1991 - P2 InfoHouse

47
By Eleanor J. Lewis & Eric Weltman
Introduction by Ralph Nader
i
The Center for Study of Responsive Law was established in 1968 by Ralph Nader and is a nonprofit
research and educational organization. The Government Purchasing Project is a project of the
Center for Study of Responsive Law.
!
Forty Ways to Make Government Purchasing Green
Center for Study of Responsive Law, P.O.Box 19367, Washington, BC 20036
$10.00
Copyright 0 1992 by Center For Study of Responsive
Law. AU rights ~ s e m e d .Reproduction of small
portions of this book for non-commercial use is
allowed with complete credit to authors. Other
uses am prohibited without the written permission
of Center For Study of Responsive Law.
ISBN 0-936758-33-3
Library of Congress Catalogue Number 92-097121
Published by Center For Study of Responsive Law,
Po Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036.
Price $10.00
This book is printed on 100%recycled paper with 10%post-consumer content, rebleached with
hydrogen peroxide. The cover is printed on 100% recycled paper with 10% post-consumer content.
Soy-based inks are used.
31
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
V
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
vii
REQUEST TO READERS
vii
1
SECTION I: SOLID WASTE REDUCTION
1.
Establish a Waste Reduction Goal and Program
1
2.
Establish Full Recycling Programs in All Facilities
5
3.
Eliminate Waste in Food Service Units
7
4.
9
5.
Compost Landscaping Wastes
Eliminate Unnecessary Paper Use
10
6.
Purchase Reusable, Remanufactured and Repairable products
12
7.
Develop Markets for Collected Materials and Increase
Procurement of Recycled Products
14
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Purchase Recycled Paper products With Post-Consumer Content
Form Procurement Cooperatives to Obtain Better Prices and
Greener Products
Purchase Products Designed, Manufactured and Packaged to Use
Waste Reduction Options
Require Contract Printers Working for Government to Use Waste
Reduction Options
Require Government Agencies, Authorities, Consultants,
Contractors and Grantees to Use Waste Reduction Options
Require Lawyers and Applicants to Courts, Boards and Other
Government Entities to Use Waste Reductions Printing Options
Sponsor Environmentally Responsible Conferences and Meetings
SECTION II: ENERGY EFFICIENCY
15.
16.
17.
18.
18
20
21
23
23
24
25
27
Eliminate Fiscal Practices Which Discourage Investments in
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Monitor Energy Consumption and Identify Energy-Saving Opportunities
Provide Employee Education On and Incentives For Energy Efficiency
Increase Funding for Energy Efficiency and Use Innovative
Financing Options
iii
29
31
34
37
39
20.
Participate In Utility Demand-Side Management Programs
Construct and Lease Energy-Efficient Buildings
41
21.
Improve Building Operations and Maintenance
43
22.
45
23.
Identify and Install Cost-Effective Renewable Energy Applications
Cogenerate Electricity
24.
Purchase Energy-Efficient Office Equipment
49
25.
Install Energy-Efficient Lighting
50
26.
Install Energy-Efficient Windows
53
27.
Use Water Efficiently
54
28.
Purchase Fuel-Efficient Motor Vehicles
56
29.
Purchase Altemative Fuel Vehicles
57
19.
~
60
Reduce Overall Motor Vehicle Use
SECTION III: POLLUTION PREVENTION
Establish a Pollution Prevention Policy
31.
Eliminate the Use of Toxic Pesticides
32.
30.
33.
34.
48
63
64
66
Purchase Non-Chlorine Bleached Paper Products
Eliminate the Use of Polystyrene
69
71
Reduce Pollution Produced in Printing Operations
Purchase Environmentally Sound Cleaning Products
72
Reduce the Use of Plastics
Eliminate Purchases of Cement Produced in Kilns Which
Bum Hazardous Waste as Fuel
75
39.
Use Altematives to Rock Salt on Roads and Highways
77
40.
Eliminate Purchases of Rainforest Wood
78
35.
36.
37.
38.
74
77
Appendix A
98
Appendix B
99
Appendix C
100
iv
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INTRODUCTION
The government's immense purchasing
power is an unappreciated and potentially
significant force for innovation. Federal,
state and local government purchasing
amounts to no less than 18 percent of the
Gross National Product (GNP). Government procurement can promote the development of newer, better products, as well
as advance declared national policies. The
air bag example is a case in point: a 1984
General Services Administration (GSA)
order of 5,300 air bag-equipped automobiles is credited with bringing this longawaited safety feature to the larger market.
After delivering the government's order,
Ford Motor Company made air bags an
option on several models, prompting other
companies to offer them on an increasing
number of vehicles. In a similar fashion,
the purchasing power of the government
can create and expand markets for solar
energy, recycled products and other safe,
efficient technologies, while saving tax
dollars, and conserving resources and the
environment.
Astute procurement requhs a distinctive
decision-making formula which reflects the
government's priority of the long-term over
the short-term. This befits an institution
which, unlike businesses, will always exist
to enjoy long-term investments, and which,
unlike businesses, is not solely responsive
to short-term profit indicators. In this
respect, government buyers need to consider energy, maintenance and waste disposal
costs associated with products and services.
Government buying decisions should also
incorporate environmental and societal
"externalities" - costs and benefits not
contained in the purchase price of a product or service, such as the pollution produced or avoided when using a product or
service. For example, when purchasing
paper products, there should be a penalty
for paper products which have been
bleached with dioxin-producing chlorine.
Attention to these externalities would set
an example for the private sector, advance
statutory environmental and health goals
and best serve the public interest.
Current environmental problems provide
further evidence that government buyers
cannot depend on vendor initiative to provide safer products and services. Technologies to improve automobile fuel efficiency, produce safe energy and reduce pollution in paper making, to name a few, are
available and waiting to be used. However, with entrenched corporate giants showing irregular interest in being environmentally responsible, alternative strategies
should be used to obtain the benefits of
these technologies.
Life-cycle cost accounting, a tool for comparing all of these costs, should become
the measure by which the government
weighs its purchasing decisions. For example, while a compact fluorescent bulb
may cost $24 more than an incandescent
bulb, compact fluorescents consume 75
percent less electricity and last 6 times
longer. As a result, over its lifetime, using
a compact fluorescent bulb saves $238, and
prevents the emission of 3,350 pounds of
carbon dioxide.
V
Opposition can be expected - from government vendors resistant to innovation and
the prospect of buyers taking assertive
responsibility for how and what they purchase. This resistance will come from
companies who believe they have an entrenched right to their current market
niche, and do not want consumers to specify safer and better products. For instance,
in June 1992, the General Services Administration (GSA) surveyed U.S. paper mills
about their capacity to produce non-chlorine bleached printing and writing papers.
The American Paper Institute, the
industry’s lobby, sent a warning letter to
its members to deter responses. And few
companies responded to GSA.
w a into food. Finally, employee participation and interest is essential for any
effort to succeed: from mycling wastepaper to maintaining proper sanitation to
reduce pest infestation.
Each of the forty initiatives in this book is
followed by a list of government agencies
which have instituted such a program,
along with contact names, addresses and
phone numbers, and a list of additional
resources. These strategies and examples
are appropriate models to be followed by
all levels of government. They illustrate
some of the potential inherent in the government’s power as a consumer.
However, the initiatives described in this
book only hint at the potential inherent
within government purchasing’s 18 percent
share of the GNP. This book simply describes a portion of what is being done,
and what should be done more broadly
throughout all levels of government everywhere. Much creativity, energy and attention is needed to forge a permanent link
between public purchasing and societal
goals and needs.
All public institutions could adopt the
initiatives described in this book, though at
best some are using a few. What has
prompted facilities, agencies or institutions
to initiate some of these programs varies.
Executive and legislative attention, through
executive orders, legislation and oversight,
establishes essential authority and direction. This can spur the initiative of other
key players - the printer who makes sure
orders are printed dual-side, the officials
who increase their monitoring of recycled
paper supplies. The availability of resources, including funding, is another key.
For example, some states have made a
significant outreach effort to help schools
reduce energy use, including providing
funds and technical assistance. Different
issues have a higher priority in some areas.
In Vermont, concern over dioxin-tainted
effluent in Lake Champlain has led to a
state effort to purchase non-chlorine
bleached paper. General awareness also
varies. Certainly, the polystyrene industry
has done little to publicize its knowledge
that styrene leaches from polystyrene food-
Ralph Nader
Washington, DC
November, 1992
vi
-
__
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank Ralph Nader for his vision and support throughout the writing
of this book and John Richard, who always provided guidance and assistance.
We are also grateful to those who reviewed portions of the text. Thomas Blain and Richard Keller
reviewed the solid waste section. Mark Ginsberg, Jeff Harris, Barry Moline and Dr. Charles
Williams reviewed the energy section. Dr.Mary McKiel, Dr. Nicholas Ashford and Rita Norton
reviewed the pollution prevention section. We are also thankful to Bill Day for proofreading the
text. Jonathan Kleinman was most helpful in proofreading and formatting the text; his knowledge
of the computer far exceeds ours. However, we are totally responsible for the contents.
This book is not the result of a definitive survey of the activities of all government agencies in
the country. Therefore, we realize there are noteworthy programs that are not mentioned. We
also were not able, due to space limitations, to discuss all programs of which we were aware.
We would like to thank, however, all the interested and generous public employees who shared
their experiences and knowledge with us. Without them, this book would not be possible.
Eleanor J. Lewis
Eric Weltman
Washington, DC
November, 1992
REQUEST TO READERS
This book is part of an ongoing effort to promote proactive government procurement. It is a living document, and will be updated and reissued. We would
appreciate hearing from readers about any procurement projects and initiatives that
benefit the environment and the economy. Please send correspondence to the
Government Purchasing Project, Po Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036.
vii
SECTION I: SOLID WASTE REDUCTION
1. ESTABLISH
A WASTEREDUCTION GOAL
Historically, 80 to 100 percent of municipal
solid waste has been discarded in landfdls.’
Between 1978 and 1988, 14,000 of the
nation’s 20,000landfills closed2 Half of the
remaining 6,000 facilities will close by 1995
as they reach capacity? The Environmental
protection Agency @PA) promotes incineration as a safe solid waste disposal option.
Between 1970 and 1992, the percent of solid
waste which was incinerated increased from
1 percent to 19 percent4 However, incineration releases toxic chemicals into the air and
creates large amounts of residual toxic ash for
which there is no known safe disposal?
ANI) PROGRAM
A waste-reduction program and goal should
be established for each agency. Each agency
should first conduct a waste audit of each
building it occupies to detennine how much
waste it produces as well as the source and
composition of the waste. Using all available
information, a waste-reduction goal for the
next several years can be established. The
goal should reflect the best estimate of what
portion of a facility’s waste can be eliminated.
Laws, regulations and executive arders should
be used to institutionalize the waste reduction
program and goal. In many states, the goal
has been mandated by legislation requiring
specific solid waste reductions by specified
dates.
Safe options exist for reducing solid waste.
EPA has created a hierarchy of strategies. Efforts to reduce solid waste should focus first
on source reduction-using less paper, glass
and other materials, such as in packaging, so
less solid waste is generated. The next option
for reducing solid waste involves using
reusable products instead of single-use
throwaway items, such as air filters, towels
or paper or polystyrene dishes. Once materials have been used and solid waste generated, composting and recycling should be done.
Source reduction, using reusable products,
recycling, using products with recycled content
may require changes in attitudes and behaviors. The myths and negative attitudes about
reusable and recycled products, such as
recycled paper makes the copier jam or
recycled toilet paper is not soft and absorbent,
should be challenged. New products should
be tested and used. Some sales representatives
try to mislead agency personnel, so they will
not change to a different product. For instance, people selling disposable dishes may
say reusable cups and dishes spread disease.
These false comments should not go unanswered nor should they influence policy
decisions.
As the major operator of hospitals, schools,
offices, prisons, and other institutions; local,
state and federal governments make purchases
that comprise about 18 percent of the GNP
and total almost a trillion dollars per year!
These purchases result in the production of
enormous amounts of solid waste. In the
following chapters, we will discuss numerous
options and opportunities available to public
entities to be leaders in reducing solid waste.
People need help adjusting to waste reduction
programs. They need to understand the
reasons why these programs are necessary and
the importance of them to the world beyond
1
A paper recycling program was instituted and
in its f m t year of operation, Missouri diverted
698 tons of paper from the landfill. The
program was managed by the state’s purchasing division, which linked recycling with
buying products with recycled content, thus
developing markets for the collected materials.
The program is now expanding to include
state colleges and universities. (Cynthia S.
Stafford, State Office Recycling Coordinator,
office of Administration, Division of purchasing and Materials Management, Truman office
Building, Room 580, PO Box 809, Jefferson
City, MO 65102; (314)751-3384.)
the work setting. They need to be convinced
of the value of their efforts and committed to
the programs and their goals. Without
commitment, these efforts will not succeed.
An extensive publicity campaign should
accompany the waste reduction program and
should include all employees. Newsletters,
bulletin boards,payroll envelope stuffers, pins,
posters and staff meetings should be used to
publicize the program and goals. Monthly
awards and publicity should be given to
facilities which exceed the goals and to
individuals most active and helpful in
achieving them.
*
Minnesota’s State Resource Recovery
Office in the Department of Administration
promotes waste reduction in government
operations and the procurement of products
incorporating these goals. It coordinates the
recovery of reusables and recyclables from
state agencies and works with state employees
to implement environmental materials
management: the environmentally responsible acquisition, use and discard of products.
This includes purchasing reusable or remanufactured products, products with recycled
content, products with a reduced quantity or
toxicity of materials and degradable packaging. The Office also helps procurement
officials assess the validity of environmental
labeling claims. It also promotes environmentally responsible products that are available
to state and local governments through the
state’s cooperative purchasing program.
(Lynne H. Markus, Resource Recovery Office,
Materials Management Division, 112 Administration Building, 50 Sherburne Avenue, St.
Paul, MN 55155; (612)296-9084.)
Source reduction and reuse options are
generally the easiest and least expensive
methods for reducing solid waste. They
should be used to the fullest extent possible,
since decreasing the overall use of materials
does more to reduce solid waste than recycling
all that is used. Composting and recycling
should be instituted to reduce further the solid
waste being discarded.
The public, active and continuing support of
policy makers and top management is essential
for a successful waste-reduction program.
Employees consider a program more important
when the highest ranking officials are visibly
committed. Executive offices should be
among the first to use waste reduction
strategies. Top managers should mention the
program in all appropriate public messages.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
A 1989 survey of the garbage generated
at the Missouri State Office Complex in
Jefferson City found that about 84 percent was
paper, with the rest composed of glass bottles,
aluminum cans and a small amount of plastic.
*
San Diego County, California, established
its waste reduction program in 1987. Dualside copying is required as well as numerous
other waste reduction techniques. The pro-
2
~
~
recycled products. Excellent materials and
training manuals have been developed for all
aspects of this program and are available at
no charge. (Michael Fanning, (202)268-3364
or Kevin Ferguson (202)268-6239,U.S. Postal
Service, Environmental Management Program,
Room 4130,475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260.)
gram currently collects for recycling 13
different commodities, including every paper
product the county purchases unless it is
contaminated by food or bodily waste.
Confidential documents are shredded and
recycled. Many collected materials are sold,
although the program is not yet self-supporting. The amount of materials collected has
increased from 346 tons in 1987-88 to 1248
tons in 1991-92. The procurement of products
with recycled products is actively pursued.
Using a state grant, the county is about to
develop a recycling market development m e
to encourage businesses using collected
materials to produce new products to locate
in the area. (Richard V. Anthony, Principal,
Solid Waste Program, Mail Stop 0383,5555
Overland Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123;
(619)694-2161.)
*
The National Park Service (NPS) started
an integrated solid waste management program
in spring 199 1. The plan has five component
parts: source Eduction, recycling, use of
recycled products, landfillmanagement, public
education and operating recycling programs.
The NPS published Integrated Solid Waste
Alternative Program: Manager’s Guide,
March 1991; it is available at no charge. (Kip
Hagen, Engineering and Safety Service
Division, National Park Service, Department
of the Interior, PO Box 37127, Washington,
DC 20013; (202)208-7877.)
*
Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1988 started a recycling
program, which has since developed into a
program supervised by the University’s Office
of Waste Reduction and Recycling, to
encourage waste reduction in all campus
operations. Confidential documents are
recycled without breaching their security by
handling them separately and with security
precautions. Registration course directories
are completely recycled; even their plastic
binders are repeatedly reused. Sawdust from
carpentry activities is added to mulch.
Asphalt, shipping containers, pallets, scrap
metals, lead-acid batteries and mercury and
other chemicals are recycled. (Charles Button,
Office of Waste Reduction, CB# 1800, Giles
Horney Building, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC
27599, (919)962-1442.)
RESOURCES
*
Regional offices of the EPA’s Office of
Solid Waste and Office of Pollution Prevention work with any public agency to develop
waste reduction and prevention programs. A
list of the EPA regional offices appears in
Appendix A.
*
Most states have solid waste offices which
work with state and local agencies to reduce
waste.
* Three comprehensive books to assist
agencies in developing and operating waste
reduction plans are The G.OLD. Plan, A
Strategy For Waste Reduction and Recycling
at State GovernmentFacilities; The G . 0L.D.
Manual, Methotis ToAssist State Agencies and
Institutions in the Development of Waste
*
The United States Post Office has established a comprehensive waste reduction
program involving source reduction, recycling
and an affirmative procurement program for
3
*
Decision-Makers Guide To Solid Waste
Management is available at no charge from
RCRA Information Center, Office of Solid
Waste, EPA, Washington, DC 20460,
(800) 424-9346.
Reduction and Recycling Plans; Ecology's
G.0L.D. Plan: A Model Waste Reduction
and Recycling Plan For State Agencies.
G.O.L.D. stands for Government Option To
Landfill Disposal. All of these publications
are available for a fee from National Technical
Information Service, (800)553-6847.
*
___
*
A Study of 18 State Procurement Policies
and Practices to Promote Waste Reduction
and Markets for Recyclables, August 1990,
Document #90-4, is available at no charge
from the Publications Office, Washington
State Department of Ecology, Po Box 47600,
Olympia, WA 98504; (206)438-7472.
EPA Solid Waste Information Clearing-
house, Po Box 7219, Silver Spring, MD
209 10; (800)67-SWICH.
* Many colleges and universities have
developed programs to make them more
environmentallyresponsible. "Green Schools
(GRNSCH-L)," an electronic conference
accessible through BITNET or INTERNET,
is available to exchange information and ideas.
Subscribe by e-mailing [email protected] and leave the
following message: SUB GRNSCH-L <your
id@node> <your full name>. This bulletin
board is also now on ECONET as the conference "bitl.grnsch".
*
Information on specific local and state
government policies encouraging and quiring
the purchase of products with recycled content
is available at no charge and the 1992 Guide
to Commercial and Institutional Recycling is
$5 from Richard Keller, Northeast Maryland
Waste Disposal Authority, Recycling Program,
25 S. Charles Street, Suite 2105, Baltimore,
MD 21201; (410)333-2730.
*
What Goes Around Comes Around discusses the benefits of recycling over other
methods of garbage disposal. It costs $4.50
from Suzanne Mattei, Senior Environmental
Advisor, office of the Comptroller, Municipal
Building, Room 517, New York, NY 10007;
(212)669-7396.
* Cornel1Waste Management Institute, 468
Hollister Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
14853; (607)255- 1187.
* Purchasing For the Environment Publication W2-15, is available at not charge from
the Publications Office, Washington State
Department of Ecology, PO Box 47600,
Olympia, WA 98504, (206)438-7472.
*
Northeast Recycling conference, 138 Main
Street, Suite 401, Bratdeboro, VT 05301;
(802)254-3636.
*
Information on training and trainer development far communities designing, developing
and operating programs to reduce solid waste,
including waste generated in government
operations and procurement, is available from
National Environmental Training Center For
Small Communities, West Virginia University,
Po Box 6064, Morgantown, WV 26506;
(800)624-8301.
* The Tellus Institute Packaging Study
researches the comparative per-ton cost of
various packaging materials. The study's
Executive Summary is $55 ($35 to nonprofit
organizations) from Claire Benedict, Tellus
Institute, 89 Broad Street, Boston, MA 02110;
(617)426-7692.
4
~
* chemically treated papeq
* photographic and blueprint paper, and
* envelopes with plastic windows and/or self-
Many government facilities are starting
recycling programs, but rarely are they as
comprehensive as they could be. In government facilities, paper may comprise up to 85
percent of the trash, consequently it is important to develop a comprehensive paper
recycling pmgram.’ For recycling purposes,
colored papers ~IE considered lower quality
than white paper, so agency personnel should
stop using colored paper wherever possible.
The value of any collected material is
determined by its cleanliness and how it is
sorted. Collected materials should be clean
and dry.
sticking closings.
In most cases there now are recyclable
products available to replace the products
listed above, such as recyclable fax paper and
recyclable forms paper.
Many other products can be recycled, such
as pallet and wood wastes, textiles, tlres,
motor oil,antifreeze, batteries, aluminum and
other metals, electronic scrap, fishing nets and
lines, asphalt, precious metals, cardboard
boxes and packaging materials, toilets, and
construction and demolition debris. It will be
necessary to contact local collectors or users
of these materials to determine the market for
them and in what form they will be collected.
Sorting papers into at least three categories
is advised? The highest grade paper is white,
such as computer, bond, offset, letterhead,
tablets, copier and typing paper. All other
papers are lower grade, and they are usually
divided into two categories: one group is
newspapers and the other is colored papers
and possibly envelopes.
Producing plastics is a pollution-intensive
process, so it is best to reduce the use of these
materials. For m a information about plastics,
see page 75.
Waste collectors differ in which materials they
collect. The following usually are not
recyclable and are considered a contaminant
by paper recyclers:
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
* gum labels, post-its and any other paper
The National Forest Service is developing
procedures far establishing recycling programs
in fire-fighting camps. To date, these pro-
products with adhesive or tape;
grams have recycled cardboard, tin cans,
aluminum cans, office paper, newspaper,
cooking grease, batteries and plastic containers. (Paige Ballard II, Room 705 RP-E,Forest
Service, U.S.Department of Agriculture, PO
Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090,
(202)205-1138.)
* slick, waxed and plasticized papers;
* ditto or mimeograph stencils;
* carbon papeq
* thermal fax paper;
5
.
*
Minnesota’s comprehensive recycling
program for state buildings has resulted in the
development of lease language for rented
facilities which requires janitorial recycling
services in leased offices. (Beverly H. Kroiss,
Minnesota Department of Administration, Real
Estate Management Division, 50 Sherburne
Avenue, Room 309, St. Paul, MN 55155;
(612)296-1896.)
* The Metropolitan Service District, in
Oregon, is renovating an old Sears store and
has recycled or reused over 4,000 tons of
construction debris, including wood and
marble flooring, toilets, sinks, carpets, bricks,
a fire sprinkler system, stairways and banisters, architecturaldetails and millions of cubic
yards of concrete floor slabs and columns.
