Standards for EPEAT TV and Imaging Equipment Move Forward
For Immediate Release Monday June 11, 2012
Contact: Sarah O’Brien 802 233 1478
New Standards for EPEAT Environmental Rating System Move Toward Implementation
Progress will enable coverage of printers, copiers and TVs, add consumer focus
Portland, OR: The IEEE 1680 standards that will form the basis of EPEAT Imaging Equipment and Television environmental ratings are moving toward final approval after three years of intensive stakeholder work. More than 75% of IEEE voters gave the draft standards a positive vote, in an important step toward publication and implementation later in 2012.
Current drafts of both standards are available for purchase at http://www.techstreet.com/ieeegate.html Final publication is expected in Fall 2012.
“This remarkable accomplishment is the culmination of hard work by hundreds of stakeholders, and is eagerly awaited by tens of thousands of buyers around the globe,” said EPEAT CEO Robert Frisbee. “EPEAT implementation of these standards will create enormous incentive for design and delivery of environmentally preferable products in these new categories.”
EPEAT is the definitive environmental rating scheme for electronic products, used by eight national governments, including the US, and thousands of purchasers around the world. Forty eight participating manufacturers currently register over 2800 ‘greener’ PC and display products across 42 covered countries. EPEAT ratings are based on environmental performance criteria addressing design, production, energy use, product longevity and recycling, and backed up with ongoing, independent verification of manufacturer claims. EPEAT currently covers PCs and Displays; in addition to the Imaging Equipment and Television standards, a new Server standard is starting development this summer.
Nearly 500 million EPEAT registered products have been purchased since the system began in July 2006 Purchase contracts in place that require EPEAT exceed $65 billion. EPEAT registered product sales have resulted in remarkable environmental benefits. For example, solid waste reductions equivalent to 58,000 US households’ annual waste, and elimination of enough mercury to equal a million fever thermometers. Implementing the new standards will more than double EPEAT’s market reach, and TV coverage will increase the system’s potential for use in the consumer market.
“The power of the EPEAT idea has proven itself far beyond initial expectations,” said Wayne Rifer, EPEAT Director of Standards and Training, who was part of the team that initially proposed the EPEAT model. “And with these new standards moving toward finalization later this year, EPEAT’s scope and influence are poised to expand still more.”
EPEAT has already been repositioning to meet market demand by increasing staffing, bringing new strategic leadership on board, and inking partnerships with some of the world’s leading testing and certification bodies. Global government and purchaser interest continue to drive development of new partnerships and coverage. In recent months the organization increased Latin American coverage with the addition of Costa Rica, and engaged with Chinese government agencies to begin to collaboratively address the Chinese market. Additional changes will follow as the forward progress of the Imaging and Television standards unleashes potentially billions of dollars in additional purchasing power motivated by the EPEAT system.
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