KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - Most of us have heard that U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense - down to every individual work center and administrative support office - are required to buy "green" products. But let's take a step back for a minute to review what that means.
On Jan. 24, 2007, President George Bush signed Executive Order 13423 - Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy and Transportation Management - into law. This mandate puts into effect many new goals and milestones for federal agencies to advance the nation's energy security and environmental performance. It also requires purchasing environmentally sound goods and services, including bio-based products.
Accordingly, every time we buy supplies or equipment, we must consider green products that have the following environmental benefits:
*made with recycled content;
*made with bio-based products;
*energy and water efficient;
*alternative fuels or vehicles;
*renewable energy sources;
*sustainable building materials;
*lacking in ozone-depleting substances or priority-listed toxic chemicals;
*electronic product environmental assessment tool-registered electronic equipment;
*and environmentally preferable.
Users of the DoD EMALL - an Internet-based Electronic Mall - purchasing system should have received training to include using the green tree symbol to identify and locate green products. Other buyers of goods and services for the Army and local tenant agencies must consider the characteristics listed above for all purchases and contract activities.
Exceptions to buying green are only authorized when environmentally preferred items are unreasonably expensive; not available within reasonable time frames; or have proven not to be of serviceable quality for the intended purpose.
Another exception might occur when a unit owns an alternative fuel-capable vehicle. Such an organization wouldn't be required to drive several miles out of their way to find an alternative fuel filling station, which would defeat all the benefits of using alternative fuel. But in all cases where environmentally preferred products are not used, a record should be maintained documenting why not; otherwise, this could result in a negative finding during environmental auditing.
So let's make a mental note to "buy green" - and not only for work. Be sure to consider green alternatives for home and personal items as well.
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