(Berit Stevenson, Metropolitan Service
District, 2000 SW 1st Avenue, Portland, OR
97201; (503)221-1646.)
*
The Port of San Francisco recycles much
of the waste generated at its facilities, such
as fishing lines and nets, engine oil and
batteries.
(Stephanie Thomton, Coastal
Resources Center, World Trade Center, Suite
250-L,San Francisco, CA 94111;
(415)788-6150.)
*
Kentucky is recycling abandoned motor
vehicles. (Enlow Cammack, Natural Resources Environmental Protection Cabinet, 14
Reilly Road,Frankfort, KY 40601;
(502)564-6716.)
*
Mississippi is reusing and recycling
pesticide containers as part of its pesticide
management program. (Robert McCarty,
Mississippi Department of Agriculture and
Commerce, Bureau of Plant Industry, PO Box
5207, Mississippi State, MS 39762;
(601)325-3390.
*
Santa Monica, California, installed water
conserving toilets using 1.6 gallons per flush
in its municipal offices. The old toilets were
crushed and used for road base aggregate in
sidewalks, parking lots and driveways. (Susan
Munves, Santa Monica Conservation Coordinator, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite C, Santa
Monica, CA 90401; (310)458-8229.)
~
~
*
Escondido, Califomia, has use crushed
recycled porcelain toilets as part of the base
aggregate for roads. An aggregate base made
entirely of recycled materials has been used
on some streets. (Cynthia Ferguson Salvati,
City of Escondido, 201 N. Broadway,
Escondido, CA 92025; (619)741-4811.)
* The Califomia Department of Water
Resources has tested the use of crushed toilet
porcelain for concrete aggregate. Their lab
report is available at no charge. (Rick
Soehrem, California Department of Water
Resources, PO Box 942836, Sacramento, CA
94236; (916)653-9275.)
RESOURCES
*
Many state university and college extension
divisions, continuing education offices, county
extension units and state departments of
environmental protectiodnatural resourcesholid wastehxology have solid waste
management programs that provide educational materials and services to help agencies
develop solid waste reduction programs.
*
Courses in environmental management for
solid waste and recycling program administrators are offered by Rutgers University. Mr.
Edward V. Lipman, Director, Cook College
Office of Continuing Professional Education,
PO Box 231, New Brunswick, NJ 08903;
(908)932-9271.
-
*
*
National Office Paper Recycling Project,
U.S.Conference of Mayors, 1620 Eye Smet,
N W ,Washington, DC 20006, (202)293-7330.
A detailed and complete guide for starting
a recycling progiam in an agency, Recycling
in Federal Ofices: Resource Materials,
December 1991,is frex from Office of Solid
Waste, EPA, 401 M Street SW, Washington,
DC 20460, (202)260-4627.
*
Information about reducing solid waste is
available from Inform, 381 Park Avenue
South, Suite 1201, New York, NY 10016;
(2 12)689-404O.
*
Guide to Recycling Printed and OHce
Paper costs $2.00 from Californians Against
Waste, 926 J Street, Suite 606, Sacramento,
CA 95814; (916)443-8317.
3. ELIMINATE
WASTE IN FOOD SERVICE
UNITS
* States’ Eflorts to Promote Lead-Acid
Battery Recycling, publication #PB92-119965,
costs $19 from National Technical Information
Service, (800)553-6847.
Food service facilities in government buildings
range from full service restaurants to cafeterias
and take-out stands. They produce significant
amounts of solid waste, from the excessive
packaging in which supplies are delivered
through the generation of food, metal, glass
and paper wastes during the preparation and
serving stages.
*
Wastelines is a quarterly publication
providing information about national solid
waste issues at an annual cost of $10 from
Environmental Action Foundation, 6930
Carroll Ave, Suite 600, Takoma Park, MD
20912; (301)891-1100.
Because many food service units are operated
by contractors, it will be necessary for
contractors to change their procedures and
adopt solid waste reduction goals. To ensure
the contractor’s cooperation, these goals
should be included in the contract as the
contractor’s responsibility. Allowing a
decreasing amount of overhead costs for waste
removal expenses should also help guarantee
the contractor’s cooperation.
* Why Waste A Second Chance, about
developing recycling programs costs $1 1; the
accompanying video costs $45 to rent and $80
to purchase from National Association of
Towns and Townships, 1522 K Street NW,
Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005;
(202)737-5200.
* Information about recycling, market
development, source reduction and procurement policy is available from the Center for
Development of Recycling, Department of
Geography and Environmental Studies, San
Jose State University, 1 Washington Square,
San Jose, CA 95192; (408)924-5453.
Some disposable food service products are
also undesirable because of the chemicals they
contain. For example, styrene, a component
of polystyrene, is a lethal chemical which
causes cancer in animals and central and
peripheral nervous system damage in humans? Because the manufacturing process
is not 100 percent efficient, polystyrene dishes
contain some residual styrene.” Styrene is
soluble in oil and ethanol, substances commonly found in foods and alcoholic beverages,
*
National Recycling Coalition, 1101 30th
Street, N W , Suite 305, Washington, DC
20007; (202)625-6406.
7
so the styrene migrates from the dishes into
* reduce the price of beverages for consumers
alcoholic drinks, coffee and oily and fatty
foods." A 1988 survey of human fat tissue
found styrene in all samples tested at levels
as high as one-third the amount known to
cause neurological symptoms.'2 For more
information about polystyrene, see page 71.
who supply their own reusable cups;
* use reusable trays;
~
* use bulk straw dispensers instead of individually wrapped straws;
~
* supply straws only for beverages served in
Dioxin and approximately loo0 other organochlorines and mutagens are created when
paper is bleached with chlorine. Dioxin is
bottles or cans;
* eliminate the use of lids on disposable cups
for beverages consumed in the food service
unit;
found in paper and leaches into milk. Consequently, it is best not to use chlorine
bleached paper products when preparing and
serving foods. Unbleached or nonchlorine
bleached coffee filters, towels, napkins and
tea bags are available and should be used
whenever possible.
* for take out service, use reusable dishes and
charge a deposit to ensure their return;
* require all paper products used in producing
and serving food be made of unbleached or
non-chlorine bleached paper;
The following 20 point program will reduce
solid waste in food service units:
* evaluate all packaging coming into the unit
* reduce the size and thickness of the paper
napkins used,
to determine parts that could be eliminated or
reduced and work with the vendors to obtain
the desired change; if necessary issue procurement specifications requiring reduced packaging;
* use cloth napkins;
* serve milk from a self-service machine into
reusable cups instead of in individual cartons;
* require all packaging coming into the unit
* use refillable condiment dispensers instead
of individual disposable packages;
to be made with the highest amount of post-
consumer recycled content available for that
item; if necessary issue procurement specifications requiring this;
*
charge a deposit for bottles and cans
removed from the area;
* for foods being taken out of the unit, use
* compost food wastes;
paper bags and covers only when requested
and then use bags made of unbleached
recycled paper with the highest amount of
post- consumer recycled content available;
*
* recycle all paper, metal and glass wastes;
* recycle bones, tallow and grease;
* require food preparation staff to wear cloth
stop using disposable dishes, cups, and
utensils for food consumed in the unit;
uniforms, hats and aprons.
8
-
a deposit should be charged for all beverage
bottles and cans sold in federal fa~i1ities.l~
Some national parks are doing this, but almost
all other federal facilities are not. The law
requires those not charging a deposit to notify
the EPA, but none did so between 1985 and
1991.15
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
Some of the ideas discussed above were
implemented by McDonalds in response to
protests against their use of polystyrene and
as part of an effort to reduce solid waste
generated in their restaurants. (Environmental
Jkfense Fund, 257 Park Avenue South, New
Yark, NY 10010;(212)505-2100, final report
of McDonald's Project costs $10.)
*
The Washington Department of Ecology,
the King County Solid Waste Division and
the Seattle Solid Waste Utility are jointly
sponsoring a pilot project to determine the
feasibility of collecting food waste from
commercial entities for off-site composting.
(Catherine Howard Boyd, King County Solid
Waste Division, 400 Yesler Way, Room 600,
Seattle, WA 98104, (206)296-8455; or Chris
Luboff, Seattle Solid Waste Utility, 710 2nd
Avenue, Suite 505, Seattle, WA 98164,
(206)684-7644.)
*
Brown University operates a model snack
bar that does not use disposable products,
requires students to bring their own reusable
cups to the dining rooms, recycles some
cafeteria wastes and sells food wastes to a
local pig farmer. (Brown is Green, PO Box
1941, Providence, RI 02912; (401)863-7837.)
*
Bowling Green University switched to
reusable dishes, glasses and silverware and
saved $32,000 in one year while serving about
14,000 people per day. (Jane Schimpf,
Director, Food Services, Bowling Green
University, Bowling Green, OH,
(419)372-2891.)
RESOURCES
* State departments of agriculture and
schools of agriculture have information on
using food waste for swine feed and farmers
needing this feed.
*
Many cafeterias in federal government
buildings are operated by contractors. On the
west coast, contractors cannot use disposable
dishes in their facilities because of consumer
complaints, but elsewhere in the country there
is more tolerance of disposable^.'^
*
*
Information about the econotnics of
establishing a regional system for recycling
food wastes as swine feed is available from
Dr.Donn A. Den,Department of Agricultural
Economics and Marketing, Rutgers-Cook
College, Po Box 231, New Brunswick, NJ
08903; (908)932-9161.
The Portland, Oregon, public schools are
switching from polystyrene to reusable dishes
and trays as money permits. (Renn Harris,
Supervisor,Environmental Services, Portland
Public Schools, 501 N. Dixon Street,Partland,
OR 97227; (503)249-2000, ext. 449.)
4. COMPOST LANDSCAPING
WASTES
Landscaping wastes constitute 20 percent of
the municipal solid waste stream and can be
used for compost. This, in turn, can be reused
as soil amendments for lawns, gardens and
*
Pursuant to regulations adopted under the
1976 Solid Waste Disposal Act as amended,
9
Kashmanian is available without charge from
Richard Kashmanian, Regulatory Innovations
Staff (PM-223), OPPE, EPA, Washington,
20460,(202)260-5363.
crop lands; as mulch; as a top dressing in
landscaping and as a cover for landfill^.'^
Lawn wastes being composted should not be
placed in plastic bags because these bags may
hinder the compost's absorption of fluids."
~
5. ELIMINATE
UNNECEsSARY PAPER USE
STRATEGY AND EXAMPLE
Unnecessary paper use can be reduced by
using each piece of paper more efficiently and
by replacing paper products with reusable
products. Easy and effective methods for
reducing paper use in offices include the
following:
*
Michigan has banned the incinerating or
landfilling of yard wastes from all government
facilities (federal, state, county, township and
municipal) as of March 27, 1993. Mulching
mowers and composting will be the only
permitted disposal methods for weeds, grass,
leaves, shrubs and branches. (Waste Management Division, Michigan Department of
Natural Resources, PO Box 30028, Lansing,
MI 48909; (5 17)373-2730.)
* send material electronically by voice mail
or E mail;
* post memos and notices of general interest
on bulletin boards or circulate a copy through
the office;
RESOURCES
* respond to inter-office communications on
*
Yard Waste Management -A Planning
Guidefor New York State is for local officials
interested in establishing a chipping and
composting facility and is available at no
charge from Sally Rowland, Division of Solid
Waste, New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation, 50 Wolf Road,
Room 230, Albany, NY 12233;
(5 18)457-2051.
the original document;
*
* use outdated stationery and documents for
* use dual-si&
copying and printing for all
documents;
* use narrow lined paper and notebooks;
* write notes, messages and internal memos
on the unused side of a piece of paper,
Local Government Composting Guide for
Iowa Communities, May 1991, is available at
no charge from Waste Management Authority
Division, Iowa Department of Natural
Resources, Wallace State Office Building, 900
E. Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50319;
(515)281-8941.
notes and drafts;
* reuse all types of folders by covering old
headings with labels;
* reuse envelopes for inter-office mail;
* reuse manila envelopes;
* fold all letters and documents and use the
*
Yard Waste Composting: A Study of 8
Programs,April 1989, Publication #EPA/530SW-89-038, by Alison C. Taylor and Richard
io
_
I
-
employees wherever the machine capability
exists. All EPA copying equipment purchased
or leased in the future will have this capability.= With only partial compliance, EPA has
reduced its paper consumption by 10 percent
in addition to spending less for postage and
file space.23 In July 1990, EPA extended this
requirement to contractors and vendors
producing proposals, progress reports, draft
reports and final reports for submission to
EPA.~
smallest envelope possible;
* eliminate the need for envelopes by taping
or stapling documents closed and placing the
address and postage on the back page of a
publication;
* reduceprinting o v e m s by calculating mare
precisely the number of copies needed,
* encourage employees to use reusable cups;
and
*
Dual-side printing is part of an overall
waste reduction executive order signed by the
Governor of Illinois. The Illinois state printer
routinely questions all agencies submitting
printing orders that do not require dual-side
printing; most then change to it. (Nicholas
Whitlow, Illinois Department of Central
Management Services, 425 S. 4th Street,
Springfield, IL 62701; (217)782-7343.)
* purchase reusable cups for visitors.
Paper production is a highly polluting process.
The paper industry is the country's third most
energy intensive industry,the largest industrial
consumer of fuel oil, the third largest consumer of electricity and coal and the sixth largest
consumer of natural gas.'* As a result, this
industry is a major producer of sulfur dioxide,
the chief acid rain pollutant, as well as carbon
dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas.19 The
paper industry is directly responsible for
releasing one million pounds of toxic emissions into the environment each day.2o Paper
production also uses enormous amounts of
water, causing significant water pollution.
* Dade County, Floridapassed an ordinance
in 1992 requiring dual-side copying of all
printing and copying done in county offices.
(Gary K. Fabrikant, Assistant Director,
Procurement Management Division, 111N W
1st Street, Suite 2350, Metro Dade Center,
Miami, FL 33 128; (305)375-5289.)
Furthermore, when placed in a modern, sealed
landfill, neither paper nor anything else
biodegrades for many decades, if at all?'
When burned in an incinerator, paper produces
air pollution and other environmental damage
because of the chemicals used to produce it
and the heavy metals and oils contained in the
inks, pigments and glues.
RESOURCES
*
Virginia Waste Minimization Program,
Virginia Department of Waste Management,
11th Floor, Monroe Building, 101 N. 14th
Street, Richmond, VA 23219; out of state, call
(804) 371-8716; in state, call (800)552-2075.
*
Richard Keller, Northeast Maryland Waste
Disposal Authority, 25 S. Charles Street, Suite
2105, Baltimore, MD 21201; (410)333-2730.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
In August 1989, EPA adopted the policy
of requiring dual-side copying by their
11
* shaving razors using disposable blades;
&~CHAsEREUSABLE,REMANUFACTuRED
AND REPAIRABLE PRODUCTS
* batteries for appliances;
* restrmm hand towels;
* industrial wipers and towels;
* filters for forced air furnaces and air con-
Another method for reducing solid waste is
buying products that are reusable, remanufactured and repairable. Over their life, using
such products conserves resources, avoids
environmental damage and reduces solid
waste. Buying reusable products also makes
economic sense, since it is less expensive in
the long run to buy durable, reusable products
than repeatedly buying disposable items.
Some reusable products, such as dishes, can
be used for many years while others, such as
air filters, may only be reused four or five
times. In both cases, the products reduce
waste and save money.
ditioners; and
*
filters for heavy-duty road building and
maintenance equipment.
There also are some products which have
traditionally been discarded after one usk, but
which can be reused. Municipal street signs
can be reused by stripping the original name
and inserting a new one; paper boxes can be
used as recycling and mailing containers;
furniture can be refinished, tires can be
retreaded and antifreeze and motor oil can be
processed and reused.
Commonly purchased disposable items that
should be replaced by reusable items include:
* cups;
* eating utensils and dishes;
* copier and printer cartridges;
* typewriter and printer ribbons;
* pens;
* baby diapers;
* staff laboratory and health care uniforms;
* patient gowns used in health care
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services implemented a plan to eliminate disposable and single-use products in
state government. A February 1, 1990 document provides details about this initiative.
(Bureau of Purchases, Connecticut Department
of Administration, 460 Silver Street, Middletown, CT 06457; (203)638-3267.)
*
Many Minnesota counties have eliminated
entirely their use of aerosol spray cans by
purchasing concentrates, mixing them, and
using them in reusable pump or spray bottles.
Some counties are reusing heavy equipment
air filters, reducing costs by 54 percent and
reducing the number of filters being discarded
by 75 percent. Procurement officials are
facilities;
* adult incontinence care products which can
be repeatedly washed and reused,
* bed underpads for incontinent individuals
which can be repeatedly washed and reused,
12
'
*
Minnesota and Washington have special
catalogues and procurement schedules for
environmentally responsible products available
on state contracts.
encouraged to request bids for used equipment
where feasible and to date have purchased
used typewriters, heavy equipment, furniture,
machinery, golf and tennis balls, telephone
systems, disk drives and pianos. In some cases
the state is requiring longer wmanties for the
equipment it purchases as a means of extending the useful life of its purchases. Two state
treatment centers for children are using cloth
diapers. (Kenneth Brown, Minnesota office
of Waste Management, 1350 Energy Lane, St.
Paul, MN 55108; (612)649-5750.)
RESOURCES
*
A Solid Waste andlaundering Assessment
of Selected Remable and Disposable Products,
November 1991, by Jocelyn Mullen and Carl
Lehrburger compared using disposable or
reusable commercial towels, industrial wipers
and towels, napkins, hospital gowns and adult
incontinent care products and found in all
typical use cases, cloth products generate less
solid waste than disposable products and the
waste they do generate, is less expensive to
dispose of. The report is available from
Textile Rental Services Association of
America, PO Box 1283, Hallandale, FL
33008; (305)457-7555.
*
The Minnesota Department of Administration is purchasing for the state transportation department remanufactured gasoline
engines for all types of trucks, remanufactured
diesel engines and transmissions for heavyduty trucks and remanufactured starters and
alternators for cars and trucks. All of these
items conform to the original equipment
manufacturer’s specifications and come with
two-year warranties for parts and labor. The
state saves about $2,000 per transmission and
about 30 percent per altemator and starter for
cars and trucks by using these remanufactured
products.
(Dale Meyer, Contracts and
Technical Services, Materials Management
Division, 112 Administration Building, 50
Sherburne Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55155;
(612)296-3773.)
*
Diapers: Environmental Impacts and
Lifecycle Analysis, November 1990, by Carl
Lehrburger compares the use of disposable
and reusable diapers. Reusable diapers are
the better choice because they use less energy
during their life cycle and generate less solid
waste, and the waste created by their use is
efficiently and economically treated in the
waste water system. Available for $35; $25
for nonprofits from the author at PO Box 998,
Great Barrington, MA 01230.
*
The Center for Policy Altematives (CPA)
reports that a growing number of hospitals are
recognizing the environmental and public
health benefits of cloth diapers and using
them. Twenty of 23 Seattle metro area
hospitals were using cloth diapers in 1991.
CPA’s Update on Diapers, Revised, September
I990 is available for $7. (Center For Policy
Altematives, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW,
Suite 710, Washington, DC 20009;
(202)387-6030.)
*
Institute of Industrial Launderers and the
Textile Rental Association of America, Suite
610, 1730 M Street NW, Washington, DC
20036; (202)296-6744.
13
7. DEVELOP
MARKETSFOR COLLECTED
them. Although EPA’s minimum content
standards for recycled paper products are
inadequate in terms of the recycled content
they require, they demonstrate the power such
standards have in determining what industry
will produce. Many recycled paper producers
advertise that their products meet EPA
minimum content specifications.
EPA
standards also exist for re-refined motor oil,
fly ash, retread tires and insulation. EPA
regulations were developed pursuant to
Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) which
requires federal agencies to develop a f f i a tive procurement programs for products with
recycled content.
MATERIALS AND bICREASE PROCUREMENT
OF RECYCLED PRODUCTS
Collecting materials for recycling is only
useful when there are buyers for products
using the collected materials - closing the
recycling loop. Many recycling programs are
faltering because the supply of collected
materials exceeds the demand for them.
There m several approaches to increasing
demand for products with recycled content.
One is to enact legislation, policies or executive orders favoring purchases of these
products. The federal government, all states
and over 120 municipalities have legislation,
executive aders or policies favoring products
with recycled content” Many of these
efforts provide for the payment of a 5-10
percent price preference for products with
recycled content. Whether the price preference is used depends upon market conditions,
which change frequently.
~
~
The recycled products market is rapidly
changing. New and improved products are
constantly being developed and agencies
should regularly monitor the market for new
products. Buying existing new products encourages manufacturers to develop other new
products using more recycled content.
Another means for increasing the purchase of
recycled products is establishing affmative
goals or set-asides for the purchase of a
specific percentage of products with recycled
content These programs require that a
specific percentage of an agency’s purchases
will be products with recycled content by a
given date. They also may require every few
years an increase in the percentage of
purchased products that have recycled content
and that each product have a larger percentage
of recycled content.
In an effort to increase local markets for their
collected materials, many public entities are
creating economic development programs to
promote manufacturing businesses which use
recycled materials. Government assistance
in these programs takes a variety of forms,
such as tax credits, low- interest or no-interest
loans and even outright grants to help these
businesses get started.
Creating jobs is another benefit of developing
local markets for collected materials. Compared to incineration and landfilling, recycling
is the least capital intensive method of
disposing of solid waste and creates the most
jobs per ton of waste discarded.% According
to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance,
recycling industries tend to be located in
cities, generally in economically depressed
Developing minimum recycled content
standards for purchases is an effective means
of creating demand for collected materials.
The standards are a minimum content floor
for these products; producers can exceed the
specified content, but are not able to go below
14
-
.
_
*
The Florida Governor’s Mice is developing a program whereby one contract will
cover the removal of collected materials from
a state agency to an in-state processing
facility. State residents will be employed
making products using the collected materials,
and the products will be purchased by state
agencies. (Executive Office of the Governor,
The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399;
areas with high unemployment. Thus, recy-
cling helps solve several societal problems.n
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
* San Jose, California, adopted a market
development strategy in 1989 to promote the
procurement of recycled products and the local
manufacturing of products using recycled
content. The city has developed numerous
materials in connection with this program,
including a listing of all local manufacturers
using recycled materials.
(Commercial
Recycling Program, Environmental Management Office, City of San Jose, 777 N. 1st
Street, Suite 450, San Jose, CA 95112;
(904)922-4627.)
