RoAnn M. Destito, Commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services (OGS), today announced that OGS has received a 2017 EPEAT award for excellence in sustainable electronics procurement by the Green Electronics Council (GEC). The winners were recently announced at an event in Washington, D.C.
EPEAT is a free and trusted source of environmental product rating system that makes it easier for buyers to select high-performance electronics that support their organization’s IT and sustainability goals.
“Governor Cuomo has sought to place New York at the forefront of green and sustainable initiatives, and we are pleased that the Green Electronics Council has recognized our efforts to encourage the purchase of sustainable electronics throughout the state,” Commissioner Destito said. “By including environmental criteria in our aggregate purchasing specifications OGS is helping protect the environment, reducing energy consumption, and saving taxpayer dollars. We are committed to helping governmental entities, businesses, and other organizations make environmentally responsible IT purchasing decisions.”
Since 2008, OGS has included a requirement in the aggregate buy that all desktops, notebooks, and tablets meet EPEAT requirements. On average, more than 200,000 computers and displays are purchased through the OGS computer aggregate buy each year. Purchasers receive on average a 45 percent discount off state contract prices, which saves them approximately $100 million annually. Additionally, equipment purchased through this program helps reduce hazardous and solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
The EPEAT rating system began in 2003 with a stakeholder process convened by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has grown to become the definitive global environmental rating system for electronics. Managed by the Green Electronics Council, EPEAT currently tracks more than 4,400 products from more than 60 manufacturers across 43 countries.
Source: The NY Office of General Services
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