Jump to main content.

Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)

National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship

"The National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship (PDF) (34 pp, 559K, About PDF) lays the groundwork for federal actions to improve the design of electronic products and enhance management of used or discarded electronics. The Strategy was developed by an Interagency Task Force on Electronics Stewardship and was released in July 2011. The Strategy includes a recommendation and federal actions to ensure expansion of quality green electronics certification programs, including EPEAT.

Press release.

EPEAT is an easy-to-use resource for purchasers, manufacturers, resellers and others wanting to find or promote electronic products with positive environmental attributes.

EPEAT was developed using a grant from EPA and is managed by the Green Electronics Council (GEC). GEC maintains the EPEAT website and the EPEAT product registry, and publishes a report estimating the environmental benefits arising from the purchase of EPEAT-registered products each year. EPA no longer provides financial assistance to GEC for the maintenance of the EPEAT product registry and web site.

Current Standard and Registry

EPEAT registers products that meet the IEEE 1680 family of Environmental Assessment Standards Exit EPA Disclaimer:

The EPEAT registry was launched in 2006, and currently lists computer desktops, laptops and monitors that meet the requirements of IEEE 1680.1.

Development of New Standards

The following standards are currently in development through the IEEE:

EPA anticipates that once these standards are published, electronics meeting these new standards will be included in the EPEAT registry.

EPA issued a Request for Proposals to Develop Standards for Environmentally Preferable Electronic Products (PDF) (32 pp, 360 K, About PDF), to fund facilitation of development of environmental performance standards for servers and one other electronic product category. EPA is currently evaluating proposal submissions, and anticipates awarding one cooperative agreement to create standards developed via ANSI-accredited organizations.

Purchase of EPEAT-Registered Products Required for Federal Government

Executive Order 13514, "Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance," signed by President Obama in 2009, requires federal agencies to acquire EPEAT-registered electronics.

Executive Order 13423, signed by former President Bush in 2007, also requires federal acquisition of EPEAT-registered electronics. Executive Order 13423 was not revoked by Executive Order 13514, and remains in effect per H.R. 1105 FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provides regulations requiring the acquisition of EPEAT-registered products, consistent with the Executive Orders and pubic law referenced above.

Calculating Environmental Benefits

The Electronics Environmental Benefits Calculator Exit EPA Disclaimer can quantify the benefits gained by purchasing EPEAT-registered electronics. Enter the number of EPEAT-registered products purchased, and the calculator tallies energy and money savings, as well as reductions in toxic substances, hazardous waste generated, and similar benefits. The calculator can also quantify the benefits of making improvements in equipment operation and end-of-life management practices.

Related Programs

For more information on programs related closely to EPEAT and other EPA electronics efforts, please see EPP's electronics page.

Meeting Strategic Goals

EPA's support of the development and use of EPEAT is linked to specific objectives in EPA's Strategic Plan: to conserve and protect natural resources by promoting pollution prevention and the adoption of other stewardship practices by companies, communities, governmental organizations and individuals.

Use of EPEAT is also helping other federal agencies meet their numeric targets for sustainable acquisition.

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.