*
Chicago, Illinois, receives more than
$lO,OOO per year in federal funds for renovating city buildings. Therefore, pursuant to
RCRA section 6002 and federal regulations
as well as city ordinances, Chicago only buys
building insulation products for roofs, floors,
ceilings and walls that contain recycled
content. Chicago is starting a pilot program
to recycle its roofing debris into a cold patch
product for pot holes and a hot mix asphalt
filler for road repairs which it will buy. The
company recycling these materials will create
150 new jobs and was assisted in locating in
Chicago by the city’s economic development
program. After one year, the project will be
bid competitively. (Charlene Wortman,
Department of Purchases and Contracts, City
Hall Room 403, 121 N. LaSalle Street,
Chicago, IL 60602;(312)744-4917.)
(408)277-5533.)
*
In an effort to stimulate the manufacturing
of products with recycled content, two Illinois
state agencies have special programs to attract
and keep businesses that use recycled materials in their production processes. The state
treasurer’s office deposits state funds in a
bank loaning money to such businesses, so
they may expand or locate in Illinois. The
state’s deposit is equal to or greater than the
amount of the loan. The business pays about
2.5-3percent more in interest than the state
receives for its deposit. (David Vaught or Michael Griffin, State Treasurer’s Office, Suite
15-600,100W. Randolph, Chicago, IL 60601;
* The Metropolitan Service District in
Oregon is renovating a building using such
recycled construction materials as paint,
ceiling tiles, bathroom tiles made from
recycled fluorescent light bulbs, remanufactured office furniture with electric components
that are guaranteed, cindercrete counter tops,
gypsum board and other materials. merit
Stevenson, Metropolitan Service District, 2OOO
SW 1st Avenue, Portland, OR 97201;
(312)814-17OO.)
The Illinois Department of Energy and Natural
Resources provides low-interest loans and
technical assistance to businesses using
recycled products to make new products.
(Tim W a n , Director, Recycling and Waste
Reduction, Department of Energy and Natural
Resources, 330 W. Adams, Room 300,
Springfield, IL 62704,(217)524-5454.)
(503)221-1646.)
15
* The federal General Services Administration (GSA)has a separate publication listing
all recycled products they offer. In GSA's
1992 federal supply service catalogue, environmentally nxponsible products are described
in green ink.
1
620, Seattle, WA 98104, (206)296-4210.)
*
San Jose, California, established in 1990
a comprehensive source reduction and recycling procurement policy. Its goal is to ensure
that products manufactured with recycled
materials can only be rejected for perfomance
reasons. The program mandates procurement
preferences by requiring buyers to specify
products which have at least 10 percent postconsumer and 50 percent recycled content,
minimize their packaging, and minimize the
volume and toxicity of their waste. Products
containing only virgin materials are no longer
purchased when recycled alternatives exist.
The program currently applies to products
bought directly by the city and will soon apply
to grantees and contractors procuring materials
and products for contractual services. (Office
of Environmental Management, 777 N. 1st
Street, Suite 450, San Jose, CA 951 12;
(408)277-5533.)
*
The Office of Recycling Market Development ( O W )in the New York State Department of Economic Development, offers
technical assistance, grants, loans, loan
guarantees and interest subsidies to companies
establishing or expanding the processing and
manufacturing capacity needed to use recyclables in New York. (Department of Economic
Development, ORMD, 1 Commerce Plaza,
Room 950, Albany, NY 12245;
(518)486-6291.)
*
Newark, New Jersey, in 1990 passed an
ordinance requiring the city to buy recycled
products, such as paper, plastic park benches,
lubricating oils, anti-free%, recapped tires and
other items, regardless of price. Newark
estimates it has saved, through 1991, about
$5 million in avoided disposal costs for landfills and realized a net savings of about
$33,000. (Frank Sudol, Newark Department
of Engineering, Room 410,820 Broad Street,
Newark, NJ 07102; (201)733-8520.)
*
New Jersey is purchasing 75 percent
recycled-content aluminum for license plates
at a much lower price than it was paying for
virgin aluminum. (A1 Karamali, New Jersey
Department Of Purchasing, 428 E. State
Street, 3rd Floor,Trenton, NJ 08625;
(609)292-4188.)
* King County, Oregon, in 1990 adopted a
nxycled product procurement policy. Among
the items being purchased are ceiling tiles;
carpet underlayment and insulation made with
recycled newspaper; cement concrete aggregate made with recycled concrete; cullet glass
aggregate; asphalt sealants and other asphalt
products made from recycled asphalt, tires and
glass; outdoor mats made with recycled tires;
and ceramic tiles made with recycled auto
windshields. (Eric Nelson, Recycled Product
Procurement Coordinator, King County
Purchasing Agency, 500 4th Avenue, Room
*
Columbus, Ohio, buys recycled aluminum
street signs and is reusing them, saving money
twice - when the sign is bought and when
it is reused. (Jack Yost, Columbus Division
of k h a s i n g , 50 W. Gay Street, Columbus,
OH 43215; (614)645-6542.)
*
The Southwest Public Recycling Association was created by a large group of cities,
counties and Indian tribes in six states Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico,
Texas, and Utah - to overcome recycling
barriers in their communities. They are using
16
RESOURCES
a cooperative approach to improve the
marketing of collected materials, stimulate
manufacturing that uses these materials and
increasethe buying of products with recycled
content. Funding f6r this cooperative effort
was obtained from EPA Regions 8 and 9 and
other sources. These states face several
uniqw obstacles to using recycled materials,
such as vast distances between cities, abundant
l d i l l space and a lack of nearby seaports
from which to export collected materials.
(Gary Olson, Executive Director, Southwest
Public Recycling Association, Po Box 27210,
Tucson, AZ 85726; (602)791-4069.)
*
EPA Regional Recycled Products Procurement Conferences and Vendor Shows
occur periodically in each EPA region.
EPA’s Solid Waste Management Division in
each region can provide future conference
details. Appendix A lists EPA regional
offices.
*
Information about EPA guidelines for
mycled products and sellers of those products
is available without charge from EPA
Recycled products Information Clearinghouse,
5520 Hempstead Way, Suite C, Springfield,
VA 22151;(703)941-4452.
*
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources
and EPA Region 7 axe funding an Iowa State
UNversity project that provides current market
information to recyclers and users of recycled
materials in the Upper Midwest region Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas -in
an effort to bring together suppliers and users
of collected materials. Called MARTIN, the
data base is available without charge to
anyone with a personal computer, modem and
communications software. (John Even or
Keith Adams, 205 Engineering Annex, Iowa
State University, Ames, IO 50011; (515)2941682. Access Martin through a computer
modem by calling (800)437-8932,
M-F 8:30noon.)
*
Information about the status of recycled
product procurement throughout the country,
and specific policies favoring such purchases,
is available at no charge from Richard Keller,
Recycling Project Manager, Northeast
Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, 25 S.
Charles Street, Suite 2105, Baltimore, MD
21201; (410)333-2730.
*
Model municipal procurement legislation
is available from NJ Public Interest Research
Group, 11 N. Willow Street, Trenton, NJ
08608; (609)394-8155.
*
Local Governments Use Recycling For
Economic Growth and Jobs: A Strategy
Manual Forbcal Governments, 1992edition,
costs $25 for the resource book; $4.75 for the
policymakers’ summary; and $27.50 for both
from the LocalGovernment Commission, 909
12th Street, Suite 205,Sacramento, CA 95814;
*
EPA Region 4 is funding the Southeast
Recycling Market Council and a data bank to
bring together buyers and sellers of recycled
materials in Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Tennessee. (EnviroSouth, Inc.,
PO Box 11468, Montgomery, AL 36111;
(916)448-1198.
*
Paper Matcher, A Directory of Paper
Recycling Resources is available at no charge
from American Paper Institute, 260 Madison
(205)277-7050.)
17
Avenue, New York,NY 10016;
(212)340-0600.
waste does little to reduce the solid waste
.”S
*
American Recycling Markets lists buyers
for collected materials and is available for a
fee h m P.O. Box 577, Ogdensburg, NY
13669; (800)267-0707.
The benefits of purchasing recycled paper with
postconsumer content go beyond reducing the
need for landfill space or incinerators. Up to
74 percent less energy is needed to produce
recycled paper than is needed to make virgin
paper.= Recycled paper production uses 58
percent less water than virgin paper production, and produces 74 percent less air pollution
and 35 percent less water pollution.2g
*
Recycled Products Buyer list environmentally responsible products available on state
contracts and is available at no charge from
the Missouri Division of Purchasing and
Materials Management, 301 W.High Street,
Room 580, Jefferson City, MI 65102;
(314)75 1-2387.
The 1988 EPA minimum content standards
for recycled paper products cover all paper
products except printing, writing and copying
papers. In 1989, a 50 percent waste paper
content was added for these papers. But this
requirement does little, if anything, to reduce
solid waste because it does not require the use
of post-consumer content.
*
Business and Government Guide to Recycled Products is a monthly publication costing
$24.95 per year from Califomians Against
Waste, 909 12th Street, Suite 201, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916)443-8317.
*
Recycled Products Guide lists vendors and
manufacturers of recycled products and is
issued biannual with monthly updates. It is
available for a fee from Po Box 577, Ogdensburg, NY 13669; (800)267-0707.
However, these recommended content
standards are not binding on any govemment
agency. Some currently available products
exceed these recommendations. Readily
available are printing, writing and copying
papers with post-consumer content of between
10 and 50 percent and a total recycled content
of 100percent.
8. PURCHASE
RECYCLED
PAPERPRODUCTS
WITHPOST-CONSUMER
CONTENT
Recycled newsprint with post-consumer
content is readily available with a recycled
content ranging from 20 percent to almost 100
percent. Many government agencies use
recycled newsprint having at least a 40percent
recycled content because this is the minimum
content specified by the 1988EPA regulations.
Newsprint is an excellent choice for largevolume publications and documents being
used for less than two years, such as directories and catalogues, course listings and
registration materials, tax information booklets, training materials and job listings and
Post-consumer waste is the waste discarded
by a final consumer in offices, schools and
homes. By q u i r i n g the purchase of recycled
paper with high levels of post-consumer waste,
govemment creates demand for the postconsumer paper collected in office and
community recycling programs. Pre-consumer
waste is generated during the paper making
and printing process from overruns, bad runs
and scraps. It has always been recycled and
rarely goes to a disposal facility. Thus, using
recycled products made with pre-consumer
18
,
South Dakota Purchasing and Printing
Division, 523 E. Capital Avenue, Pierre, SD
57501; (605)773-3405.)
newsletters. Newsprint is usually significantly
less costly than other printing and copying
papers-
*
Dakota County, Minnesota, bought two
truckloads of recycled copying paper with
postconsumer content, obtaining a lower price
than their previous purchases and the state
contract’s price. The senior buyer monitored
the paper commodities and successfully
predicted when prices would be lowest, saving
$6,592. (Chuck Weisbrich, Senior Buyer,
Dakota County Government Center, 1560
Highway 55, Hastings, MN 55033;
(6 12)438-8302.)
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
In the early 1 9 8 0 ’ ~California
~
and Maryland were among the first states to implement
recycled paper procurement programs that
included postconsumer content requirements.
Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky,
Missouri, Minnesota,Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
Wisconsin and Texas now have such programs. (WilliamCullen, Director, Printing and
Publications, Maryland Department of General
Services, Room M8,301 W. Preston Street,
Baltimom, MD 21210; (410)225-4430; Daniel
Wehrman, Wisconsin Bureau of Procurement,
PO Box 7867, Madison, WI 53707;
*
The U.S. Government Printing M i c e
started printing the Federal Register and
CongressionalRecord on 100 percent nxycled
newsprint in 1992. (Public Relations Office,
Government Printing Office, 732 N. Capitol
Street, NW, Room C-804, Washington, DC
20401; (202)5 12- 1991.)
(608)267-6922.)
*
Illinois law requires a specified increase
every few years between 1989 and 2000 in
the quantity of paper products purchased with
recycled content and in the amount of postconsumer recycled content in the products.
(Nicholas Whitlow, Illinois Department of
Central Management Services, 425 S. 4th
S w t , Springfield, IL 62701; (217)782-4561.)
*
RESOURCES
*
The Guide to Recycled Paper, 1992 Update
is $2.52 from Californians Against Waste
Foundation, 926 J Street, Suite 606, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916)443-5422.
South Dakota law requires state agencies
*
Standards and Definitions for Recycled
Paper Products is $3 from Environmental
Action, 6930 Carroll Ave, Suite 600,Takoma
Park, MD 20912; (301)891-1100.
to use recycled paper with post-consumer
content if the cost is substantially equal to
virgin paper, and to be using recycled paper
for 50 percent of their printing by 1995. For
all contracted printing work, the state’s paper
*
The Greenpeace Guide to Paper is $3 from
Greenpeace, 1436 U Street, NW, Washington
DC 20009; (202)462-1177.
purchasing specialist routinely requests two
bids: one for virgin paper and one for recycled
paper, and then discusses it with the department ordering the work. When recycled paper
costs less than or as much as virgin paper,
most agencies order the recycled paper.
(William Gingrich, Purchasing Specialist,
*
The Recycled Products Guide is issued
biannually with monthly updates and is
19
buyers, and administrative costs were reduced
because one member managed the competitive
bidding p m e d m for the entire purchase.
The total actual savings to coop members for
all products were $101,126. (Association of
School Business officials, Po Box 419, St.
Michaels, MD 21663.)
available far a fee from PO Box 577, Ogdensburg, NY 13669; (800)267-0707.
*
Recycled Grade Finder is a quarterly
publication costing $80 per year from Jaakko
Poyry Consulting, 560 White Plains Road,
Tarrytown, NY 10591; (914)332-4000.
*
Recycled Porper News is published 10 times
per year and costs $195 from CERMA, 5520
Hempstead Way, Suite Cy Springfield, VA
22151; (703)750-1158.
9. FORM PROCUREMENT COOPERATIVES
TO OBTAIN BETTER PRICES A N D GREENER
PRODUCTS
~
~~
* New Jersey, Vermont and Maine in 1992
jointly purchased glass beads with 95 percent
recycled content for reflective highway
stripping. The contract price was almost 50
percent less than any of these states paid
individually for the same product. Delivery
was made to each state. (A1 Karamali, New
Jersey Division of Purchasing, 428 E. State
Street, Trenton, NJ 08625; (609)292-4188.)
* Seventeen westem states have joined
together to purchase recycled printing, writing
and copying paper with postconsumer content
and other products. They intend to buy papers
with 15 and 25 percent postconsumer content,
using their vast purchasing power to move the
paper industry beyond its usual 10 percent
post-consumer content for these products.
(Kay Hawley, Office of State Procurement,
PO Box 41017, Olympia WA 98504;
(206)753-0540.)
Many government entities have found that
buying together results in lower prices. In
some cases, much of the savings comes from
reduced transportation costs when both small
and large entities located near each other buy
cooperatively. In some cases, the prices
obtained are even lower than what they would
pay using a state’s master contract. Buying
cooperatives also can provide the market
incentives needed to convince vendors to
@um a new product for which they previously thought there was insufficient demand.
*
Minnesota and Wisconshjointly purchased
recycled paper in 1991, obtaining a lower
price than either was quoted individually.
With the assistance of the Council of Great
Lakes Governors in Chicago, they have
included Illinois, Indiana, South Dakota,
Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York
in their coop. In spring 1992 they issued a
bid for recycled paper with 10 percent postconsumer content. They next expect to
purchase re-refined motor oil. (Russell
Rasmussen, Wisconsin Department of
Administration, Bureau of Procurement, PO
Box 7867, Madison, WI 53707; (608)267-
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
The Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium formed a regional purchasing coop composed of boards of education
and county and municipal governments. The
first joint purchase effort included 13 items.
The coop’s price for recycled printing and
writing papers with post-consumer content was
less than the prices members had been quoted
individually for virgin paper. In addition, all
members saved money, not only the largesi
20
-
-
0431; Council of Great Lakes Governors,
Suite 1850,35 E.Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL
160601; (312)407-0177.)
savings in energy, an 86 percent reduction in
air pollution and a 40 percent reduction in
water ~ s e . 3 ~
RESOURCE
Issues relating to the recycling of motor
vehicles include:
*
* Cadmium is used to coat bolts or as a
coloring medium. Cadmium is a toxic heavy
metal which causes hypertension, kidney
dysfunction and anemia. Stainless steel bolts
work just as well.
The regional governors’ associations for
each section of the country have information
and sometimes sponsor projects which states
can join. The regional associations are listed
in Appendix B.
* Unused air bags must be removed before
the vehicle is recycled.
IO. PURCHASEPRODUCTS DESIGNED,MANUFACTURED AND PACKAGED TO USE WASTE
* An increasing number of car parts are made
from many different plastic resins, making
recycling difficult and e~pensive.3~
REZIUCTION OPTIONS
when most products are designed, insufficient
thought is given to applying waste reduction
techniques to an item’s design, manufacture
and packaging. Government procurement can
stimulate reductions in packaging and the use
of more reusable and recyclable contents in
packages and products.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
Olmstead County, Minnesota, in its
procurement specifications for a contract to
lease copiers, requkd manufacturers and
vendors to use waste reduction techniques in
the manufacturing, servicing and shipping of
the machines and their parts. The specifications required the vendor to dispose of the
packaging materials, to provide information
on how the manufacturer will recycle, reuse
or remanufacture any copier parts and to
provide information about the percentage of
recycled materials used to make the machines.
When the bids were evaluated, the county
gave credit to those companies employing
waste reduction techniques. The leasing
contract was not awarded to the lowest bidder.
(Jack Stansfield, Olmstead County Public
Works Department, 2122 Campus Drive SE,
Rochester, MN 55904, (507)285-823 1.)
For instance, the Department of Defense is
the nation’s single largest purchaser of
refrigerators.” In 1990,1991, and 1992 over
4,500,000 refiigerators per year will be disc d e d and forever litter the country.3l The
Defense Department could use its purchasing
power to push industry to design refiigerators
that are more recyclable and are made with
recycled content.
Each year the federal government buys about
1 percent of the output of domestic auto
manufacturers. Procurement contracts requiring that vehicles be recycled by their
manufacturer would increase such recycling.
Recycling steel, instead of using virgin ore,
reduces solid waste and results in a 74 percent
*
21
Dade County, Florida, passed an ordinance
*
American companies producing cars in
Germany are complying with the German
government's request and making cars with
more recyclable parts. Advertising in The
WashingtonPost, General Motors boasts about
its activities in Germany.% A large government order in this country for autos that requires the manufacturer to recycle the cars at
the end of their useful life would help speed
the introduction of this practice. Such a
change o c c d in 1984 when the federal
government's order for 5,300 cars with air
bags prompted the auto m a n u f a c t " to make
air bags available on an increasing number of
models each year.
requiring all vendors selling to the county to
reduce their use of packaging and to use
recycled and recyclable packaging wherever
possible. Vendors are shipping furniture
wrapped only in blankets, finding it conserves
space. Damage to furniture is reduced
because previously much of it occurred when
items were being removed from boxes. (Gary
K. Fabrikant, Assistant Director, Procurement
Management Division, 1 11 NW 1st Street,
Suite 2350, Metro Dade Center, Miami, FL
33 128; (305)375-5289.)
*
The Council of Great Lakes Governors is
developing uniform standards and guidelines
for packaging design which will be part of a
market-driven effort to reduce packaging.
(Tim McNulty, Director, Council of Great
Lakes Governors, Suite 1850, 35 E. Wacker
Drive, Chicago, IL 60601; (312)407-0177.)
*
Germany recently enacted legislation
requiring manufacturers to be responsible for
disposing of the packaging in which their
products are delivered to consumers. This has
stimulated interest in using more recycled and
recyclable packaging materials. This law is
discussed in "A Nation's Recycling Law Puts
Businesses on the Spot," The New York Times,
July 12,1992, p. F5. (Embassy of the Federal
Republic of Germany, see above.)
*
In 1991, the German Ministry of the
EnviroMlent i n f m e d car manufacturers in
Germany that they should start recycling their
used cars and producing new cars that are
easily recyclable. The Ministry indicated if
industry did not comply voluntarily with this
request an appropriate law would be enacted.
As a result, the number of plastic resins used
in vehicles manufactured in Germany,
including those made by U.S. companies, has
been reduced from 62 to five, and parts made
from these resins are being redesigned to permit their easy removal from cars being
recycled. Effective with their 1992 models,
V W and BMW have changed the design to
facilitate recycling and are committed to
recycling cars purchased by the government.
This initiative is discussed in "Green Machines," ScientificAmerica, January 1992, pp.
140-141. (Embassy of the Federal Republic
of Germany, 4645 Reservoir Road, NW,
Washington, DC 20007; (202)298-4000.)
RESOURCES
*
Green Products by Design: Choicesfor a
Cleaner Environment, October 1992, publication # OTA-E-541 is available for $6.50
from the Office of Technology Assessment,
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington,
DC 20003; (202)224-8996 or from Government Printing Office Book Stores as publication # 052-003-01303-7.
*
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries,
1325 G Street, NW,Suite 1000, Washington,
DC 20005; (202)466-4050.
22
11. RFQUIRE CONTRACT PRINTERS WORKING FOR GOVERNMENT TO USE WASTE
Springfield, IL 62701; (217)782-4561.)
REDUCTION OPTIONS
Ohio is rebidding in 1992 its tweyear term
printing contracts. These contracts are being
A large percentage of printing at every level
changed to permit without any price increase
or time delay the use of recycled paper and
soy-based inks when requested. (Robert F.
Schleppi, State Printing Administrator,
Department of Administrative Services, 183
E. Mound Street, Columbus, OH 43215;
(614)644-6355.)
*
ofgovemment is contracted to private printers.
Far examples, the Government Printing Office
(GPO)arranges the contracts for the federal
government. In fiscal year 1991, the total
dollar value of GPO procured printing was
$623 million of a total printing bill of $790.9
million.”
RESOURCE
Frequently contract printers are not required
to follow the same requirements as government printers for using recycled paper with
postconsumer content, using dual-side
printing and using vegetable-based inks. All
printing done for any government entity,
regardlessof where it is printed, should follow
uniform requirements for being environmentally responsible.
*
A Printer’s Guide to Using Recycled Paper
is $25 from CERMA, 5520 Hempstead Way,
Sprinsfield VA 22 151; (703)941-4452.
12. REQUIRE GOVERNMENTAGENCIES,
AUTHORITIES,CONSULTANTS,
CONTRACTORS AND GRANTEESTO USE WASTE REDUCTION OPTIONS
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
RCRA Section 6002 requires any agency
spending at least $lO,OOO in federal funds on
an item, such as paper, to develop an affiimative procurement program for purchasing
products with the highest percentage of
recovered materials practicable. However,
there has been only minimal enforcement of
this requirement. Most federal agencies report
they have relied on the agencies from whom
they buy their supplies, such as the GPO and
GSA, to achieve their compliance with RCRA.
* Missouri law requires all contract printers
warking for state govemment to use soy-based
ink and recycled paper complying with the
EPA minimum content guidelines. (Tom
Teny, Missouri Division of &chasing, 301
W.High Street, Room 580, Jefferson City,
MO 65102; (314)751-3270.)
