioning turned off when rooms are not in use? If so, how do you ensure this? (5) Do you provide bulk dispensers or reusable containers for beverages, food and condiments? (6) Do you provide reusable serving utensils, napkins and tablecloths when food and beverages are served? (7) Do you have an energy efficiency program? Please describe. (8) Do you have a water conservation program? Please describe. (9) Does your facility provide guests with paperless check-in & check-out? (10) Does your facility use recycled or recyclable products? Please describe. (11) Do you source food from local growers or take into account the growing practices of farmers that provide the food? Please describe. (12) Do you use biobased or biodegradable products, including biobased cafeteriaware? Please describe. (13) Do you provide training to your employees on these green initiatives? Please describe. (14) What other environmental initiatives have you undertaken, including any environment-related certifications you possess, EPA voluntary partnerships in which you participate, support of a green suppliers network, or other initiatives? Include ‘‘Green Meeting’’ information in your quotation so that we may consider environmental preferability in selection of our meeting venue.

Non-Ozone Depleting Substances
Legal basis: Clean Air Act, E.O What’s required: Purchase alternatives to ozone depleting substances SNAP -- EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy Program identifies alternatives to ozone-depleting substances and provides lists of acceptable and unacceptable substitutes. The web site provides information on product alternatives. The U.S. is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol on reducing and eliminating ozone-depleting substances. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA identifies alternatives to ozone-depleting substances.

What To Buy Green Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Foam Blowing
Solvent Cleaning Fire Suppression and Explosion Protection Aerosol Solvents and Propellants Sterilants Tobacco Expansion Adhesives, Coatings, and Inks EPA has identified alternatives to ozone depleters for products in these 8 categories. While many of these are not products used by Federal agencies, we do use refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, solvents, propellants, and fire suppression equipment. Some Federal agencies also use products in the “adhesives, coatings, and inks” category. Generally, once EPA has identified a non-ozone depleter or a lesser ozone depleter, the manufacturers of products must switch.

Where to Buy Green GSA Advantage! (SNAP symbol) DoD EMALL
Commercial sources

Cool Stuff Federal agencies are installing alternatives to halon fire suppression systems. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base purchases non-ozone depleting missile propellants. NASA’s White Sands Test Facility uses an aqueous process to clean spacecraft parts instead of a freon-based cleaning system. OFEE encourages you to switch to non-ozone depleting substances, particularly in fire suppression systems.

Green Products Compilation Supporting Information and Tools Databases/Software Tools In 2009, OFEE created a compilation of the green products designated under each of the green purchasing program components. The compilation consists of a series of Excel spreadsheets, organized by the types of products or services that Federal agencies typically purchase (e.g., lubricants and greases, building construction, landscaping, cafeteria services, janitorial services). It is updated quarterly.

What Else is New? The 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act added new biobased product reporting requirements: (i) each procuring agency shall submit each year to the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, to the maximum extent practicable, information concerning -- (III) the number and dollar value of contracts entered into during the year that include the direct procurement of biobased products (IV) the number of service and construction (including renovations) contracts entered into during the year that include language on the use of biobased products (V) the types and dollar value of biobased products actually used by contractors in carrying out service and construction (including renovations) contracts during the previous year

Example: Green Scope of Work
Where applicable on exterior surfaces only, the use of consolidated and reprocessed latex paint meeting the requirements of the Comprehensive Procurement Guide for postconsumer content and total recovered content should be considered, if feasible. White, off-white, pastel colors 20% postconsumer Grey, brown, earthtones, and other dark colors % postconsumer Agencies specify green products through scopes of work, performance-based language, and the use of FAR clauses. This example is drawn from a “green rider” of energy and environmental provisions that EPA adds onto to GSA solicitations. This is a detailed scope of work element based on the recycled content recommendations in EPA’s recycled content procurement guidelines.

Example: Green Scope of Work
The contractor shall meet the goals and objectives of E.O. [13123] and use Energy Star and energy-efficient products in the top 20% of energy efficiency as designated by the Department of Energy. This is an example of performance-based language used in the renovation contract for the Pentagon.

What parts of the solicitation will you green?
A – Solicitation/contract form B – Supplies or services and prices/costs C – Description/specifications/statement of work D – Packaging and marking E – Inspection and acceptance F – Deliveries or performance G – Contract administration data H – Special contract requirements I – Contract clauses J – List of attachments K – Reps and certifications L – Instructions, conditions, and notices M – Evaluation factors for award Almost all of the sections of a solicitation can contain green provisions, not just Section C. One of the most powerful tools is the points assigned in the Evaluation Factors for Award because they can send a clear message to the prospective contractors that the agency is serious about the green product and service requirements in the scope of work. Another example is section L, which can be used to require the offerors to provide plans for how they will meet the requirements. For example, in one of the original Federal green cleaning solicitations, the Department of the Interior asked offerors for a plan for keeping current on new green cleaning products being introduced into the marketplace and assigned points to the plans.

For More Information Dana Arnold Senior Program Manager, OFEE
The OFEE web site, and the FedCenter web site, contain a Green Purchasing section (called Acquisition on the FedCenter site) that are the portals to the EPA, DOE, and USDA web sites for each of the components of the Federal Green Purchasing Program. They also contain a wealth of other information, such as best practices, the URLs for Federal agencies’ green purchasing web sites, and information on warranty policies. In addition, in the Publications section of the OFEE web site, you can find back issues of our newsletter, “Closing the Circle News.” The summer editions highlight the winners of that year’s White House Closing the Circle Awards and provide not only a description of the winning programs, but points of contact at the award winning facilities.

What Is Green Purchasing, Anyway?

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "What Is Green Purchasing, Anyway?"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback

Log in

Auth with social network:

What Is Green Purchasing, Anyway?

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "What Is Green Purchasing, Anyway?"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback