Responsible Purchasing News
Representatives of the World Bank, U.S. EPA's ENERGY STAR Program and DC's procurement office discussed key elements of a successful program for procuring energy-efficient products. 
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RPN is developing purchasing guidance for NASPO in several product categories.Aimed at helping states procure environmentally preferable products and services, each guidance document will address green point weighting, minimum requirements, green certifications and standards, product selction, lifecycle costs, and more. More
During this webinar, RPN reviewed green alternatives for commonly used building maintenance products such as paint, janitorial supplies, and lighting fixtures and lamps and focused on how greener choices within these product categories can help increase energy efficiency, reduce waste, improve indoor air quality, and in many cases, produce cost savings! More
First Thursday Seminars are FEMP training opportunities targeting Federal energy, environmental, and fleet professionals offered at no cost by leading experts. More
RPN Members now have access to the webinar slides and recording, which featured useful strategies on how to cut greenhouse gas emissions through purchasing. More
Eco-labels can be an incredibly useful tool for purchasers. It isn't always easy to ascertain if one product is more "green" than another or if its environmental claims are true. Eco-labels can help facilitate the procurement of responsible products because, when credible, they provide an objective authentication of environmental assertions and ensure products meet varying environmental and human health requirements. More
After critical audits, the federal government said Wednesday that it would substantially tighten the certification process for products bearing the Energy Star label, its stamp of approval for an energy-efficient product. More
We could be forgiven for thinking the following text was extracted from an RPN rather than a White House press release: "[I]ncrease energy efficiency; reduce fleet petroleum consumption; conserve water; reduce waste; support sustainable communities; and leverage... purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies." More
Grocers are finding that LED lighting not only saves energy and money, it also makes for more vibrant, attractive displays. More
The State of California has approved the nation's first carbon fee on polluting industries, a new energy plan and more stringent controls of chemically-created consumer products. More
The requirement that federal agencies purchase green electronics has been one of the most readily accepted acquisition changes in the government in recent history. More
Educational facilities from colleges to grade schools are saving money and cutting carbon by implementing sustainable measures that range from lighting retrofits to green roofs. More
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are extremely efficient lighting products that can create energy cost savings for any organization. LEDs have many applications. Learn three ways your organization can take advantage of LEDs with the Responsible Purchasing Guide for LED Exit Signs, Street Lights, and Traffic Signals. More
105 alternative-fuel vehicles and other energy savings measures helped AT&T make big emission cuts in 2008. More
RPN and Carbonfund.org have partnered to produce a Responsible Purchasing Guide for Carbon Offsets to help organizations make smart choices that allow them reach their carbon reduction goals. More
Wisconsin and San Antonio are each launching initiatives to push area manufacturers toward innovation and adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency. More
Attend the August 19th RPN Webinar for LED Exit Signs, Street Lights, and Traffic Signals and learn about three ways your organization can cut energy use and save money with super efficient LEDs. More
On July 1st, 2009, Energy Star Version 5.0 Specification for Computer Equipment went into effect. Manufacturers must comply with these new regulations in order to receive Energy Star certification. More
The U.S. EPA has a new competitive grant program for local and tribal governments that want to establish and implement climate change initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their communities. More
Seattle is one of several U.S. cities planning to use federal stimulus funds to retrofit streetlights with energy- and cost-efficient LEDs. More
A new online resource from the Pew Center provides information on technologies to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across five key sectors: electricity, transportation, industrial, residential and commercial, and agriculture. More
At the end of May, Washington University in St. Louis--a member of RPN
--officially opened its new Living Learning Center, a building on the cutting edge of sustainable design. More
By converting its lawn tractor from diesel to waste vegetable oil from campus dining halls, the sustainability-oriented Ohio college is cutting emissions and fuel costs along with the grass. More
The Responsible Purchasing Guide for Green Power new features two new calculators developed by EPA's Pollution Prevention (P2) Program to quantify emissions reductions and financial savings from implementing P2 activities. More
According to a May 30 article in the New York Times, the future of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lighting is, well, bright. The declining cost and dramatically superior energy efficiency of LED lighting is bringing it out of the shadows and into mainstream use. More
For the first time, EPA announced Energy Star requirements for computer servers that will protect the environment and result in significant energy savings. More
Two new solar projects--for a combined 150 MW potential--are poised to give New York State's power grid a sunnier disposition. More
RPN member, Snohomish County, is moving ahead with an ambitious plan to "homebrew" its own fuel, by drying, storing, and crushing canola seed to produce biodiesel. More