*
Illinois law requires all contract printers
woaking far state govemment to use soy-based
ink and to adhere to the state’s goals for using
recycled paper with post-consumer content.
Although not required by law to use dual-side
copying, the state director of printing questions all agencies not requiring it in their job
arder and urges them to do so. (Nicholas K.
Whitlow, Illinois Department of Central
Management Services, 425 S. 4th Street,
Many institutions and agencies receive
millions in federal funds each year, but claim
they are not required by RCRA to give a
purchasing preference to products containing
recovered materials. For example, in fiscal
year 1991, AMTRAK received $900 million
in federal funding, but it says it is not required
23
~~.REQ~~~ELAwYER~ANDAPPLICANTSTO
to comply with EPA’s recycled products
regulations.” Also, the Smithsonian Institution, the administrator of numerous federal
museums and culturalprograms, received $311
million in federal funding in fiscal year 199 1,
but claims it is not required to comply with
EPA’s recycled products regulations?’
COURTS, BOARDS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO USE WASTE
REDUCTION
PRINTING
OPTIONS
~
About 20 million legal cases were filed in
state courts in 1990, and many of them
include lengthy documents printed only on one
side?9
Similarly, zoning applications,
environmental permit applications and all the
other applications made to the countless
government boards and agencies throughout
the country use massive amounts of paper.
Traditionally these documents are printed only
on one side. These filings should be required
to be on recycled paper with post- consumer
content using dual-side copying.
Each year billions of dollars in taxpayers’
money is spent by all levels of government
on contractors and consultants who operate
parks and jails, maintain facilities, operate
research laboratories, provide financial and
legal services and advise decision-makers.
Government also provides numerous grants
to hospitals, universities, housing authorities
and law enforcement units. These recipients
of federal funds are not reviewed regularly to
determine whether they are adhering to
RCRA’s requirements.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
* Business and Professional People for the
Public Intemt petitioned the Illinois Supreme
Court to encourage all attorneys to submit
court filings printed on recycled paper. The
Court issued such a ruling effective July 1,
1991. The same group successfully petitioned
the Illinois Pollution Control Board to require
all documents filed with the Board to be
printed on recycled paper effective January
1, 1992. (Illinois Business and Professional
People For The Public Interest, 17 E. Monroe,
Suite 212, Chicago, IL 60603; (312)641-5570.)
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
San Jose, California, requires all recipients
of its grants to adhe= to the minimum
recycled content procurement standards
established by its Department of General
Services and Office of Environmental
Management, and to report their purchases
periodically on a form provided by the city.
(Officeof Environmental Management, 777
N. 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95112;
(408)277-5533.)
*
-
*
Effective January 1,1994,all filings in the
Florida courts must be printed on recycled
paper. During 1993, the transition period,
compliance is voluntary. The Florida courts
are still considering requiring all fiiings to use
dual-side printing. (Anthony Musto, Esq.,
9999 Ponce De Leon, Suite 5 10, Coral Gables,
FL 33134; (305)285-3880.)
In January 1990, EPA Administrator
William K. Reilly quested the agency’s procurement and contracts management division
to q u i r e all new contracts to require that
contractors use recycled paper for all reports
delivered to the Agency?’
-
.~
*
24
Lawyers in Ohio and California have
RESOURCES
petitioned their state courts to require that all
court filings be on recycled paper containing
10 percent postconsumer content and use
dud-side copying. (Christopher Knopf, Esq.,
2653 N. Morland Boulevard, Suite 6, Cleveland, OH 44120; Deborah S. Reames, Esq.,
Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, 180 Montgomery Street, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA
94104, (419627-6700.)
*
Businesses For Social Responsibility, 1850
M Street, N W ,Suite 750, Washington, DC
20036; (202)872-5206.
* "What A Waste. Can the Industry Do More
to Help the Environment?" Successful
Meetings, August 1991, pp. 40-47; published
by Bill Communications, 633 3rd Avenue,
New York, NY 10017; (212)986-4800.
14. SPONSOR ENVIRONMENTALLY
RESPONSIBLE CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
* An environmentally responsible meeting
facility is Essex Conference Center, PO Box
949, Essex, MA 01929; (508)768-7374.
Government agencies sponsor many conferences, hearings and conventions at hotels,
conference centers and other facilities throughout the country. These events generate
solid waste. such as disposable plastic name
badges, documents printed on virgin paper
using only one si& of the page and disposable
food containers.
Conference planners may use waste reduction
techniques and request all participants do the
same. All materials may be dual-side printed
on recycled paper with post-consumer content
using vegeable-based inks. Plastic name
badges may be collected and reused at a later
conference. Refuse may be sorted as it is
discarded by guests and energy may be used
efficiently.
When contracting with a hotel or other
facility, an agency should specify the reduce,
reuse, recycle and other environmentally
responsible procedures the facility should
follow. If a facility manager will not agree
to these requirements, conference planners
should select another location.
25
f
.
26
-
SECTION II: ENERGY EFFICIENCY
and less pollution, and we are not less
comfortable as a result. Between 1973 and
1988, the U.S.economy grew by 40 percent
while total energy consumption remained
nearly constant, disproving the myth that the
economy depends on ever-increasing energy
consumption.8 Furthermare,while conventional energy systems are very capital-intensive,
they create few jobs. The New York State
Energy office found that energy-efficiency
measures could provide 23-3 1jobs per million
dollar expenditure, while a range of fossil fuel
options was estimated to provide 2.7-16.5 jobs
per million dollars?
Economists axe learning what environmentalists have long known: today's price of energy
does not reflect its enormous environmental
and societal costs. For example, according
to the American Solar Energy Society, the
crop losses associated with the pollution from
combustion of fossil fuels amount to between
$3 and $8 billion a year.' Air pollution
resulting from fossil fuel combustion contributes to human health problems and deaths.
Oil spills poison our water, damage fisheries
and contaminate beaches. Peacetime costs for
keeping military forces prepared to enter a
Persian Gulf war, associated with our dependence on imported oil, is estimated to be
about $50 billion per year?
We have just begun to tap the potential for
energy efficiency. The Rocky Mountain
Institute maintains that using energy-efficient
technologies to cut carbon dioxide emissions
- a product of fossil fuel combustion -by
20 percent would save about $200 billion a
year, even if externalities were not factored
into the price of energy." These savings can
be achieved using many currently available
technologies, such as improved lighting
systems, fuel-efficient motor vehicles and
better windows.
Large government subsidies in the form of tax
benefits and loans to the fossil fuels and
nuclear industries -totaling over $38 billion
in 1M4 -tip the scales against better alternatives? As a result, the United States has
focused on supplying energy rather than using
it efficiently and cleanly. Compared to Japan
and the former West Germany, the United
States uses twice as much energy to produce
a unit of Gross National Product (GNP), a
disparity which provides a 5 percent cost
advantage for Japanese and West German
products? And oil imports accounted for
almost $44 billion in 199d - the largest
component of the U.S. trade deficit!
Many of these technologies have barely
penetrated the marketi>lace. A 1991American
Consulting Engineers Council survey of
commercial buildings in the Washington, DC
metropolitan area found use of efficiency
measures such as motion detectors, tripleglazed windows and high-efficiency appliances
in less than 10 percent of surveyed buildings.
One way to stop this waste is to learn to use
less energy. Despite President Reagan's
contention that conservation means being cold
in the winter and hot in the summer, energy
efficiency in the 1980s saved seven times
more energy than was produced by all newly
installed energy resources.' The results have
beem lower utility bills, reduced oil imports
Government leadership in using proven
energy-efficient technologies and newer,
emerging technologies would save tax dollars
and aid the environment, as well as help make
27
energy.16 In Oregon, schools spend more
per student on energy than they do on books,
materials and instructional supplies combined." Yet 44 percent of the nation's
school districts do not have an energy
management program or are just starting one,
and 34.6 percent have not conducted energy
audits of any of their buildings.'* According
to the NIGP survey, only 35 percent of
purchasers in public school systems receive
any assistance in purchasing energy-efficient
products."
these products available to consumers at lower
prices. The federal government is the largest
energy consumer in the country. According
to a 1991 Mice of Technology Assessment
(OTA) study, federal expenditures for energy
amounted to $8.7 billion in Fiscal Year 1989,
40 percent of which went to lighting, cooling
and otherwise powering its over 500,000
buildings." According to OTA, cost-effective efficiency measures would save 24
percent of this energy12.
Government procurement of innovative
technologies should be a vital complement to
Department of Energy research and development efforts. For example, office equipment
(computers, printers, copiers and faxes) is the
fastest-growing energy load in commercial
buildings, yet manufacturers have given little
attention to improving its energy efficiency.
As the country's largest customer for this
equipment, the federal government can push
equipment manufacturers to treat energy
efficiency as a primary attribute of office
equipment, along with capabilities, features,
speed and cost. According E Source, developments in technology and management
techniques can potentially reduce total electric
use by office equipment by up to 70 percent
in the short term and 90 percent in the long
term.'3 Governments should encourage these
developments by incorporating energy
consumption into their office equipment
criterion and requiring efficient components
in their procurement specifications.
~
~
Another area ripe for improved energy
efficiency is federally-assisted housing, which
constitutes more than one-third of all lowincome housing in the United States.2o The
Department of Housing and Urban Development (€IUD) spends $2-3 billion annually
subsidizing energy bills for these households?' A 1982 HUD report stated that a
complete public housing energy efficiency
program would reduce energy operating costs
30-60 percent, with an average investment of
$800-2,500 per unit in 1980 dollars. The
program's measures would have an average
payback period of six years, providing a 15
percent annual return on investment." A
1988 HUD study of energy efficiency
opportunities estimated a potential for over
30 percent savings with an average capital
payback period of 4.5
Along with energy efficiency, solar energy is
a key component for a self-reliant, sustainable
society. Solar energy does not produce
greenhouse gases and pollutants that produce
acid rain, and does not use imported fuels.
Advocates of solar energy have long recognized that the government could play a major
role in expanding markets for it. According
to environmentalist Dr.Barry Commoner, a
$500 million government order of solar
photovoltaic panels in the 1970s would have
The nation's local governments consume about
2 percent of the nation's energy,14 yet a 1991
survey by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) found that only 19
percent of the responding municipal purchasing officials receive any assistance in purchasing energy-efficient products." In 1991, the
nation's public schools spent $7.4 billion on
28
-
- __
and property damages each year. These costs
should be considered when making fuel and
efficiency investment choices. As F. Paul
Bland stated, "A decision not to consider
external costs in itself quantifies them by
setting their value at zero."25 Dr. Arthur
Rosenfeld of the Lawrence Berkeley Labratory has suggested an interim 10 percent price
preference in federal investment decisions for
energy-efficient options, to reflect external
costs, until DOE and the Environmental
protection Agency determine the dollar value
of environmental externalities.%
made solar energy competitive with conventional fuels by s@ng
up the "learning
curve" through experience gained during the
manufacturing pmcess.% Despite limited research and development funding in the 1980s,
solar energy costs have decreased significantly. Cost-effective electric applications
have proliferated, particularly in sites distant
from the electrical grid, such as in parks and
along roads and highways. Cost-effective
heating applications, particularly for heating
water, have proliferated as well.
In the following chapters, we will discuss
numerous options and opportunities available
to public institutions to be leaders in using
energy efficiently.
When calculating energy use, energy consumed as electricity should be measured at the
source of generation, not the site of use.
While electricity is an extremely practical
form of energy, its generation is highly
wasteful.n When primary fuel, or source
energy, is burned to generate electricity, only
one third of the energy actually arrives at the
site for use.= As a result, measuring energy
consumption at the site of consumption does
not accurately measure, but in fact underestimates, actual energy use.29 This leads to
favoring investments in electricity based on
misleading statistic^.^
15. ELIMINATE
FISCALPRACTICES
WHICH
INVESTMENTS IN ENERGY
DISCOURAGE
AND RENEWABLEENERGY
EFFICIENCY
Lifecycle cost analysis, which compares all
costs incurred over the life of an investment,
including energy consumption, should be
performedwhen making purchasing decisions.
Life-cycle cost analysis encourages the
acquisition of energy-efficient products that
may cost more initially, but save money over
time because of reduced energy costs. For
example, while the initial cost of a dieselpowered generator may be low, maintenance
and fuel costs account for a significantportion
of its life-cycle costs. Solar photovoltaic
systems, on the other hand, require little
maintenance and no fuel.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
The 1991 Biannual Update of the New
York State Energy Plan issued by the New
York State Energy Office recommended that
state facilities provide a 10 percent price
preference in their cost analysis for renewable
energy projects to reflect environmental
benefits and reduced fuel price cost risk.
(New York State Energy Office, 2 Rockefeller
Plaza, Albany, NY 12224; (518)473-4375.)
Current methods of analysis also do not
consider the societal and environmental
damages associated with the use of conventional energy sources. For example, acid rain
is primarily produced by coal-fired electric
plants and causes billions of dollars in crop
29
*
The 1991 New Mexico Energy Policy has
proposed that a life-cycle cost analysis fee be
included along with the architectlengineerfee
for all new state building projects. (New
Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, 2040 S. Pacheco Street, Santa
FeyNM 87503; (505)827-5900.)
RESOURCES
*
*
*
Life-Cycle Costing Manual is available
from the Federal Energy Management Program, CE-44, U.S. Department of Energy,
lo00 IndependenceAvenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20784; (202)586-5772.
A "Fact Sheet on Life Cycle Cost in
Design Program" is available from the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, Construction
Engineering Research Laboratory, Po Box
9005, Champaign, IL 61826; (217)352-6511.
All air conditioning units purchased by the
New York State Office of General Services
in 1991 exceeded the state minimum standard,
some by as much as 44 percent, because of
the inclusion of energy costs in specifications
and bid evaluations. (Roger Milliman, Energy
Conservation Coordinator, Facilities Operations Group, Room 3912, Coming Tower,
Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242;
(5 18)486-5247.)
*
*
Life-Cycle Costing: A Guidefor Selecting
Energy Conservation Measures for Public
Buildings, order number PB288235, costs
$19.50 from National Technical Information
Service, Springfield, V.A 22161;
(800)553-6847.
*
* Formulating Municipal Strategies to
Reduce the Emission of Greenhouse Gases is
available for $30 from The Urban C02
Project, International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives, City Hall, East
Tower, 100 Queen Street, W, 8th Floor,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2N2;
(416)392-1467.
Denver, Colorado, is developing a Green
Fleets Program, with a pricing methodology
which includes a preference for fuel-efficient
vehicles to account for the "external" benefits
of fuel efficiency. (Steve Andrews, Department of Health and Hospitals, Environmental
Health Service, 605 Bannock Street, Denver,
CO 80204; (303)436-7325.)
Utilities are tapping the buying power of
their customers to promote energy efficiency.
For example, the Appliance Efficiency Group
(AEG) was formed by more than 25 utilities,
state energy offices and other groups to
encourage the manufacture of efficient
appliances. For their first project, AEG
member utilities will provide incentives for
consumers who purchase water heaters that
exceed federal efficiency standards. (Elizabeth
Chapman Klumpp, Washington Energy Office,
PO Box 43165, Olympia, WA 98504;
(206)956-2071.)
*
Environmental Costs of Electricity is an
exhaustive, 750-page study by the Pace
University Center for Environmental Legal
Studies of the environmental costs of electricity, as well as methods to assign monetary
costs to these factors. Copies are $37 from
the American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy, 2140 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 202,
Berkeley, CA 94704; (5 10)549-9914.
30
~
can reduce building energy use up to 40
percent?'
16. MONITORENERGY
CONSUMPTION AND
IDENTIFY ENERGY-SAVING
OPP0R"ITIES
Energy management is a rapidly changing
field in terms of technological developments
and financing options. Improved technologies
are introduced so fast that, says one expert,
"you need a loose-leaf mind to keep up with
them.1131 A successful energy management
program must maintain awareness of new
products and technologies, be open-minded
about trying them and rapidly integrate
successful products into an agency's operations.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
In San Jose, California, the Office of
Environmental Management performs an
energy audit on each of the city's 400 municipal facilities every two years. The audit
includes checking all energy-using equipment
in the building and the building's structure and
insulation. Based on this evaluation, the staff
devises a capital improvement plan. The staff
can recommend retrofitting the building with
any of 22 technologies. Technologies with
the shortest payback period receive the highest
priority. (Nayeem Sheik, Office of Environmental Management, 777 N. 1st Street, Suite
450, San Jose, CA 95112; (408)277-5533.)
A successful energy management program also
relies on the availability and accuracy of
energy data. An effective energy accounting
system can (1) save money by identifying
wasteful operating practices, (2) target
opportunities for energy efficiency, (3)
identify energy efficiency measures which
produce the greatest savings, (4) foster accurate budgeting, ( 5 ) verify and compare utility
bills and accounts, (6) identify savings which
can be used for other services or equipment,
(7) identify patterns of energy use and (8)
expedite and decrease the cost of energy audits."
*
A 1990 New York State Executive Order
requires that each state agency that operates
state-owned buildings submit to the Division
of Budget an annual plan outlining its program
for identifying and implementing energyefficiency projects with simple payback
periods of five years or less. These plans are
then reviewed by the New York State Energy
Office. (Dick Becker, New York State Energy
OfEce,Division of Services, Development and
Reporting, Evaluation Bureau, 2 Rockefeller
Plaza, Albany, NY 12223; (5 18)473-0398.)
Energy management systems automate building systems control. They operate heating and
cooling equipment and include reminder
alarms for scheduled maintenance. According
to one analysis, the payback periods for using
electronic controls in new construction were
one to three years.33 These systems can also
function as data loggers, to store hourly
energy use, temperature settings and other
information.% According to Dr. Arthur
Rosenfeld of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory,
this feature, coupled with a program to
improve building maintenance and operations,
* The Texas Monitoring and Analysis
Program (MAP) was established in conjunction with the LoanSTAR program, a revolving
loan program for state and local governments
and school buildings. The program's objectives are to determine whether retrofits save
as much as audits estimate; to reduce energy
costs through energy monitoring and analysis;
to screen out ineffective retrofits; and to
establish a data base for institutional and
31
four to six years. The systems were also
found to improve occupant comfort and reduce
maintenance needs.36
commercial buildings in Texas. The Eneffrac
System, which identifies, quantifies and
monitors energy consumption and costs, is
provided at no charge to state agencies, local
governments, schools and other public institutions. (Texas LoanSTAR Program, Governor’s Energy Office, PO Box 12428, Austin,
TX 78711; (512)463-1931.)
*
As a pilot project, the New York State
Office of General Services (OGS) installed
a Direct Digital Control System in an agency
building and documented energy savings of
30 percent. The O G S estimates that if
controls on the interior zone heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and variablespeed pump motor controls had been installed
savings would have increased by 20 percent.
(Roger Milliman, Energy Conservation
Coordinator, Facilities Operations Group,
Room 3912, Corning Tower, Empire State
Plaza, Albany, NY 12242; (518)486-5247.)
*
Montana contracts its building engineering
analysis work to private f m s , then in-house
engineers perform quality control. Guidelines
require all analyses to be performed with
hourly simulation models, which provide
greater accuracy with regard to weather
changes than other models. (Tom Livers, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Energy Division, 1520 E. 6th Avenue,
Helena, MT 59620; (406)444-6697.)
~
~
RESOURCES
*
The Utah Energy Office has a purchasing
agent who works exclusively with the Division
of State Purchasing to ensure that the state
procures the most energy-efficient products
available. (Michael Glenn, Utah Energy
Efficient Procuxement Program,Utah Division
of Energy, 355 W. North Temple Street, 3
Triad Center, Suite 450, Salt Lake City, UT
84180; (801)538-5428.)
* For information on data loggers, contact
Hashem Akbari, Center for Building Science,
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Mail Stop 904oO0, Berkeley, CA 94720; (5 10)486-4287.
* Energy-EficiencyProcurement for Local
Government is $25 from the Carl Vinson
Institute of Government, University of Georgia, 201 N. Milladge Avenue, Athens, GA
30602; (706)542-2736.
*
Fort Eustis in Virginia has saved $30
million through a $6 million investment in an
energy management system, with a simple
payback of 1.8 years. An estimated 20
percent of this savings is due to the data
logging and energy control system. (Larry
Chenkin, Chief, Operating Branch, Department
of the Army, A’IZF-EHW, Building 1407,
Fort Eustis, VA 23604; (804)878-3127.)
*
The Electric Ideas Clearinghouse, a
program of the Bonneville Power Administration, provides free information on energyefficient products, technologies, building
designs and programs. Priority is given to
customers in the Bonneville Power Administration’s service area (Montana, Idaho, Oregon
and Washington). Within this area call
(800)872-3568; outside call (206)586-8588.
*
The French Agency for Energy Management found that the installation of monitoring
and remote control resulted in savings ranging
from 10-25 percent with payback periads from
*
Semi-annual updates on the most energyefficient appliances and periodic reports on
42
~
Extension Service, Kentucky Division of
Energy, 691 Teton Trail, Frankfort, KY
40601; (502)564-7192.
other efficient technologies can be obtained
from the American Council for An EnergyEfficient Economy, 2140 Shattuck Avenue,
Suite 202, Berkeley, CA 94704; (510)5499914.
* The California Energy Commission
biannually publishes its Energy Technology
Status Report, which documents recent energy
development trends and describes the status
of new and existing technologies. The
evaluation, provided in three tiers of detail,
includes the commercial status of technologies, research and development goals and
deployment issues. For a free summary,
publication #P500-90-003E,contact the
California Energy Commission’s Publications
Office, 1516 9th Street, Sacramento, CA
95814; (916)654-5200.
*
The Department of Energy (DOE) operates
a number of information sources for public
use. The National Appropriate Technology
Assistance Service (NATAS) provides
technical assistance to individuals, companies
and public institutions to help implement
energy efficiency and renewable energy
projects. NATAS assists with planning energy
systems, installation methods and identification and comparison of designs and components. NATAS, U.S.Department of Energy,
PO Box 2525, Butte, MT 59702; (800)4282525; in Montana (800)428-1718.
*
Energy User News is a monthly magazine
replete with energy efficiency success stories,
lists of product suppliers and product advertisements. Subscriptions are $69.50 per year
from Chilton Publications, 1 Chilton Way,
Radnor, PA 19089; (800)247-8080.
Technical publications on solar and other
renewable energy technologies and responses
to technical questions axe provided by the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
Technical Inquiry Service, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401; (303)231-7303).
*
The NIRS Energy Audit Manual, a clearly
explained, basic guide to conducting a building energy audit, is $17.95 from the Nuclear
Information and Resource Service (NIRS),
1424 16th Street, N W , Washington, DC
20005; (202)328-0002.
*
Energywise Options for State and Local
Governments, by Michael Totten, is a comprehensive listing of programs and policies
for efficient energy use. It costs $15 from
Center for Policy Alternatives, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, N W ,Suite 7 10, Washington,
DC 20009; (202)387-6030.
