Stevens Institute of Technology
OP-12: Electronics Purchasing

Electronics Purchasing The Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) is a global rating system that serves to identify environmentally preferable devices in order to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of electronics. EPEAT serves to connect purchasers to environmentally preferable choices, demonstrating environmental responsibility and innovation. The goal for Stevens will be able to look for electronics that use less energy, are made with recyclable and recycled materials, and which are easier to upgrade, fix, and recycle. Stevens, as an institution, will demonstrate a purchasing preference for computers and other electronics certified and registered with the EPEAT sustainability standard tool. This is an institution-wide purchasing policy preference and directive that applies to any future products that can be registered with EPEAT. This includes, but is not limited to: desktop computers, notebook/laptop computers, displays, televisions, thin clients, and imaging equipment. This does not include products for which there are no EPEAT certified products, such as mobile devices, tablets, smartphones, or specialized equipment. Stevens will delegate a member of its electronics purchasing organization as a point of contact who can respond to questions regarding the number of EPEAT products and their ratings. This data shall be submitted on an annual basis by calendar and fiscal year. This data, once submitted, will then become publically available through sustainability reporting tools such as the Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System. This responsible party will confirm that the submitted information is accurate to the best of their knowledge. This policy contains two parts, the institutional preference and the purchasing of EPEAT registered electronics. Stevens commits to the future purchasing of exclusively EPEAT Gold computers, televisions and imaging equipment, as compared to Silver and Bronze certified computers. With both sections of this policy in place, it will be beneficial to the university as it shows the commitment Stevens has to the environment. Additionally, Stevens will show an institutional preference to purchasing electronics with the following characteristics; ENERGY STAR label, electronics with recycled content, lead-free products, and electronics with extended product life. Products with an ENERGY STAR label uses less energy than non-labeled electronics, an ENERGY STAR computer uses 70% less electricity than computers without this designation.

Preferred purchasing guidelines are posted on the Procurement webpage to be made available to those purchasing new items.