In a bind over offset options? Help is on the way. The Responsible Purchasing Network has partnered with Carbonfund.org to produce a Carbon Offsets Purchasing Guide, scheduled for release in May. The guide will outline the environmental impacts of various offset options, so your organization can get the most abatement for your buck. More
Come October 30th, computer monitors, digital picture frames, and other electronic displays will have to meet stricter standards to qualify for the Energy Star label. More
The State of Connecticut has been named one of only three states making EPA's top 50 list of national Green Power Partners. This year, Connecticut will purchase more than 98 million kilowatt-hours of green power--enough to meet 17 percent of the state's purchased electricity use. More
Earlier this month, the mayors of the San Francisco Bay area's three largest cities--San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose--signed a regional agreement outlining joint goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. More
Los Angeles is saving money and cutting emissions by switching its 140,000 streetlight fixtures to LED units over the next five years with help from the Clinton Climate Initiative. More
Timex isn't reverting to sundials, but the company is turning to the sun to power its Middlebury headquarters with one of the Northeast's largest ground-mounted solar arrays. More
The creator of EPEAT has teamed with EcoLogo to facilitate the certification and promotion of green electronics. More
Eleven Northeastern states are developing a regional Low Carbon Fuel Standard to reduce the carbon concentration in fuels. More
Electronic equipment purchasers are being asked to help develop new EPEAT standards for Imaging Equipment and TVs. More
Thirty-five years worth of efficiency measures have saved California about $56 billion in electricity costs and created 1.5 million jobs, according to a new study. More
Visit our booth at EcoBuild Fall 2008 in Washington, DC. RPN members receive free exhibit hall passes and discount conference registration. More
The State of New Jersey has approved an offshore wind farm and plans to triple the amount of wind power it uses by 2020. More
Chicago plans to implement the most aggressive plan by any major American city to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More
Environmental Defense Fund has launched a new website, CarbonOffsetList.org, to help institutions and individuals identify and purchase carbon offsets linked to tangible, trusted projects. More
EPA's new ENERGY STAR @ work is an interactive, online tool that offers employees, employers, and building managers tips on how to save energy and protect the environment at work. More
The City of San Francisco has cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent from 1990 levels and is on track to cut emissions 20 percent in four years. More
In a yearlong experiment aimed at reducing the state's energy costs, Utah is set to become the first state to switch to a four-day workweek for thousands of government employees. More
With RPN's assistance, the State of Wisconsin and City of Cambridge, MA recently concluded significant purchases of green power, buying 90,000 MWh wind power and 10,000 MWh in renewable energy credits, respectively. More
Washington DC area governments are banding together to share procurement strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through New American Dream’s Carbon Conscious Communities (C3) initiative. More
NRDC is urging support for a proposed U.S. Conference of Mayors energy resolution to create lifecycle fuels emissions analyses concerning the production of synthetic fuels such as tar sands, liquid coal and oil shale. More
Green-e Climate is ready to begin certification of greenhouse gas emission reduction products for the purpose of providing carbon offsets to the public. More
Intel to buy more than 1.3 billion kilowatt hours a year of renewable energy certificates, thus becoming the largest corporate purchaser of green power in the U.S. More
This year’s Super Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, will be the first ever powered completely with gren power by using solar, wind and geo-thermal energy to offset the greenhouse gas emissions. More
RPN is happy to announce we have made considerable updates to the product listings for several Responsible Purchasing Guides. These changes include new search criteria, updated listings, expanded EPEAT and Energy Star information, and for the Fleet Guide; More
The U.S. House of Representatives, with the help of RPN, is taking a step to significantly cut its energy consumption and save forest resources by switching from copy paper made from virgin wood to 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper. More
On October 23, 2007, Governor Edward B. Rendell announced that Pennsylvania is now purchasing enough green power to cover nearly 30 percent of the electricity needed for government operations. This exceeds the Commonwealth's goal of 20 percent green p More
As part of its commitment to green power, the Center for a New American Dream, RPN's parent organization, has been recognized by the Clean Energy Rewards Program of Montgomery County, Maryland. The Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) purchased by New More
The Quad-Core Opteron processor was recently unveiled by Advanced Micro Devices. The new chip is designed to be more energy efficient; More
The U.S. Conference of Mayors just released a survey highlighting proactive steps U.S. mayors are taking to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The 130 cities surveyed are pursuing a multitude of actions aimed at conserving energy, using energy more ef More
The Center for Resource Solutions announced today that Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) offered by Shell Trading (Coral Energy Holding L.P.) are now Green-e certified. Shell Trading joins the network of renewable energy providers who offer products certifi More