* Architect’s and Engineer’s Guide to
Energy Conservation in Existing Buildings is
available from the Federal Energy Management Program, CE-44, U.S.Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20784; (202)586-5772.
*
Many state college and university extension
services operate energy-efficiency programs
which provide technical assistance and
information.
*
Public Technology, Inc. is the research and
development arm of the National League of
Cities and the Urban Consortium’s Energy
Task Force. Energy Task Force reports
describe the development and implementation
*
Conservation Update is a monthly listing
of state energy officeprograms throughout the
country and is available at no charge from the
State Energy Conservation Program, Energy
33
of solutions to urban energy problems. To
receive a publications list, contact Public
Technologies, Inc., 1301 Pennsylvania
Avenue, N W , Suite 800, Washington, DC
20004; (202)626-2400.
poor continuing education federal energy
managers receive by saying, "Why should we
educate them far private industry? The better
educated they ~IE, the quicker they will leave
federal employment."
*
Top management involvement and full
employee participation are additional ingredients of a successful program. A DOE grant
program study found that where top management took a strong role, institutions achieved
twice the savings of other grantees?' A
State of California study found that schools
with comprehensive programs, involving staff
and students, achieved greater savings than
schools that concentrated on "quick-fix
savings" or that lacked maintenance activi-
E Source is aq information service which
provides detailed assessments of energy-using
equipment to members. Though their full
reports and membership are very expensive,
less-expensive executive summaries can be
obtained. E Source, 1050 Walnut Street, Suite
205, Boulder, CO 80302; (303)440-8500.
*
Energy Ideas is a monthly energy newsletter published by the Government Purchasing
Project. It is free to public officials and $25
a year for all other persons. Government
Purchasing Project, Po Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036; (202)387-8030. It is also
available on ECONET's bitl.gmsch conference.
~
~
Significant savings can be achieved by
encouraging employees to shut off lights,
printers and computers and to conserve water,
and by discouraging them from adjusting
office temperatures with portable air conditioners and space heaters. For example,
according to the Environmental Protection
Agency, turning off the average personal computer work station at night can save $70 a
year. Employee newsletters, bulletin boards
and meetings should be used to exchange
information on energy-saving techniques, highlight energy and environmental savings and
spotlight individual or group accomplishments.
17. PROVIDE EMPLOYEEEDUCATION
ON
AND INCENTIVES FOR ENERGYEFFICIENCY
While a range of technologies has the potential to increase energy efficiency, people are
the key to energy savings. Competent procurement, installation and maintenance are
essential to ensure that equipment operates at
peak efficiency. These qualities can only be
achieved if continuing education and training
and suitable remuneration are provided for
Financial incentives help. Traditionally,
money saved from efficiency programs mu"
to the general treasury, an arrangement which
provides little incentive to work for energy
savings. Incentives include providing bonuses
for energy managers and allowing facilities
to keep a percentage of their savings, which
could fund additional energy projects or
projects of the facility's choice, such as day
Care.
S M .
The Office of Technology Assessment found
that, within the federal government, staff
charged with energy conservation programs
may lack specific training in energy management and be burdened with other duties."
One high ranking DOE official defended the
34
-
-
describes UB's energy program, send $2.40
to Union of Concerned Scientists, 26 Church
Street, Cambridge, MA 02238;
(617)547-5552.)
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
To increase employee involvement in
energy efficiency, Phoenix, Ariu>na, organized
24 teams representing most of its departments.
Teams which achieved the most energy
savings received certificates. Meetingsheminars, at which energy-efficiency specialists
made presentations, were held quarterly.
(Dimitrios Laloudakis, Phoenix Public Works
Department, 2631 S. 22nd Avenue, Phoenix,
AZ 85009; (602)262-7897.)
*
The Sacramento, California, City Unified
School District provides note pads with energy
saving reminders for its custodians to give to
staff. A checklist of "friendly reminders" is
printed on each sheet, such as "your lights
were left on when the mom was vacant" and
"electric typewriter was left on during the
lunch hour.Im
*
The New York State Office of Mental
Health publishes a bimonthly newsletter,
Energy Actions, focusing on energy management within its facilities. (Energy Actions/
FRM, 52 James Street, 3rd Floor, Albany, NY
12207; (5 18)433-0771.)
*
The Eugene, Oregon, school efficiency
program includes workshops for teachers and
cash payments to energy-saving schools. In
1991, schools saved $138,000, with $27,000
retained by the schools. (John Bezelj, School
District Conservation and Recycling coardinator, Teacher On Special Assignment, 200 N.
Monroe Street, Eugene, OR 97402;
(503)687-3169.)
*
At the State University of New York at
Buffalo (UB), a Conserve UB committee was
formed in 1983, when members of the
University recognized that Itanenergy officer
cannot do the job alone." The committee,
which includes faculty, students and staff,
develops awareness programs, pushes stalled
projects and lends moral support to the energy
officer.
4
Improving Energy Eficiency in Schools
discusses this and other programs to improve
school energy efficiency. It is available at no
charge. (Oregon State University Extension
Service, Extension Energy Program, Oregon
State University, Batcheller Hall 344, Corvallis, OR 9733 1; (503)737-3004.)
UB's energy efficiency program maintains a
high profile. To link energy efficiency with
monetary savings, university payroll envelopes
are printed with the program's logo and the
slogan, "Help Us Keep the Cost of Education
Down." As part of its educational efforts, the
program calculated the campug' contribution
to global warming -3 13,900 tons of carbon
dioxide emissions annually. (Walter Simpson,
Energy Officer, State University of New York
at Buffalo, University Facilities, 120 John
Beane Center, Buffalo, NY 14250; (716)6453636. For a copy of "Recipe for an Effective
Campus Energy Conservation Program," which
*
The State University of New York is
implementing an incentive plan which will
return 100 percent of the savings from an
energy efficiency project to the campus where
the project is located, if the campus pays the
implementation cost from its operating budget.
(Joe Fox, State University Construction Fund,
University Plaza, PO Box 1946, Albany, NY
12201; (5 18)443-5584.)
*
Since 1980, the Arizona Department of
Commerce's Energy Office has sponsored the
35
energy applications. (Solar Energy Industries
Association, 777 N.Capitol Street, NE,Suite
805,Washington, DC 20002-4226;(202)408o660.1
Energy Conscious Community Awards
program to recognize the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy in communities
and school districts. The Energy Office
publishes a report which lists each winner,
describes their program and provides a contact
person. (Arizona Department of Commerce,
Energy Office, 3800 N. Central, Suite 1200,
Phoenix, AZ 85012;(602)280-1430.)
~
*
The California Energy Extension Service
established a network of 13 regional energy
management centers for schools. Services
provided to schools include historical analysis
of utility bills, energy audits, technology
demonstrations and training seminars.
(California Energy Extension Service, Office
of the Governor, 1400 loth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814;(916)323-4388.)
*
The South Dakota Energy Office at one
point was receiving the utility bills of all state
agencies and using them to identify small
power users. It then visited these agencies
to educate them about using solar energy. In
addition, the office identified purchasers of
batteries and then met with key procurement
officials to discuss solar energy alternatives.
These and other strategies are described in
Promoting Solar Electric Systems to State
Agencies.
*
Maryland’s Team Energy Rebate Program
is funding lighting projects, a handbook and
training sessions for schools, which then
receive a portion of the savings from efficiency projects. The program was started in
Prince George’s County, saving the county $3
million between 1989 and 1991. (Jeri
Pendergrast, Maryland Energy Administration,
45 Calvert Street, 4th Floor, Annapolis, MD
21401; (410)974-3751.)
This study also identifies resources and
outreach mechanisms which can help government agencies increase the use of solar
energy. These include standard design
specifications; case studies of solar applications and their use in different environments
and operating conditions; a database of
manufacturers and vendors; and general and
in-depth workshops and manuals. (John R.
Dunlop, Interstate Solar Coordination Council,
900 American Center Building, St. Paul, MN
55101; (612)296-4737.)
*
The Texas School Energy Manager Program is encouraging school districts to hire
energy managers by paying the salaries for
energy managers in 11 districts for one year.
If a district saves at least 10 percent of its
previous year’s utility costs, the district must
reimburse the state one half of the energy
manager’s salary. The following year, the
state will provide 25 percent of the salary.
If savings of 10 percent or more are not
achieved, the school district does not pay any
of the salary. (Richard Taylor, Governor’s
Energy Office, Po Box 12428,Austin, TX
7871 1; (512)463-1931.)
*
The Solar Energy Industries Association
has recommended that the Department of
Energy set aside 1 percent of its Technology
Transfer authorization to pay for federal
procurement officials to attend conferences
and seminars on cost-effective renewable
36
~
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
18. INCREASE " D I N G FOR ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
AND USE hJNOVATIVE
FINANCING
OPTIONS
* The U.S. Postal Service negotiated the
federal government's first SES contract in
1987 for a lighting retrofit at the San Diego
General Mail Facility. The ESCO provided
materials and will provide maintenance. The
Postal Service will receive $138,968annually
during the project's seven-year life. (David
Glines, Contracting Officer, U.S. Postal
Service, Support Services Center, Po Box
85555,San Diego, CA 92186;(619)574-5202.)
The greatest obstacle to the implementation
of energy efficiency projects is lack of capital.
According to the Office of Technology
Assessment, "adequate, stable funding is a
common constraint to improved Federal
energy effi~iency."~' In 1991, the federal
government invested $110.3 million in energy
efficiency compared to $300 million in
1981."
*
In 1991, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
(LBL) awarded an SES contract which
provided for any conservation measures that
would not substantially affect the use of its
facilities during installation or normal operation, subject to LBL's review and approval.
(Vic Petrolati, US. Department of Energy,
lo00Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20585;(202)586-4535.)
There are a number of options for funding
government efficiency projects. Funding can
be provided through a revolving loan fund.
These funds provide money for energy
efficiency projects and are repaid by the
savings from these projects. Since most
public institutions cannot remain in debt for
longer than one budgetary period, some
programs obtain loans from a private lender
and then repay them with the savings.
*
While public housing authorities (PHA)
and the Department of Housing and Urban
Development split efficiency savings in the
f i t year after an investment, over the next
3 years, HUD's share grows to 100 percent.
The need to finance and maintain such
investments can actually cause a PHA to lose
money.44 A HUD regulation was promulgated in 1991 which allows PHAs to keep
much of the energy savings resulting from
non-HUD-financed efficiency measures. This
should encourage more use of utility rebate
programs and SES contracts. (Office of
Environment and Energy, Department of
Housing and Urban Development, Room 7240,
Washington, DC 20410; (202)708-2504.)
Shared energy savings (SES) contracts allow
a third-party company to finance, install and
operate energy efficiency measures within a
facility and receive as payment a large
percentage of the actual energy savings. The
advantages of these contracts are that they
entail minimal risk and no up-front expenditures on the part of the government. But the
complicated structure of the SES contracts
involves specific regulations and volumes of
paperwork, making the process costly for
energy service companies (ESCOs) to complete. Uncertainty about procurement policy
also makes long-term contracts difficult to
negotiate. In addition, the government only
receives a small portion of the savings during
the life of the contract. Only five SES
contracts were awarded by the federal government between 1986 and 1990.43
* Montana's Buildings Energy Conservation
Program identifies cost-effective energy
efficiency projects and funds these projects
by issuing bonds. Oil-overcharge funds were
37
expertise; financial stability; and past project
experience. Evaluation data is tabulated by
a computerized spreadsheet that contains the
point values applied to each category. (Ron
Dombrowski, Illinois Department of Energy
and Natural Resources, 325 W. Adams Street,
Room 300, Springfield, IL 62704,
(217)785-3996.)
used for the initial capital. v o m Livers,
Montana Department of Natural Resources and
Conservation, Energy Division, 1520 E. 6th
Avenue, Helena, MT 59620, (406)444-6697.)
*
The Texas LoanSTAR program was started
in 1988 to provide loans for retrofits to state
and local governments and schools. Applicants compete for funds based on estimated
payback period, ability to repay the loan
through energy savings, engineering assessments of the viability of the retrofit and
feasibility of metering. In the first year of the
program, $4.2 million in retrofits was funded,
providing $1.2 million per year in estimated
savings.
(Texas LoanSTAR Program,
Governor's Energy Office, PO Box 12428,
Austin, TX 78711; (513)463-1931.)
~
~
*
Rather than lose a portion of energy
savings by using an SES contract, the
University of Iowa financed energy efficiency
measures though the issuance of utility system
revenue bonds. Projects were chosen with a
combined average payback period of between
five and six years allowing projects with
longer payback periods to be combined with
those with shorter payback periods. Net
annual savings of $4OO,O00 accrue to the
University until the debt is paid, when the
projects' total annual savings of $1.8 million
will go to the University. (Energy Office,
University of Iowa, 103 W. Burlington Street,
Iowa City, IA 52242; (319)335-5122.)
*
The Iowa School Energy Bank Program
was established in 1986 to assist schools with
energy management. Schools receive capital
up front from an "energy bank" funded by
private investors. Loans are repaid with
savings from utility bills. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides technical
assistance and contracts with private f m s to
provide legal and financial assistance. One
project was installing roof insulation on
Clarinda High School. The project cost
$76,141 and has projected annual savings of
$15,029 and a payback period of 5.1 years.
(Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
Energy Bureau, Wallace State Office Building,
Des Moines, IA 50319; (515)281-8681.)
* Montgomery County, Maryland, established
a full-time position within the Department of
Facilities and Services to aggressively solicit
and manage grants and rebates for efficiency
measures. Since 1990, this position has
helped the county obtain over $629,000 in
funds for energy-efficient technologies and to
incorporate efficiency into building design.
(Paul C. Tseng, P.E., Chief, Engineering
Services, Capital Projects Management
Division, Department of Facilities and
Services, 110 N. Washington St., 3rd Floor,
Rockville, MD 20850; (301)217-6110.)
*
The Illinois Department of Energy and
Natural Resources developed an evaluation
methodology for selecting ESCOs using a
competitive, non-price-based procurement
procedure. A team, including administrators,
maintenance personnel and legal advisors,
evaluates the ESCOs in four major categories:
technical capabilities; project management
*
Over 60 local California governments have
received loans since 1980 from the California
Energy Commission to replace old streetlight
lamps and circuits with more efficient
systems. Loans are available for up to 100
38
-
.~
RESOURCES
percent of the conversion cost. (California
Energy Commission, Streetlight Conversion
Loan Program, Local Assistance Office, 1516
9th Stmet, MS-26, Sacramento, CA 95814;
(916)654453.)
*
The Department of Energy’s Institutional
Conservation Program (ICP) provides 50
pemnt matching funds for efficiency projects
in schools and hospitals. Since 1979, the
program has allocated $860 million, with
resulting cumulative savings of $2.8 billion.
Buildings constructed before May 1,1989 are
eligible for the program.
Institutional
Conservation Program, Office of Technical
and Financial Assistance, Room 56063, CE531, U.S. Department of Energy, lo00
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
20585; (202)586-8034.
*
New York‘s Not-For-Profit and Public
Facility Energy Conservation Rebate Fbgram
pays up to half the cost of energy efficiency
projects costing between $1,000 and $50,000.
The program applies to non-profit groups,
local governments, schools, colleges and
hospitals, and has identified 12 efficiency
measures that meet the required payback
period of between one and 10 years. These
measms include converting incandescent light
fixtures to ”pact fluorescents, insulating hot
water tanks and weatherstripping and caulking.
Applicants only submit a one-page application
and contractors’ estimates of cost. (New York
State Energy Office, 2 Rockefeller Plaza,
Albany, NY 12223; (518)474-2161.)
*
For information on federal energy efficiency initiatives contact the Federal Energy
Management Program, CE-44, U.S.Department of Energy, lo00 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20585; (202)586-5772.
*
For a list of companies which engage in
SES contracts, contact the National Association of Energy Service Companies, 1440 New
York Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20005;
(202)371-7000.
*
New York State agencies can issue certificates of participation (COPS), tax-exempt
certificates sold on the open market, to finance
large energy projects. The State has used
COPs to finance over $540 million in
equipment purchases and over $310 million
in neal property purchases. (Susan Toren,
New York State Division of Budget, State
Capitol, Room 133-M, Albany, NY 12224;
(5 18)473-0556.)
19. PARTICIPATE IN UTILITY DEMAND-SIDE
MANAGEMENT
PROGRAMS
In order to avoid the significant costs of
building new power plants, electric utilities
have been financing energy efficiency improvements in buildings to keep consumer
demand within the capacity of their power
plants. Through Demand-Side Management
(DSM) programs, utilities perform building
energy audits and pay cash rebates to customers installing energy efficiency equipment.
These programs have multiplied and expanded
enormously in recent years. A 1987 American
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
* WisC0nsi.n’~Renewable Energy Assistance
Program provides grants to local governments,
nonprofit organizations and businesses for
feasibility studies and renewable energy
systems. @on Wichert, Wisconsin Energy
Bmau, Po Box 7868, Madison, WI 53707;
(608)266-73 12.)
39
Program (HELP)for state agencies. HELP
will install energy-efficient lighting, heating,
ventilation and air-conditioning equipment and
other systems with potential savings of $12.5
million a year. (Paul Belnick, Program
Manager, HELP,Energy Conservation Group,
New York Power Authority, 1633 Broadway,
New York City, NY 10019; (212)468-6931.)
study identified only 59 utilities with rebate
programs, while a May 1992 DOE study
Often,
identified 150 such programs."
utilities seek large energy consumers, as this
is easier and often more reliable than working
with many smaller consumers.
As with other efficiency options, the federal
government has not vigorously taken advantage of utility rebate and DSM programs. One
New England Power official reported that
haxe 39 major federal facilities in his area,
but that of about $225 million his utility has
spent on DSM programs, the federal government received no more than $200,000. An
informal survey of utility officials by the
authors of this book found that bureaucracy,
long-term planning requirements and diffused
responsibility for energy decisions hamper
governments' ability to take advantage of
these programs.
Ulster County, New York, retrofitted 3,100
fluorescent fixtures in county office buildings.
The retrofit replaced four fluorescent bulbs
with two more efficient fluorescent bulbs and
reflectors. The local utility, Central Hudson
Gas &Electric, paid the enthe installation cost
of $143,000. (James McTague, Manager,
County Properties, Department of Public
Works, Physical Assets Division, 66 Hurley
Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401;
(914)331-0186.)
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
San Diego Gas & Electric paid over 75
percent of the costs for new energy-efficient
lighting at the San Diego Post Office. (Paul
Oberhaus, Field Supervisor, San Diego Gas
& Electric, PO Box 1831, San Diego, CA
921 12; (619)549-6534.)
*
*
*
To assist state facilities with utility DSM
programs, the New York State Energy Office
developed a directory of utility programs,
helped arrange utility audits of facilities and
organized presentations by utilities for agency
decision makers. In addition, the Energy
Office has assisted agencies in establishing
Special Revenue Accounts to deposit utility
rebate funds for further energy efficiency
projects. (Brian Henderson, New York State
Energy Office, 2 Rockefeller Plaza, Albany,
NY 12223; (518)474-3393.)
* The Citizens Conservation Corporation
(CCC) has embarked on a program to promote
energy efficiency within public housing. CCC
will bring together utilities and public housing
authorities (PHAs) to take advantage of
demand-side management opportunities. As
part of an effort to promote the production of
energy-efficient appliances, the CCC intends
to persuade several large PHAs to guarantee
purchase of extremely efficient refrigerators,
which electric utilities will help develop and
manufacture. (Citizens Conservation Corporation, 530 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02210;
(617)423-7900.)
*
The New York Power Authority, a public
power company which supplies a quarter of
New York State's electricity, is spending $60
million for a High Efficiency Lighting
40
as a standard new building, but would cost
RESOURCES
37 percent less to operate!'
*
The Results Center tracks DSM success
stories in North America. Results Center, PO
Box 10990, Aspen, CO 81612; (303)927-3155.
Unfortunately, the construction industry is
notoriously slow to incorporate innovations.48
Public sector demand can be a force for
change and hasten market penetration of new
technologies and designs. For example, using
daylighting to illuminate interiors of buildings
is common in Europe, but c m n t l y only about
1 percent of U.S. new construction uses
da~lighting.4~
Overall, if solar methods for
lighting, heating and cooling were widely
adopted in new construction, they could
displace up to 25 percent of U.S. fossil fuel
consumption over the next 50 years.5o For
example, solar design includes the use of light
shelves - horizontal projections above
windows which reflect light onto the ceiling,
reducing the need for electric lighting. One
promising technology is holograms mounted
on sun-tracking devices to reflect light deep
into building interiors?l
*
The April 1992 issue of Energy User News
contains a directory of DSM programs offered
by utilities across the country, detailing the
equipment covered, the conditions for the
rebate and the incentives provided. Call
(800)247-8080.
* American Councilfor An Energy-Efficient
Economy, 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20036; (202)429-8873.
*
Electric utility companies.
20. CONSTRUCT
AND LEASEENERGYEFFICIENTBUILDINGS
Incqxmting energy efficiencymeasures into
new construction is much easier and less
costly than retrofitting afterwards. Unfortunately, agencies responsible for new
construction may operate autonomously, with
little concem for the energy bills the occupying agency will be paying. This can create
an emphasis on initial costs and less concem
with lifecycle costs, resulting in an energyinefficient new building. However, constructing an energy-efficient building may not
cost m a than building an inefficient one.
According to the Passive Solar Industries
Council, using daylight and natural cooling
in commercial buildings can reduce energy
costs 50-80 percent at little or no additional
construction cost.46 A computer simulation
of a new 60,DOO-square-foot building in the
northeastem United States found that a welldesigned building using commercially available equipment would cost the same to build
Another argument for designing efficient
buildings is that efficient equipment will
impact on other building factors. For example, efficient lighting, which produces less
heat, reduces cooling needs.
Stringent standads should apply not only to
new construction, but also to buildings leased
by the government and financed or underwritten with public funds. The General Services
Administration, the federal government's
landlord, leases 44 percent of its office space.
Yet energy efficiency requirements for leased
space are minimal. However, standards for
earthquake safety in leased space were
established in an executive order signed by
President Ronald Reagan:2
An important measure which can ensure the
efficacy of energy efficiency measures is
41
Energy Office, which reviews the proposed
designs, has prepared guidelines for costeffective school designs, and is preparing
guidelines for government office buildings.
(Jim Hayes, Washington State Energy Office,
PO Box 43165, Olympia, WA 98504,
(206)956-2056.)
commissioning new ~onstruction.5~This
involves testing the operation of equipment
and making necessary adjustments before a
building is occupied. The process also should
include providing building staff with instruction on proper maintenance and operation.
This is particularly important for mechanical
equipment and controls for lighting and
mechanical equipment."
*
The "Energy Edge Project" was funded by
the Bonneville Power Administration to
construct commercial buildings that use 30
percent less energy than buildings constructed
to regional standards; 27 commercial buildings
were built under the program, and data are
being collected on costs and savings.
(Douglas Kilpatrick, Washington State Energy
Office, PO Box 43 165, Olympia, WA 98504,
(206)956-2070.)
Another consideration is locating office
buildings close to public transportation and
providing facilities for bicycle commuters,
such as showers, lockers and bicycle racks.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
Dr.Arthur Rosenfeld of Lawrence Berke-
* The 1991 New Mexico Energy Policy has
proposed that a "life-cycle cost analysis fee"
be included along with the architect/engineer
fee for all new state building projects. (New
Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural
Resources Department, 2040 S. Pacheco
Street, Santa FeyNM 87505; (501)827-5900.)
$y Laboratory has proposed several measures
to ensure compliance with new building
standards. First, in recognition that "what
can't be measured can't be saved," all new
building designs must include energy management systems with data loggers, to be read
nightly at regional energy management
centers. Second, financial incentives should
be offered to design teams for beating the
standards- 10 percent of the savings for the
first 10 years of the building's operation.
Third, financial incentives should also be
offered to maintenance teams for operating
an energy-efficient building. (Center for Building Science, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory,
Berkeley, CA 94720; (5 10)486-40oO.)
* New York requirements for leased
buildings include efficiency measures, such
as window glazing, efficient lighting and
motion detectors that turn off lights in
unoccupied rooms. (Office of General
Services, Real Property Planning and Utilization Group, General Services Office, Corning
Tower Building, Empire State Plaza, Albany,
NY 12242; (5 18)474-4944.)
*
Washington requires all communities
building new schools to complete an "Energy
Conservation Report" which details energyusing systems which have the lowest life-cycle
cost. Designers must either recommend a
design option within 10 percent of the lowest
life-cycle cost or have the school board vote
on an alternative design. The Washington
* The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory estimates that about 5-10 percent of urban electric
demand is used to cool buildings, compensating for the "heat island effect." This is a
phenomenon created by the darkening of cities
from pavement and rooftops and the loss of
trees, which increases heat absorption. The
42
no charge from the Northeast Utilities Service
Company, Conservation and Load Management, PO Box 270, Hartford, CT 06141;
(203)665-2707.
heat island effect can be mitigated by planting
trets, painting extemal surfaces of buildings
white and resurfacing parking lots with white
sand. (Center for Building Science, Lawrence
Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720;
(510)486-4000.)
*
DOE established in January 1989 mandatory smdards for all new federal commercial
building construction. For a copy of the
guidelines contact the office of Codes and
Standards,Mail Station 43,U.S. Department
of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20585;(202)586-9127.
*
Light shelves, clemtories and other
daylighting f e a m s reduce the energy bill for
the Mt.Airy, North Carolina, public library
by 53 percent. (Ralph Cooke, Surry Solar
Services, 838 Cross Creek Drive, Mt. Airy,
NC 27030; (919)786-2953.)
*
Daylighting Classroom Buildings and
Daylighting Multistory Ofice Buildings are
available from the North Carolina Alternative
Energy Carparation, Po Box 12699,Research
Triangle Park, NC, 27709;(919)361-8000.
*
In the Bessemer, Alabama, Abrams Elementary School, raised portions of the roof
admit incoming light, which is diffused by
plastic tubes filled with water. This and other
fatuxes allow the building to use 60 percent
less energy than a similar, non-solar building.
In addition, the construction cost of $36 per
square foot was $10per square foot less than
the median cost to building an elementary
school at the time.
*
Building Commissioning Guidelines is
available from the Electric Ideas Clearinghouse. Within Montana, Idaho, Oregon and
Washington call (800)872-3568;outside call
(206)586-8588.
*
Commercial Building Design: Integrating
Climate, Comfort and Cost, Burt Hill Kosar
Rittelman Associates and Min Kantrowitz
Associates, Van Nostrand Reinhold Publishing
Co., New York, 1987.
REsouRcE!3
*
American Solar Energy Society, 2400
Central Avenue, Suite G-1,Boulder, CO
80301;(303)443-3130.
*
Passive Solar Industries Council, 151 1 K
Street, N W , Suite 600, Washington, DC
20005; (202)371-0357.
21. blPROVE BUILDINGOPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE
An enormous amount of energy is wasted
because building equipment is operated
improperly and unnecessarily. Proper operations and maintenance (O&M) is essential to
energy efficiency efforts. For example,
cleaning dirty coils can improve heating,
ventilation and air-conditioning efficiency by
as much as 20 percent.” A DOE grant
program evaluation found that facilities which
*
Solar Energy Industries Association, 777
N.Capitol Street, NE,Suite 805,Washington,
DC 20002;(202)408-0660.
*
Energy & Economics: Strategies for Ofice
Building Design, a guidebook for design
professionals which contains strategies for
designing efficient buildings, is available at
43
0
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
failed to follow the O&M measures mommended in their energy audits achieved only
3 percent average energy savings; facilities
which implemented recommended measures
achieved 15 percent savings.%
*
The New York State Office of Mental
Health has instituted an energy-efficient O&M
program. Pilot O&M projects indicate savings
in the 15-20 percent range. Programs include
establishing a "minor rehab" fund for quick
payback energy projects; training in building
controls and mechanical operations troubleshooting; and compilation of a comprehensive
energy database, utility bill reporting system,
boiler plant perfoxmance summary and
budgeting methodology. (Frank J. Mendicino,
Vice President, Strategic Planning and
Analytical Services, Facilities Research
Management Company, 52 James Street, 3rd
Floor, Albany, NY 12201; (518)433-0771.)
Without proper O&M, investments in new
equipment will not achieve potential savings.
The same DOE study found that the funded
energy efficiency measures were six times
more cost-effective in facilities where proper
08zM practices were followed than where they
were not. In fact, DOE found that for 50
percent of the grantees, additional O&M
efforts may have been more appropriate than
the funded measures?'
Planned O&M measures can be factored into
the design of a building. For example, if a
fixture cleaning program is planned into the
lighting design of a 30,000 square foot office
building, the lighting power density can be
lowered from 1.60 watts per square foot to
1.32?8 Proper O&M is also essential for
utilities operating DSM programs to be
assured of the savings from installed mea-
~
___
* The Houston, Texas, Intercontinental
Airport reduced its energy costs 20 percent
without any capital expenditures by establishing a maintenance routine and scheduling
the operation of individual chillers according
to the time of day and outdoor air temperature?'
*
Four high schools in Lafayette, California
reduced energy use 10-29 percent in the 19901991 school year, saving over $110,000,
primarily through maintenance and operation
changes. Among the changes instituted were
shutting off all boilers early in April and
setting the air conditioners at 78 degrees.
(California Energy Extension Service, Office
of the Governor, 1400 loth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916)323-4388.)
sums.
Barriers to proper O&M include ineffective
training due to high turnover and lack of
incentives, understaffing of maintenance
teams, inadequate funds for maintenance and
equipment and lack of scheduled maintenance
program^.^ Despite the savings which can
be achieved from proper maintenance, when
there is pressure to reduce budgets, maintenance budgets are often the first to be cut.
For example, funding for maintenance of
public schools in major U.S.cities in 1986
was a third less than it was in 195@
0.'
While
taxpayers may not immediately see the effects
of these cuts (as opposed to reductions in
services), they end up paying more in the long
RESOURCES
* Architect's and Engineer's Guide to
Energy Conservationin Existing Buildings is
available from the Federal Energy Management Program, CE-44, U.S. Department of
run.
44
-
I
--
which will be available in the near future"
could provide 250 times as much energy as
the country currently ~ s e s . 6 ~Yet a 1991
survey by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing of public purchasing
officials found that only 10 percent of the
respondents had identified a solar application
and only 6 percent had purchased a solar
de~ice.6~
Energy, lo00 Independence Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20585; (202)586-5772.
*
Institutional Manager's Guide to Energy
Conrervationis available from the Institutional
Conservation Program, Office of Technical
and Financial Assistance, Room 50-063,CE531, U.S. Department of Energy, lo00
Independence Avenue, SW,Washington, DC
20585; (202)586-8034.
Cost-effective, and environment-saving,
applications for using renewable energy have
proliferated. Renewable energy systems,
including photovoltaic (PV) panels (which
produce electricity from sunlight) and solar
hot water heaters, have become increasingly
less expensive, more reliable and easier to
procure. A study sponsored by the Interstate
Solar Coordination Council of state PV use
found 26 distinct applications, including
powering roadside telephone boxes, pier and
road signs, warning beacons, data collectors,
battery chargers and water pumps. Users
included agencies responsible for parks,
agriculm, emergency response, telecommunications and highway safety.64
*
Maintaining in the Nineties: Energy
Managementfor Maintenance and Custodial
S w i s available without charge from the
Califarnia Energy Extension Service, Office
of the Governor, 1400 loth Street, Room 209,
Sacramento, CA 95814;(916)323-4388.
*
The Ohio Public Facility Maintenance
Association was established in 1992to provide
public facility operators with training and
information on the latest developments in
technologies , equipment, maintenance
techniques and other operational matters. For
more information, contact Lynda Layer, Ohio
Public Facility Maintenance Association, 17
S. High Street, Suite 1200, Columbus, OH
43215; (614)22 1- 1900.
Solar thermal systems have also been ignored
in the United States despite high performance.
While there are more than one million solar
hot water heating systems installed in the
United States, Tokyo has 1.5 million solar
heatema A survey in Florida revealed that
95 percent of solar hot water heater owners
were satisfied with their systems; only 7
percent had ever encountered a problem with
their system, of which 90 percent said the
problem was corrected.66
*
Association of Higher Education Facilities
officers publications include College and
UniversityEnergy Management Workbookand
Facilities Stewardship in the 1990s. For a
publication list, contact APPA Publications,
1446 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314;
(703)684-1446.
22. IDENTIFY AND INSTALL COST-EFFECI'IVE
RENEWABLE
ENERGY
APPLICATIONS
More than 250,000solar pool heating systems
have been installed in the United States!'
In most applications, a system pays for itself
in less than three years, after which the pool
is heated for free for the life of the system,
DOE laboratories have estimated that U.S.
renewable energy resources that could be
captured by "current technology or technology
45
Pollution Prevention Through Government
Purchases," Dr.Barry Commoner and associates calculated the stimulative effect government solar purchases would have on the solar
industry, as well as tax dollars the government
would save by using solar energy. Citing the
$123 million the federal governments spends
annually on dry-cell batteries, they found that
replacing these disposable batteries with
rechargeable ones and PV recharging units at
a one-time conversion cost of $86 million
would save $108 million a year. This
replacement would require the installation of
49.7 million watts of PV capacity, about three
times the present output of the U.S. industry.
(Center for the Biology of Natural Systems,
Queens College, City University of New York,
Flushing, NY 11367; (7 18)670-4182.)
generally from 10-20 yeama
To facilitate use of solar energy, procurement
agencies should supply packaged solar energy
systems and list them in supply catalogs by
end-use applications. Most solar energy
systems come as part of a complete package,
such as a remote lighting system. If these
packaged systems are not properly located in
supply catalogs, their use is hindered. GSA,
in its 1989 Federal Supply Service Catalog,
does not list PV lighting systems under the
"lighting"category, but under "Microelectronics, Enclosure Systems, Photovoltaic Solar
Panels", an unlikely place to look for a
lighting system.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
In a 1991
report
~~
__
*
In Hawaii, House Bill 2319, H.D. 2, S.D.
1, introduced in 1992, would require an
increasing percentage of single-unit housing
built with public funds to use solar hot water
hating. (Senator Mike Crozier, State Capitol,
Honolulu, HI 968 13; (808)586-6670.)
* Many highly cost-effective applications for
renewable energy may be unused because they
have not been identified. One effective
strategy is a comprehensive survey. Since its
passage in 1982, H.R. 5005, an amendment
to 10 USC 2394, has mandated that the
Department of Defense pracure renewable
energy systems where it is cost-effective. One
result of the law was that a survey identified
over 21,000 cost-effective small-scale PV
applications in the Navy which, if fully
installed, would save taxpayers $175 million
a year. The cost of the survey was estimated
to be $350,000. Five years later, only about
1,OOO of these 21,000 cost-effective PV
applications had been used. Once surveys are
completed, agencies should be required to
request promptly funds for the installation of
renewable energy systems in the identified
applications. (Gary1 Smith, Code 2603, Naval
Air Weapons Station, China Lake, CA 93555;
(619)939-2525.)
*
~
* The Military Construction Appropriations
Act of 1991 requires the Department of
Defense to develop a plan for installing
renewable energy capacity of a minimum of
100 megawatts by 1997.
*
The Florida Governor's Energy Office
issues a yearly request for proposals for solar
systems, and provides funding for approved
proposals. This program is open to Florida
local and regional governments, educational
institutions, water-management districts and
other governmental or non-profit institutions.
@aryl O'Conner, Florida Energy Office, 2740
Center View Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399;
(904)488-2475.)
*
"An Action Plan for
46
Austin, Texas, purchased threeP V - p o w d
~
l_l
National Forest uses photovoltaics to power
a water pump and disinfecter; lighting,
ventilation and cooling for bathrooms; an
entry station; and a fish cleaning station and
other facilities. Costs for solar power were
estimated to be $240,000,compared to $750,OOO for extending the commercial grid and
$l,OOO per month for power. (Dave Killebrew, Tonto National Forest, Po Box 5348,
Phoenix, AZ 85010; (602)225-5239.)
flashing arrow boards to direct traffic around
construction m w s . They previously used
diesel generatars. The PV systems have
panels placed above the arrow and a battery
bank which can operate for 30 days without
sunlight. Each system cost $5,300,and with
savings in fuel, labor and maintenance, has
a five year payback period. Workers prefer
the PV systems because they do not need to
be refueled and are quieter. (John Hoffner,
City of Austin Electricity Department, 721
Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704,
(512)322-6284.)
*
St. Rose Hospital in San Antonio, Texas,
installed a 5,OOO-square-foot flat-plate solar
water heater on its roof, capable of providing
9,000gallons of water storage. The hospital
paid $49,000 and a state grant paid $96,000.
The system paid for itself in seven months,
partially due to avoided fuel costs but mostly
due to avoided HVAC costs. This is because
the operation of a boiler to provide hot water
for washing during summer months adds to
cooling needs. (Rick Fossum, Sun Trapper
Solar, 134 W. Rhapsody, San Antonio, TX
78216;(5 12)341-2001.)
*
Tem~e,h n a , installed 19 solar-powered
drip irrigation controllers in the medians of
two streets. Annual savings are estimated to
be $1,895. (Jim Jones, Director of Public
Works,City of Tempe, PO Box 5002,Tempe,
AZ 85280; (602)350-8371.)
*
In 1988,the Florida Department of Tran-
sportation decided to provide lighting on the
overhead highway signs at a dark fork on
State Road 528. Running power from the
nearest utility source would have cost
$65,000-70,000, the solar-powered system
which was installed cost less than $30,000.
(Jim Dunlop, P.E., Florida Solar Energy
Center, 300 State Road 401,Cape Canaveral,
*
At the Adams County Detention Facility
in Brighton, Colorado, a solar thermal array
provides 85 percent of the facility’s hot-water
needs. Half the heater’s cost was financed
by the Colorado Office of Energy Conservation using oil-overcharge funds. The other
50 percent came from private investors, who
recovered their funds in three years and will
continue to receive a return on their money
over the 15-year life of the system. The
monthly cost for the solar thermal system is
70percent of what it would cost to use natural
gas. (Andy Walker, Colorado Office of
Energy Conservation, 1675 Broadway, Suite
1300,Denver, CO 80202;(303)620-4292.)
FL 32920; (407)783-0300.)
*
California has installed over 8,000 PVpowered cellular telephones on its freeways
under its Service Authority for Freeway
Emergencies (SAFE) program. The telephones have improved public safety and help
relieve congestion by speeding the reporting
of accidents. wince Zambrana, SAFE,
California Highway Patrol, 2555 1st Avenue,
Building B, Sacramento, CA 95818;
(916)657-7171.)
*
The Cholla Recreation Site in the Tonto
47
RESOURCES
80301; (303)443-3130.
*
*
Solar Energy Industries Association, 777
N. Capitol St., NE, Suite 805, Washington,
DC 20002; (202)408-0660.
The Army Corps of Engineers has developed a computer program for estimating the
cost-effectiveness of active solar thermal
energy systems in new construction. For more
information, contact BLAST Support Office,
University of Illinois, 160 MEB, 1206 W.
Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801;
(217)333-3977.
___
-~
23. COCENERATE ELECTRICITY
Cogeneration is the simultaneous production
of two forms of energy, usually electrical and
thermal energy. Because boilers are not 100
percent efficient, a large fraction of the heat
generated by combustion goes up the stack
as "waste heat" rather than into the building.
Cogenerators capture the steam produced by
boilers, which is sent through a turbine to
generate electricity. The steam then enters
the building's heating system.
*
Photovoltaic Applications: A Guide for
Deciswn Makers is a free publication available
from the Horida Solar Energy Center, 300
State Road 401, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920;
(407)783-0300.
*
Promoting Solar Electric Systems to State
Agencies is available at no charge from the
Energy Infomation Office, Department of
Public Service, 121 7th Place E, Suite 200,
St. Paul, MN 55101; (612)296-5175.
The electricity generated can be sold to a local
utility to make cogeneration profitable as well.
In 1978, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies
Act (PUFWA) required utilities to purchase
electricity generated by small power producers. The utility buys the electricity at its
"avoided cost," the cost which the utility
would need to pay to install its next increment
of power.
* To assist potential PV
users, the Photovoltaic Design Assistance Center (PVDAC)
maintains a data base for stand-alone and gridconnected PV systems and provides evaluations of operating systems and related
components. PVDAC, Sandia National
Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico
87 185; (509844-6 111.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
Renewable Energy: A National Directory
of Resources, Contacts and Companies, a
1992 publication listing the names and
addresses of more than 1,600 citizen groups,
businesses and government agencies working
on renewable energy, is available for $12.50
from Public Citizen, 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003;
(202)546-4996.
*
Long Beach, California, developed a
cogeneration system which produces electricity
sold during off-peak hours to the Southern
California Edison Company and provides heat
for the municipal swimming pool. The system
results in a reduction in energy costs and an
increase in revenues of $60,000.70,000 a year,
with an estimated payback periodof 2.5 years.
(Edward T. Putz, City Engineer, 333 W.
Ocean Boulevard, 9th Floor,Long Beach, CA
90802; (310)590-6771.)
*
American Solar Energy Society, 2400
Central Avenue, Suite G-1, Boulder, CO
48
__
*
The State University of New York at Stony
Brook negotiated a contract with a private
bilities, the use in desktop machines of
innovative components developed for portable
computers and power-management techniques
already used in laser printers?2 Government
procurement can encourage equipment
manufacturers to treat energy efficiency as a
primary attribute of office equipment, along
with capabilities, features, speed and cost.73
The federal government, purchasing 6 percent
of the computers sold in the United States;"
could have a significant impact in promoting
energy efficiency in office equipment.
fm to fmance, construct, own and operate
a cogeneration plant on its campus. The plant,
fueled by natural gas, will provide heating,
cooling and electricity. Excess electricity will
be sold to Long Island Lighting Company.
Projected savings are estimated to be approximately $6 million a year. (Joe Fox, State
University Construction Fund, University
Plaza, PO Box 1946, Albany, NY 12201;
(5 18)443-5584.)
According to E Source, laptop computers with
special low-consumption drives, liquidqstaldisplay (LCD)monitors and dedicated powermanagement chips and software use one-tenth
to one-hundredth the power of comparable
personal c0mputers.7~Conventional cathoderay-tube monitors require 60 watts of power.
LCD screens q u i r e , at most, three watts of
power.'6
Furthermore, laptops' LCD or
plasma displays appear to be free of the
potential health hazards associated with
magnetic fields." Even if a user supplements the laptop with a traditional monitor,
the total system will still consume less than
one half the energy a desktop computer
consumes.'8
Laptops offer the benefits of
mobility, and, accarding to E Source, the extra
cost of these machines can often be repaid
through energy ~avings.7~
RESOURCE
*
Electric Generation Association, 2715 M
Street, N W , Suite 150, Washington, DC
20007; (202)965-1134.
24. PURCHASE
ENERGY-EFFICIENT
OFFICE
EQUIPMEW
office equipment, such as computers, photocopiers and fax machines, is the fastestgrowing energy load in commercial buildings.
Computen alone may account for 5 percent
of commercial sector energy consumption.@
This figure may grow to almost 11 percent
by 2011." In addition to consuming electricity directly, office equipment typically adds
significantly to building cooling requirements.'l
Yet little attention has been paid
to energy efficiency in office equipment.
During the vast majority of time that a
computer is on, it is not in use, and 30-40
percent of all computers are on at night and
on weekends.8o Strategies to reduce waste
include placing stickers on the front of the
machines to remind employees to turn off
computers when they are not being used, and
a power management system which turns off
peripherals and the computer itself after a
user-selected period of inactivity.81 Many
people leave their computers on at all times
According to E Source, developments in
technology and management techniques can
potentially reduce total electric use in office
equipment by up to 70 percent in the short
term and 90 percent in the long texm. These
developments include the displacement of
energy-intensive desktop machines by laptop
and notebook-size computers with equal capa49
14th Street, PO Box 94804, Sacramento, CA
94204, (9 16)323-7667.)
because they fear hardware failures associated
with power cycling, though manufacturers
report no such problems with new equipment=
RESOURCES
Dot matrix printers consume approximately
50 watts when printing and 26 watts when
standing idle. A laser printer consumes
approximately 300 watts when printing, since
the process of fusing the toner mixture onto
the paper quires a substantial amount of
energy, and as much as 150 watts when idle,
since it must maintain a relatively high
temperature at all times. Inkjet printers, which
spray tiny droplets of ink directly onto the
paper, =quire only about 10 watts of power
when printing.83 Like printers, inkjet fax
machines consume much less energy than
laser fax machines."
~
*
The Office Technology Efficiency Consortium is an ad hoc group of government
agencies, academics, research institutions,
electric utilities and corporations promoting
energy-efficient office equipment. They are
developing a procedure for testing personal
computer energy consumption, since nameplate ratings overestimate energy consumption.
Jeff Harris, Department of Energy, lo00
Independence Avenue, SW, Room 6A081, CE40,Washington, DC 20585; (202)586-9392.
*
The EPA's Energy Star Computers Program is a voluntary program designed to
encourage the manufacture of energy-efficient
computers, which receive the "Energy Star Pollution &venter Logo". Energy Star
Computers Program, EPA, Global Change
Division, Mail Code 6202J, Washington, DC
20460, (202)233-9114.
For photocopiers, the faster the machine, the
higher the temperature required and the more
energy the copier consumes.8s Using the
standby, or "energy-saver," button on a copier
can reduce energy consumption by as much
as 70 percent.86 Operating small personal
copiers can consume as little as one quarter
the energy that mid-range models consume."
25. INSTALL
ENERGY-EFFICIENT
LIGHTING
STRATEGY AND EXAMPLE
In a typical commercial building, lighting uses
two-fifths of all electricity, and more than half
including increased demand for cooling.88
According to the Department of Energy's
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, efficient
lighting components can save 80-90 percent
of the electricity used for lighting. The
Electric Power Research Institute reports that
cost-effective improvements could save 55
percent.89
*
Califomia evaluates bids for office copiers
on a life-cycle cost basis, including energy
consumption. Copier energy consumption is
tested'in accordance with American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.
For one copier, the low bid unit price was
$938, but the life-cycle cost was $4,744.The
winning bid's unit price was $1,163 with a
life-cycle cost of $2,874. (Saghir A. Osmani,
Associate Procurement Engineer, Department
of General Services, State Office of Procurement, Standards and Quality Control, 1823
According to the EPA's Green Lights Program, if energy-efficient lighting were used
"everywhere it were profitable," it would
50
~
~
nance costs and improved safety for exit signs.
Besides reducing maintenance costs, the
longer-lasting compact fluorescent lamps
eliminate concern about burnout between
safety inspections.
Installing compact
fluomcent lamps in existing exit signs can
decrease energy costs for exit signs up to 90
percent.% Other exit sign options include
light-emitting diodes, tungsten light strips,
electroluminescent signs and self-luminous
exit signs.
duce national electricity demand by 10
percent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions
by 232 million tons annually.
*
Compact fluorescent bulbs consume 75
percent less electricity and last six times
longer than incandescent bulbs. As a result,
over its Metime, using a compact fluorescent
bulb saves $238 in energy, maintenance and
replacement costs, and prevents the emission
of 3,350 pounds of carbon dioxide.go
*
T-8 trichromatic bulbs are the energy-
Energy-efficient lighting should also be
installed in stxeetlights and traffic signals.
Street lighting usually ranks third behind water
supply and wastewater treatment in municipal
energy expenditures?' High-pressure sodium
lamps are twice as efficient as mercury vapor
lamps, which comprise the bulk of street
lighting.%
efficient option for ceiling f i x m s . Replacing
B conventional T-12 cool white ceiling lamp
with a T-8 lamp pays for itself in 1.6 years,
providing a 68.1 percent return on investment
and preventing 212 pounds of carbon dioxide
emissions a year?l Efficiency can be more
than doubled when these bulbs are used with
lighting reflectors and electronic ballasts.*
*
Lighting reflectors direct more light out
of the fmture,reducing the number of bulbs
needed.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
In January 1991, EPA inaugurated its
"Green Lights" program to encourage the use
of energy-efficient lighting systems in large
institutions. Green Lights developed a
Lighting System Support System, which it
calls the "most sophisticated lighting survey
and economic analysis software available."
It also established the National Lighting product Information Program, which issues reports
on brand-name lighting equipment. The
software,r e p , training workshops and other
resources are available free to Green Lights
participants. Participants sign a memorandum
of understanding, committing them to
installing energy efficient lighting in 90
percent of their space nationwide over a fiveyear period, where it is cost-effective and will
not require sacrificing lighting quality.
Government participants include the States of
California, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Maryland,
*
Electronic ballasts use less electricity than
magnetic ballasts, do not flicker and operate
silently.
*
Occupancy sensors automatically turn on
lights when people enter an area and turn
them off when people leave.
*
Daylighting controls measure the amount
of daylight in an area, and regulate electric
lights to eliminate unnecessary use.
There m several hundred thousand exit signs
in federal facilities, according to the Office
of Technology Assessment, consuming in total
several megawatts of power.93 New technologid developments permit signifcant energy
savings, as well as providing lower mainte-
51
*
Massachusetts, Missouri, Oregon and South
Dakota;Broward County, Floria, the Cities
of Houston,Texas and Naperville, Illinois; and
thc U.S. Virgin Islands. (EPA Green Lights
Program, 401 M Street, SW, Washington,
D.C. 20460, (202)775-6650.)
*
60-watt incandescent light bulbs with 26-watt
fluorescent bulbs and efficient fixtures in the
hallways of the Confederation Building and
found that energy consumption was reduced
by 54 percent and illumination was increased
by 250 percent. (Angela Ebsworth, Environment Coordinator, House of Commons, La
m e n a d e Building, 151 Sparks Street, Room
712, Ottawa K1A OA6, Canada;
(613)943- 1564.)
Phoenix,Arizona, conducted lighting tests
in municipal buildings to determine optimum
efficient lighting combinations. Retrofits are
expected to save $260,000 annually, with a
payback period of three years. The city will
realize these savings due to the reduced need
for electricity for lighting and cooling.
@imitriosLaloudakis, Phoenix Public Works
Department, 2631 S. 22nd Avenue, Phoenix,
AZ 85009; (602)262-7897.)
*
*
The U.S. Department of Interior installed
occupancy sensors in restrooms, mechanical
spaces and garages. The Sensors in the
restrooms were reported to have a payback
period of 11 years, while the sensors in the
garage paid back in 10 months. (A1 Barth,
Chief, Division of Space and Facilities
Management, Department of Interior, 1849 C
Street, N W ,Washington, DC 20240,
(202)208-7283.)
The Department of Energy’s Lawrence
Berkeley Laboratory reduced lighting electricity use by 80 percent by installing electronic ballasts, T-8 lamps, reflectors and
daylighting controls and removing unnecessary
lights. (Center for Building Science, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA
94720; (510)486-4OOo.)
*
The Canadian House of Commons replaced
* Brown University in 1991 started
retrofitting the 2,300 exit signs on its campus.
Using compact fluorescent lamps in its dorm
exit signs and LED exit signs everywhere else
is expected to save Brown over $4o,OOO a year
in energy costs for these exit signs. (Kurt
Teichert, Environmental Coordinator, PO Box
1941, Brown University, Providence, RI
02901; (401)863-7837.)
The Philadelphia School District retrofitted
4,000 75-watt and 1Wwatt incandescent bulbs
with 18-watt compact fluorescent bulbs in
closets, hallways, bathrooms and offices. The
cost of this project was $63,500 with an
annual savings of $60,OOO. The district also
replaced 1,OOO incandescent bulbs with 18watt compact fluorescent bulbs in spotlight
fixtures,costing $19,000 and saving $26,000
annually. Finally, the school district used
nine-watt compact fluorescent bulbs to replace
the 60-watt bulbs in a chandelier. (Michael
Hanson, Energy Manager, Facilities Services
Department, School District of Philadelphia,
734 Schuylkill Avenue, Room 328, Philadelphia, PA 19146, (215)875-3601.)
*
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
changed about 500 exit signs in its building
from two small 8-watt fluorescent bulbs
(which burnt out every three months) to 7-watt
LED exit signs. The new signs have required
no maintenance and paid for themselves in
avoided labor costs. (Leroy Gregg, Electricity
Foreman, FBI Building, 9th and Pennsylvania
Avenue, N W , Washington, DC 20535;
(202)324-3048.)
52
~
~
*
The University of Pennsylvania in 1989
liet Laboratory, Troy, NY 12180;
(5 18)276-87 16.
replaced 60 exit signs in one building with
signs using a strip of tungsten lamps wired
in an eight-inch coil to illuminate the sign.
The new lamps require six watts of energy
and have a five-year guarantee. The total
savings from the retrofit of one building,
including energy, lamp costs and maintenance,
is estimated to be $9,315 a year, with a
payback period of less than two months.
(Anthony V. Ventello, Technical Field
Advisor, University of Pennsylvania, 125 S.
36th Stmet, Philadelphia, PA 19103;
(215)898-4599.)
*
The Lighting Design Lab was established
by a consortium of utilities, environmental
organizations and state energy offices to
encourage the use of efficient lighting in
commercial buildings. Lighting Design Lab,
40 E. Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98122;
(206)325-97 11.
26. INSTALL
ENERGY-EFFICIENT
WINDOWS
According to the Alliance to Save Energy,
almost two-thirds of U.S.commercial space
have only single-pane windows.97 As a
result, annual energy losses through windows
in the United States equal the energy produced
by the amount of oil annually flowing through
the Alaskan pipeline.98
*
San Jose, California, in 1981 began replacing its 48,000 incandescent and mercury
vapar streetlights with high- and low-pressure
sodium lights. Since completing the conversions in 1984, San Jose has reaped annual
savings of $3.5-4 million. (Nayeem Sheik,
Wice of Environmental Management, 777
N. 1st Street,Suite 450, San Jose,CA 95112;
"Low-emissivity" or "low-e" coatings are one
way to reduce energy losses. Applied to the
surface of the glass, they reflect radiant heat,
keeping interiors warmer in the winter and
cooler in the summer. As of 1988, low-e
glass increased the cost of a new window by
about $2 per square foot cost (though prices
may have since been reduced), but paid back
this investment in 2-6 years, depending upon
climate and energy costs.*
Additional
energy savings can be obtained by substituting
gases, such as argon, for air between two
coated panes of glass."
(4O8)277-553 3.)
*
Mesa, Arizona, has been replacing incandescent and ballast neon pedestrian indicators
with solid-state neon units. Savings range from
68-77 percent. (Mesa Public Works Administration, Po Box 1466, Mesa, AZ 85211;
(602)644-2290.)
RESOURCES
*
Rocky Mountain Institute, 1739 Snowmass
Greek Road, Snowmass, Colorado 81654;
According to a Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
study, window films can substantially improve
occupant productivity. The study comborates
a report over a decade ago which found that
every degree of temperatwe a work space is
out of an employee's comfort zone costs the
employer 1 percent of the gross payroll of the
adversely affected worker."'
(303)927-3 128.
*
The Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute publishes the Guide
to Pevormance Evaluation ofLighting which
costs $20 from Robert Wolsey, Lighting
Research Center, RPI, 110 8th Street, Waterr53
showerheads save water and energy and pay
for themselves in a few months. Conventional
inefficient bathroom and kitchen faucets use
between three and seven gallons of water per
minute (gpm), most of which wastefully
bounces off surfaces.'M Commercial and
public lavatary faucets should have flow rates
of 1.5 gpm and shut off automatically.'06
Making windows from aerogel, a solid
material of nearly pure silica which contains
microscopic air cavities is being explored by
the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Just onehalf inch of aerogel between the panes of a
double-glazed window would increase the
window's insulating ability by 500 percent."
Replacing the air in aerogel with
gas or a vacuum would increase the insulating
ability well beyond that of most ordinary solid
walls."
Conventional showerheads use approximately
4.5 gpm, with efficient versions using 2.5 gpm
or less.'"'
One utility provided efficient
showerheads to consumers, who were not told
that they were energy-saving models; the
consumers were very positive about the new
showerheads. loa
Another promising technology is electrochromic glazings, which could be "switched" like
an appliance to admit more or less heat or
Iight?W
Many residential toilets use five gallons per
flush (gpf), though efficient toilets use less
While commercial urinals
than 1.6 gpf."
commonly use 1.5-five gpf, the most efficient
versions use only one gpf. In addition, automatic-sensor flushing devices allow for
substantial water savings."' Water efficiency experts, including the Rocky Mountain
Institute, advise against using toilet dams,
bricks or bottles, which can result in damaged
plumbing, poor performance and user dissatisfaction."
RESOURCES
*
Alliance to Save Energy, 1725 K Street,
NW, Suite 509, Washington, DC 20006,
(202)857-0666.
*
Passive Solar Industries Council, 1511 K
Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC
20005; (202)371-0357.
*
Florida Solar Energy Center, 300 State
Road 401, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920;
(407)783-0300.
In addition, water systems should be monitored for leaks, and even seemingly small ones
should be quickly repaired. A leak of one
drop per second wastes 15 gallons .of water
27. USE WATER EFFICIENTLY
per
Inefficient water use wastes energy and
money, strains the capacity of water supplies,
degrades the environment and necessitates the
construction of expensive water supply and
treatment operations.
Outdoor water use can also be made more
efficient. One-fourth to one-half of the water
used in landscape and garden irrigation is lost
to evaporation, runoff and spillover to paved
areas.113 Timers set to irrigate in early
morning or late evening hours reduce evaporation losses. Gauges or moisture sensors
determine when watering is needed. Grey
Indoor water use can be reduced drastically
by using water-efficient fixtures. Inexpensive,
easy-to-install and efficient faucet aerators and
54
~
~
~
Bureau of Water Resource Management, 3600
Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110;
(717)54 1-7805.)
water, water reclaimed from faucets and
showers, can be used for lawn care. A
comprehensive water-efficient strategy is
xeriscaping, which includes soil analysis, use
of drought-resistant plants and efficient
irrigation.
*
Santa Monica, California, replaced 1,700
toilets with 1.6 gallon per flush toilets, both
tank top and flush valve types, in schools,
municipal buildings and city-subsidized
nonprofit agencies. (Susan Munves, Conservation Coardinator, City of Santa Monica, 200
S.M.Pier, Suite CySanta Monica, CA 90401;
(310)458-8229.)
An 18 by 36 foot pool that is uncovered when
not in use can lose 900-3,000gallons of water
per month through evaporation. A pool cover
can prevent about 90 percent of that
Pool covers can save energy as
waste."'
well, since evaporation constitutes 60percent
of a pool's total heat
*
Florida is requiring its Departments of
General Services and Transportation to adopt
rules and guidelines for xeriscaping all new
public properties within their jurisdictions and
phasing in xeriscaping on all existing property.
(Bruce Adams, South Florida Water Management District, 3301 Gun Club Road, West
Palm Beach, FL 33406, (407)686-8800.)
To monitor and reduce water waste effectively, it is vital that buildings be separately
metered. Without knowing how much water
a building is using, there is little incentive to
be more efficient.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
RESOURCES
*
A water audit conducted at several Massachusetts state facilities determined annual
savings from one faucet aerator to be between
$15-30. The audit also determined that the
average annual savings from the installation
of one efficient showerhead is $160. Purchased in bulk, these devices cost less than
$3. (Executive Office for Administration and
Finance, Division of Capital Planning and
Operations, Office of Facilities Management,
State of Massachusetts, One Ashburton Place,
Boston, MA 02108;(617)727-4028.)
*
Water utility companies.
*
National Xeriscape Council, PO Box
767936,Roswell, GA 30076;
(404)998-5899.
*
Rocky Mountain Institute publications on
water efficiency include Water-Eflcient
Technologies: A Catalog for the Residentiallfight Commercial Sector, $25,and Water
Service Companies, $3, which describes
companies that install water-efficient technologies for a share of the savings. Rocky
Mountain Institute, 1739 Snowmass Creek
Road, Snowmass, CO 81654;(303)927-3851.
*
Edinboro University retrofitted its dormitories with efficient showerheads, efficient
faucet aerators and other retrofit devices,
reducing water use by 20 percent. Utility
costs, including water, sewer and energy, were
reduced by $52,000per year, at a total cost
of $1 1,O00. (Ned Sterling, Pennsylvania
*
A.S.S.E. Energy and Water Conservation
Guidelines,published by the American Society
of Sanitary Engineering (A.S.S.E.), is an
55
extensive guide to water efficiency in all areas
of a building, including chilled drinking water
systems, plumbing fixtures and water supply.
The cost for non-members is $25, for members $18.75, from A.S.S.E., PO Box 40362,
Bay Village, OH 44140; (216)835-3040.
with the best engine technology, aerodynamics
and tires available in 1992. This vehicle
would attain a fuel economy of 49.2 miles per
gallon (mpg) - 79 percent higher than the
c m n t standard of 27.5 mpg."
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
28. PURCHASE
FUEL-EFFICIENT
MOTOR
VEHICLES
*
Denver, Colorado, is developing a Green
Fleets Program,with a pricing methodology
that would include a preference for fuelefficient vehicles to account for the "external"
benefits of fuel efficiency. (Steve Andrews,
City and County of Denver Department of
Health and Hospitals, Environmental Health
Service, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO
80204, (303)436-7325.)
Governments comprise a significant portion
of the U.S. auto industry's market. The
federal government alone spends $7 billion
annually on new cars and trucks,116and state
fleets outnumber federal fleets by almost 10
to
Yet, according to a 1991 NIGP
survey, only 24 percent of the respondents
consider fuel efficiency as a primary evaluation factor when purchasing motor vehicles."* Fuel-efficient vehicle procurement
programs can reduce fuel costs and air pollution, as well as influence the industry to
incorporate rapidly efficient features and
designs in vehicles for all consumers.
*
In a 1977 executive order, President Jimmy
Carter established fuel efficiency targets for
the federal fleet which exceeded contemporary
corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFE)
standards. This target was eliminated in 1982
by an executive order issued by President
Ronald Reagan.'21
Many existing technologies, available to all
manufacturers, could vastly improve fuel
economy. These include multipoint fuel
injection, overhead cams, roller cam followers,
multi-valve cylinder heads, friction reduction
and variable valve timing. According to the
American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy, the above improvements would
increase the average car's price only $600, or
less than 4 percent, while improving efficiency
as much as 30 percent. With savings of 1,500
gallons of gasoline over the lifetime of the
car, the rate of return would be 29 percent per
year, providing a payback of four month^."^
*
The American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy has proposed for U.S.
automakers a publicly funded competition and
incentive program to develop and market
superefficient automobiles. Part of the
incentive for the winning vehicle would be
guaranteed acquisition of the winning vehicle
by the federal government and other large
fleet operators. (American Council for an
Energy Efficient Economy, 1001 Connecticut
Avenue, N W , Suite 801, Washington, MJ
20036; (202)429-8873.)
*
Using vehicles owned by the City of
Tempe and Maricopa County, the Arizona
Energy office tested a new, heat-reflective
windshield that lowered interior surface
The Energy Conservation Coalition calculated
the maximum fuel economy attainable for an
above average size passenger car equipped
56
__
which is imported.'% The United States is
expected to exhaust its supply of oil for
energy purposes before the year 2020, and the
world's oil resources are likely to be exhausted by about 2W.lZ
temperatures by up to 20". Vehicles typically
experience a 15 percent drop in fuel economy
as a result of using the air conditioner. Thus,
the heat-reflective windshield facilitates better
gas mileage. (Jim Westberg, Arizona Energy
Office, 3800 N. Central, Suite 1200, Phoenix,
AZ 85012; (602)280-1430.)
While there is a variety of altemative fuels,
no conclusion has been reached as to which
is the most environmentally benign.'% One
problem is that studies rarely perform a full
analysis of the production and distribution of
altemative fuels. This is particularly important when considering electric vehicles which,
though they do not emit pollution themselves,
obtain electricity from power plants which do.
RESOURCES
*
The Center for Auto Safety's 1991 report
The Safe Road to Fuel Economy refutes auto
industry arguments that fuel-efficient automobiles are unsafe. The report costs $35, or
send a self-addressed stamped envelope for
a free summary to the Center for Auto Safety,
2001 S Street, NW, Suite 410, Washington,
DC 20009; (202)328-7700.
Also, some alternative fuels are derived from
non-renewable resources, such as natural gas,
coal or electricity produced by fossil-fuel
burning plants. Proponents of natural gas note
the domestic supply. According to one
estimate, however, at current usage, the United
States has only a 40-55 year supply left.ln
Self-reliance certainly has its benefits: for
roughly the cost of U.S. military operations
in the Middle East in 1990, approximately a
million vehicles could have been converted
to natural gas each month.lB
*
Driving Up the Heat: A Buyer's Guide to
Automobiles, Fuel Eflciency and Global
Warming costs $10 from the Critical Mass
Energy Project, 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE,
Washington, DC 20003; (202)546-4996.
29. PURCHASE
ALTERNATIVE
FUELVEHICLES
One seemingly negative characteristic of
altemative fuels is their lower energy density
compared to gasoline; that is, a gallon of
gasoline has more energy than a gallon of an
altemative fuel. This could be a boon,
however, as the need to travel farther on fuel
that contains less energy will spur efforts to
improve vehicle fuel efficiency.
Altemative transportation fuels are being
promoted as a means of improving air quality
and reducing our reliance on imported oil.
The United States' dependence on petroleum
for transportation comes at great expense to
our environment and economy. Motor
vehicles generate 50 percent of the emissions
of volatile organic compounds, 43 percent of
nitrogen oxides and over 90 percent of the
carbon monoxide pollution in urban areas.'22
In addition, they account for roughly 25
percent of the nation's greenhouse gas
emissions.'"
Transportation accounts for
two-thirds of our nation's oil use, half of
Government procurement can overcome barriers to the integration of altemative fuel
vehicles. Currently, most altemative fuel
vehicles are specially manufactured vehicles
or converted original manufacturer vehicles.
The low economies of scale inherent in this
57
toxics than gasoline, and the same amount of
carbon monoxide.'33 However, the only
ethanol c m n t l y available, ma& from wrn,
increases greenhouse gas emissions by 25
percent. This results from the high fossil fuel
inputs to raise and process the corn, and high
levels of nitrogen fertilization.'34
process help account for alternative fuel
vehicles' high costs. However, alternative fuel
producers, such as natural gas companies and
electric utilities, often provide economic and
technical assistance for vehicle conversion and
fueling facilities. Another barrier to using
alternative fuels - lack of infrastructure is easily overcome with centralized govemment fleets. Furthermore, the daytime duty
cycle of most government fleets allows for
refueling at night, when electricity costs are
low and when inexpensive slow-fill natural
gas refueling tanks can be used.
Natural Gas - Conversion kits to change a
vehicle from gasoline to compressed natural
gas (CNG)cost from $1,500-2,500. Natural
gas utilities have been promoting CNG
vehicles, and in many cases supply without
charge the most expensive part of the technology, the compress~r.'~~
The natural gas
production and transmission infrastructure is
well-developed and compressed natural gas
is competitive with gasoline and diesel
fuel.'= There may be fuel incentives as
well. Brooklyn Union Gas has a special rate
for natural gas as a vehicle fuel.'"
Ethanol- Production of ethanol involves the
cooking, fermentation and distillation of
grains, sugar crops, potatoes and other starchy
plants. The Solar Energy Research Institute
(SERI) estimated that, with an aggressive
research and development program, ethanol
could be produced from wood and waste at
60 cents per gallon. According to SERI,
enough ethanol could be produced from
agricultural and forestry wastes, municipal
solid waste and energy crops in the United
States to replace all gasoline used.'29 While
using ethanol would decrease dependence on
imported oil, it would increase dependence
on one company. Half of the ethanol fuel
used today is produced by Archer Daniels
Midland."
Light-duty vehicles with natural gas engines
produce approximately 85 percent less hydrocarbons than gasoline engines and 90
percent less carbon monoxide, and generate
no particulate^.'^^ The greenhouse gas impact of compressed natural gas ranges from
zero-15percent better than gasoline, depending on whether the vehicle has dual-fuel
capabilities or is dedicated to natural gas.
Vehicles dedicated to a single fuel axe more
fuel efficient, thus reducing greenhouse gas
emis~ions.'~~
Internal combustion engines can operate on
ethanol with minor adjustments to the carburetor and replacement of certain fuel-line
parts. However, ethanol contains half the
energy content per gallon as gasoline, thus
reducing driving range.131
Methanol - Presently, most methanol is
produced from inexpensive natural gas
purchased from foreign suppliers.""' Most
auto manufacturers now make methanol
vehicles in limited q~antities.'~'Both methanol vehicles and fueling stations are similar
to their gasoline counterparts, but both require
protection from methanol's corrosive qualities.'42 Since the methanol industry has not
Switching from gasoline to ethanol has the
potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by 70 percent.'32 Further, ethanol combustion produces smaller quantities of nitrogen
oxides, hydrocarbons, sulphur oxides and
58
-
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
made the extensive commitment to fueling
facilities that natural gas utilities have, public
fleets must bear the entire cost to establish
these refueling fa~i1ities.l'~
*
Denver's City and County Department of
Health and Hospitals has developed an
evaluation system which compares alternative
motor fuels in a variety of different vehicles
to gasoline and diesel. Categories for
consideration are emissions, costs, national
security, fire/safety and operational considerations. (Deborah Kielian, City and County
of Denver Department of Health and Hospitals, Environmental Health Service, 605
Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204,
(303)436-7305.)
Compared to gasoline, methanol made from
natural gas produces lower emissions of
nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, carbon
monoxide, sulphur dioxide and, overall, fewer
toxics (with the exception of formal&hyde).l& However, production from coal
results in more sulphur dioxide emissions'"
and an 80 percent increase in greenhouse gas
emissions.14 Greenhouse gas emissions
from methanol produced from natural gas are
roughly equivalent to those of gasoline, though
vehicles capable of running on either gasoline
or methanol are less efficient, resulting in a
5 percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions.14'
* The Urban Consortium has proposed that
local governments aggregate their orders for
alternative fuel vehicles to drive the market,
reduce costs and facilitate the process of
integrating these vehicles into government
fleets. The Urban Consortium Energy Task
Force's Alternative Vehicle Fuels Core
Assistance Program provides assistance to
local governments intemted in using these
vehicles. (Denise de Percin, Public Technology, Inc., 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, N W ,
Washington, DC 20004; (202)626-2400.)
Electric Vehicles - Electric vehicles are
powered by electricity stored in a rechargeable
battery pack, the most expensive component
of the vehicle. Much research is being done
on producing a cheap, durable battery with
greater storage capacity. Benefits of electric
vehicles include half the maintenance needs
of conventional vehicles, due to fewer
mechanical parts, and no problems starting in
cold temperat~res.'~~
*
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) operates
the nation's largest alternative fuel vehicle
fleet with 314 delivery vehicles. The Office
of Fleet Management has tested alternative
fuel sources including electricity, hydrogen,
methanol, ethanol and compressed natural gas.
USPS has found that natural gas offers fuel
savings of three cents per mile compared to
gasoline. In Fiscal Year 1992, PS plans to
double its alternative fuel fleet. (Environmental Policy Division, U.S.Postal Service,
475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 4130,
Washington, DC 20260, (202)268-5595.)
Whether electric vehicles dramatically reduce
emissions depends on the source of the
electricity generati~n.'~~
In general, electric
vehicles yield a reduction in greenhouse gases,
except in the case of vehicles which get their
electricity from coal-fired plants, resulting in
5 percent more greenhouse gases.'50 However, the pollution associated with electric cars
is released by power plants. As a result,
electric cars do not emit poisonous exhaust
on the streets.
*
The Alternative Motor Fuels Act of 1988
authorizes $18 million between 1990-93 for
59
employees who bike to work;
the federal government to purchase and
demonstrate alternative fuel light-duty vehicles. GSA and DOE procured 65 methanol
dual-fueled vehicles in 1990. (Automotive
commodity Center, General Services Administration, 1941 Jefferson Davis Highway, Room
604, Washington, DC 20406; (703)308-4190.)
pviding shuttle service limn public transportation stops to government facilities;
~
maintaining ride boards to help employees
increase car pooling;
~
charging higher fees for parking at government buildings;
RFSOURCES
*
EPA’s series of reports titled, Analysis of
the Economic and Environmental Egects of
Alternative Fuels as an Automotive Fuel are
available from Elaine Burger, U.S. EPA, 2565
Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105;
(3 13)668-4296.
reimbursing employees using public transportation;
using teleconferencing; and
using telecommuting, allowing employees to work at home and use telephone
and computer links to communicate
with their office.
*
Office of Electric and Hybrid Propulsion,
U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, 10oO Independence Avenue, Washington,
DC 20585; (202)586-8063.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
* California Energy Commission, Transpartation Technologies and Fuels Office, 1516
9th Street, MS-41, Sacramento, CA 95814;
(916)654-4634.
30. REDUCE
OVERALL
*
The Canadian government increased its
parking rates for its employees in Ottawa,
resulting in a 23 percent reduction in employees driving to work,a 16 percent increase
in public transportation use and an increase
in average vehicle occupancy from 1.33 to
1.41 pa~sengers.’’~
MOTORVEHICLE
USE
*
Over 40 federal agencies in the Washington, DC area participate in a rebate program
for mass transit fares. Most agencies provide
employees with fare cards or bus tokens up to $21 a month, the maximum tax-free
U.S. dependence on the automobile for
transportation has societal impacts beyond air
pollution, fossil fuel dependence and congestion. More Americans have been killed in
automobile crashes than were killed in World
Wars I and II, the Korean War and the
Vietnam War combined.’”
*
The Southern California Association of
Governments (SCAG) implemented a telecommuting pilot project with its employees,
averaging net travel savings of 41 personmiles per telecommute. In 1989, it began
Ways for government agencies to reduce
motor vehicle use include:
*
providing bicycle racks and showers for
60
* The 1991 New Mexico Energy Policy
recommends that the state designate a
transportation manager to promote, coordinate
and monitor efforts to reduce gasoline use by
the state government motor vehicle fleet and
commuters to state government jobs. (New
Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural
Resources Department, 2040 S. Pacheco
Street, Santa FeyN M 87503; (505)827-5900.)
another telecommuting initiative to reduce
employee work-related vehicle-miles-traveled
by 20 percent. (Southern California Association of Governments, 818 W. 7th Street, 12th
Floor,Los Angeles, CA 90005;
(213)236-1800.)
*
The California Department of General
Services completed a statewide telecommuting
pilot program which achieved an overall 30
percent decrease in vehicle trips. Approximately 150 state employees telecommuting
an average of 1.3 days per week saved a total
of 37,000 gallons of fuel over 18 months.
(For a copy of the California Telecommunications Pilot Project Final Report, June, 1990,
send $10.90, or $10.12 within California, to
the Department of General Services, Forms
and Publications, PO Box 1015, North
Highlands, CA 95660, (916)574-2200.)
*
The Canadian House of Commons organized a Task Force on Bicycling, charged with
determining the barriers to cycling to work
on Parliament Hill. The Task Force's
recommendations included increasing security
near bicycle racks, improving the shower and
changing facilities and creating bicycle paths
on the Hill. The Task Force also participated
in "Motor Vehicle Free Day" in June 1991;
Parliament Hill employees who did not drive
to work were eligible fof a raffle. (Angela
Ebsworth, Environmental Coordinator, House
of Commons, La Promenade Building, 151
Sparks Street, Room 712, Ottawa K1A OA6,
Canada, (613)943-1564.)
*
The University of California at Los
Angeles's v a n p l program maintains a fleet
of 83 fifteen-passenger vans and eight minivans. Participants, who pay a monthly fee
based on mileage, include students, university
employees and people employed in communities along the vanpool routes. (Commuter Assistance Ridesharing, 405 Hilgard
Avenue, 555 Westwood Plaza,Room 200,Los
Angeles, CA 90024; (310)825-4321.)
*
Glendale, Arizona, lends unclaimed stolen
bicycles to city employees, who must pledge
to ride them to work three days a week.'"
*
Tempe, Arizona, instituted a Travel Reduction Program which included compressed
work weeks and flex time to encourage offpeak commuting, bus subsidies, cash incentives to encourage alternative forms of transportation and an in-house rideshare data base.
(Department of Public Works, City of Tempe,
Po Box 5002, Tempe, AZ 85281;
(602)350-8370.)
61
62
SECTION III: POLLUTION PREVENTION
Consumers trying to avoid dangerous products
must contend with both misinformation and
an utter lack of information. A study by the
New York Poison Control Center found that
85 percent of the product warning labels
studied were inadequate; some listed incorrect
fmt-aid measures and some warned against
dangers that do not exist? Also, label
warnings are required only on products that
are h a r " or fatal if accidentally swallowed
or inhaled in extreme concentrations; no
warnings are given on products that have
long-term health effects?
In its 1992 Sixth Biennial Report on Great
Lakes Water Quality, the Intemational Joint
Commission states: "Surely it is time to ask
whether we really want to continue attempts
to manage persistent toxic substances after
they have been produced or used, or whether
we want to begin to eliminate and prevent
their existence in the ecosystem in the first
place."'
Since 1980, when Congress passed the
Superfund legislation, at least $7.5 billion has
been spent to clean up a mere 64 chemically
contaminated sites? The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has 1,200 sites on
its official list, though it knows of 32,000
other sites, and according to the Office of
Technology Assessment, there are probably
about 439,000 such sites? In 1989, EPA
estimated U.S. annual toxic production at six
billion tons,' and production of synthetic
organic chemicals increased by 53 percent
from 1977 to 1989:
Workers are particularly affected by toxic
production and use. According to the Workplace Health Fund, medical experts estimate
that some 10 million people in the United
States are at high risk of developing serious
illness as a result of past or present exposure
to toxic substances in the workplace.''
The only real solution is not to produce
dangerous substances in the fmt place; that
is, to switch from "end-of-pipe'' cleanup to
non-polluting methods of production and safe,
non-toxic products. Primary responsibility for
this change rests with manufacturers, but
consumers also have a vital role to play.
Large consumers, such as governments, can
lead the demand for safer products by
avoiding products that are hazardous, such as
certain cleansers and pesticides, and choosing
products produced in an environmentally
responsible manner, such as non-chlorine
bleached paper products.
From cleaners to pesticides to paper, consumers use products which degrade the
environment in their production, use and
disposal. In addition, many of these products
create risks for human health. Some 70,000
chemicals are in commercial use, including
more than 17,000 in pesticides, cosmetics,
foods and drugs. Yet the National Research
Council estimated that less than 30 percent
of these 17,000 chemicals have been tested
to the point where their connection to cancer
or reproductive damage is understood! Not
only are the long-term health effects of many
chemicals unknown, but little is known about
the combinedeffects of simultaneous exposure
to a mix of chemicals.'
In the following chapters, we will discuss the
numerous options and strategies available to
public institutions to reduce pollution.
63
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
ment's 1992 National Pollution Prevention
Strategy is to "Establish the federal government as the national leader in implementing
pollution prevention policies and practices
across all missions, activities and functions
in order to promote the sustainable use of
natural resources and protect human health
and the environment." (John Atcheson,
Pollution Prevention Division, EPA, 401 M
Street, SW,(PM-222B), Washington, DC
20460, (202)260-4164.)
*
*
31. ESTABLISH
A POLLUTION PREVENTION
POLICY
First and foremost, pollution prevention must
be established as both a policy and a priority.
Pollution prevention strategies require the
participation and commitment of all levels of
the government community.
Under its Green Plan, Canada's federal
government has adopted a Code of Environmental Stewardship and established an Office
of Environmental Stewardship, which coordinates environmental activities in federal
agencies.
(Michael Calvert, Office of
Environmental Stewardship, Environment
Canada, 10Wellington Street, 4th floor, Hull,
Quebec K1A OH3; (819)997-8346.)
The Govemor of Minnesota issued an
Executive order in 1991 which directs state
agencies to implement pollution prevention
measures. The order establishes an Interagency Pollution Prevention Advisory Team
and directs agencies to develop policy statements, encourage pollution prevention through
purchasing and prepare annual summaries of
their activities. (Paul Moss, Minnesota Office
of Waste Management, 1350Energy Lane, St.
Paul, M N 55108; (612)649-5746.)
*
In July 1989, the Canadian House of
Commons created a Task Force on the
Environment for the House of Commons. As
a result of the Task Force's recommendations,
in June, 1990a comprehensive environmental
program "Greening the Hill" was launched.
The pmgram addresses solid waste, toxics and
energy issues in an attempt to reduce Parliament Hill's environmental impact. A statement of principle on environmentally sound
purchasing practices was developed which
states, in part, that "specifications provide for
the use of products and services that produce
fewer polluting by-products andor environmental hazards during the use and disposal
than competing products." In addition,
companies' corporate environmental practices
have been included as a criterion in some bids.
The program produces a semi-annual newsletter called GreenHouse for House members and
staff. (Angela Ebsworth, Environment
Coordinator, House of Commons, La Prome-
* The Waste Not Washington Act requires
Washington state agencies to reduce their solid
and hazardous waste. The G.O.L.D. (Government Options to Landfill Disposal) Team has
developed a manual which details strategies
for reducing waste in cafeterias, offices, motor
vehicle maintenance shops and other facilities.
(Kathy Emmett, Department of Ecology,
Waste Reduction, Recycling and Liner Control
Program, Mail Stop PV-11, Olympia, WA
98504, (206)438-7876.)
* Ohio's Pollution Prevention Development
Workgroup's goals include identifying state
government initiatives to promote pollution
prevention. (Mike Kelley, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, PO Box 1049,
Columbus, OH 43266; (614)644-3649.)
*
One of the goals of the federal govern-
64
~
~
*
A catalogue of hazardous and solid waste
publications is available at no charge from the
RCRA (Resource Conservation andRecovery
Act) Information Center, Office of Solid
Waste, EPA, 1725 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Room 1200A, Arlington, VA 22202;
(800)424-9346.
nade Building, 151 Sparks Street, Room 712,
Ottawa, K1A OA6 Canada, (613)943-1564.)
*
San Diego, California’s Hazardous
Materials Management Program has centralized management of hazardous material and
waste issues affecting city facilities. All new
employees are provided instruction on
hazardous materials issues, and those actively
involved in the issue are trained annually.
These efforts have resulted in a 34 percent
reduction in wastes generated and a 32 percent
reduction in materials stored. (Helen Bird,
Deputy Director, San Diego Waste Management Department, 4950 Murphy Canyon Road,
San Diego, CA 92123; (619)492-5010.)
*
The American Institute of Architects’
Environmental Resource Guide is designed
to help architects incorporate environmental
concerns into their design decisions. h a s
addressed include energy efficiency, recyclability, use of recycled materials and reducing
indoor air pollution. Doug Greenwood, Ph.D,
American Institute of Architects, 1735 New
York Avenue, Washington DC, 20006,
(202)626-7300.
RESOURCES
*
Toxics A to Z : A Guide to Everyday
Pollution Hazards, by John Harte, et al., is
a readable, comprehensive reference book.
University of California Press, 1991, $29.95.
*
Tackling Toxics in Everyday Products is
a comprehensive listing of organizations
working on toxics issues. It costs $22.95 from
Inform, 381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1201,
New York, NY 10016; (212)689-4040.
*
Hazardous Waste Guide, U.S. Postal
Service, Environmental Policy Division, 475
L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 4130, Washington,
DC 20260, (202)268-5595.
*
EPA’s Pollution Prevention Information
Clearinghouse (PPIC) provides technical,
policy, programmatic and financial information on pollution prevention. The PPIC’s Federal Facilities Mini-Exchange data base
provides information on recycling and
pollution prevention efforts in federal facilities. PPIC, Office of Research and Development, EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington,
DC 20460, (703)821-4800.
*
The 1991-1992 Green Index: A State-ByState Guide to the Nation’s Environmental
Health, by Bob Hall and Mary Lee Ken,
$18.95 Island Press, Washington, DC, 1991,
is an excellent resource on environmental
issues ranging from water pollution to community and workplace health.
*
*
EPA publications on pollution prevention
include the Guides to Pollution Prevention,
which focus on such facilities as hospitals and
research and educational institutions. Center
for Environmental Research Infomation, EPA,
26 W. Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati,
OH 45268; (513)569-7391.
Many states have a state pollution prevention office.
65
outweigh the risks. Yet EPA's risk-benefit
analysis is skewed, because it neglects the
availability of alternatives to spraying OUT
lawns and interiors with toxic chemicals.'*
32. ELIMINATE
THE USE OF TOXIC
PESTICIDES
Evidence has demonstrated that many of the
most common lawn chemicals and indoor
pesticides are dangerous to humans. Because
pesticides are designed to kill living organisms, EPA prohibits claims that these chemicals are safe or nontoxic." A 1988 National
Cancer Institute (NCI) study linked the lawn
chemical, 2,4-D, to cancer deaths.12 A 1991
NCI study found that dogs whose owners use
2,4-D are twice as likely to develop lymphatic
cancer.13 For another chemical, carbaryl,
EPA's Scientific Advisory Panel recommended a label statement warning pregnant
women to avoid exposure, but EPA decided
that the data did not merit the warning. The
label now warns against exposing pregnant
dogs to the ~hemical.'~
Environmentalists are also critical of the
failure of EPA to test for nervous system and
immune system risks, except in the case of
organophosphate^.'^ Furthermore, little is
known about the persistence of pesticides in
the indoor environment and the interaction
between chemicals.20
~
___
Perhaps the most alarming information about
pesticides concerns their *'inertingmhents."
Inert ingredients are designed to preserve the
active ingredients, make them easier to apply
or improve their killing ability?l Because
manufacturers claim that inert ingredients are
proprietary, federal law does not require them
to reveal the inert ingredients to the public.
Inert ingredients typically comprise 80-90
percent of ,a pesticide, and can be more toxic
than the active ingredients.=
These are only two examples. According to
the National Coalition Against the Misuse of
Pesticides, studies on animals have shown that
of the 34 chemicals encompassing 95 percent
of lawn pesticides, 10 are carcinogens, 12
cause birth defects, 20 are neurotoxic, seven
alter the reproductive process, 13 cause liver
and kidney damage and 29 are sensitizers or
irritants.'5
Furthermore, according to EPA: "Hazardous
waste is legally allowed to be recycled into
pesticides." Wastes such as chloroform and
toluene can be "recycled" in pesticides, thus
allowing waste producers to avoid federal and
state laws governing hazardous waste disposal."
A 1990 EPA indoor home air study detected
26 pesticides, of which in animals, 19 are
nerve poisons, 18 may cause cancer, 15 are
mutagens, 15 could cause birth defects and
19 can cause reproductive problems.16
The full extent of the pesticide problem is
unknown, since the federal government does
not collect reports of pesticide poisonings,
doctors are often not trained to recognize
pesticide poisoning and long-term effects of
pesticides are difficult to trace.24 Yet the
anecdotal evidence is alarming. In 1989, a
seven-year-old boy almost died when he ate
some "sand" beneath a tree in his school
playground. In fact, the "sand' was the highly
toxic pesticide, Disyston.25 That same year,
Furthermore, at EPA's current rate of testing,
it will take more than a decade before 32 of
the 34 most commonly used lawn chemicals
are fully tested for their effects on human
health." Even when registered by EPA,
these chemicals are not "safe." Registration
means that EPA considers the benefits to
66
-
carpets. Schools were using diazinon, which
is banned by EPA from use on sod farms and
golf courses because it kills birds.34
prompted by students and staff complaints of
headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue, the
National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health closed a West Virginia high school
because the pesticide chlordane, a carcinogen,
was found at concentrations 11 times the
evacuation threshold.26
Integrated Pest Management (IPM),as opposed to conventional pest management,
addresses the root causes of pest problems,
and eliminates scheduled, unrestrained chemical spraying. According to Dr. Albert
Greene, Entomologist, General Services
Administration, National Capitol Region, there
are seven general requirements for a safe pest
management program:
Children are uniquely vulnerable to the
hazards of pesticides.n Children require
more food and oxygen than adults because
they arr: growing and more active; they absorb
higher amounts of toxins from the environment.28 The liver and kidneys, organs which
detoxify and excrete foreign substances, are
not fully developed in young people.29
Barriers to the absorption of toxic substances,
such as those which protect the brain, are also
not well-developed.30 As a result, children
are more likely to suffer damage to the brain
and nervous system from exposure to toxins
than adults?l The probability of cancer is
also increased by early exposure to carcinogens.”
1. Technically-based administrarion: safe pest
control relies on informed guidance, planning
and evaluation.
2. Rigorous contract selection: selection
should not be based solely on cost, but with
consideration of the contractar’s training, staff
and experience. Emphasis should be on
performance, not the number of site visits.
3. Well-definedtechnical specifications: these
include no routine pesticide treatment in the
absence of pests and a systematic monitoring
program with accurate record-keeping.
Five reports by Public Citizen, done in
cooperation with local citizen groups, reveal
the exposure of schoolchildren to pesticides.
The reports, which studied pesticide use in
Washington, Texas, Philadelphia, Atlanta and
Washington, DC, school systems, found that
all five school systems relied heavily on pesticides which are potentially neurotoxic to
humans. Education requirements for pesticide
applicators were minimal, and parents were
not being infonned about pesticide treatment~?~
4. Inclusion of food service space: exclusion
of these focal points of pest infestation will
defeat efforts to control pests.
5 . An emphasis on sanitatwn, waste management and structural maintenance: this
means relying on a diversity of approaches
to suppress pest populations, such as moving
garbage storage sites away from where food
is stored and caulking and fixing leaking
faucets (water is the resource most in demand
by roaches).
Some standard school procedures create
horrific situations. The Philadelphia School
Distxjct was spraying buildings while students
were present. One Texas school system
sprayed kindergarten carpets with pesticides,
even though children sit and play on these
6. An ongoing inspection program: the
contracting institution should periodically
67
(Bobby Davis, Director, General Sanitation
Division, Texas Department of Health, 1100
W.49th Street, Austin, TX 78756;
(5 12)834-6635.)
inspect its property to determine the program’s
effectiveness.
7. An occupant educationprogram: employees must make the effort to clean food areas,
reduce clutter and report pest problems as
soon as they develop.35
~
*
In AM Arbor,Michigan, a contractor was
hired with instructions to use pesticides only
when it was indicated and after appropriate
authorization. In the year after the program
was initiated, only one application for roach
control was necessary. (Randy Trent, Director
of Environmental and Utility Services, Ann
Arbor Public Schools, 2555 S. State Street,
Ann Arbor, MI 48104; (313)994-2277.)
In addition, employees and, in the case of
schools, parents should be notified well in
advance when chemicals are being used, what
they are and what their potential hazards are.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
____
*
In San Diego, California, school policy
requires that non-toxic pest management
tactics be used instead of chemicals. (The School Pesticide Use Reduction Guide is $12 and
available from the Environmental Health
Coalition, 1717 Kettner Boulevard, Suite 100,
San Diego, CA 92101; (619)235-0281.)
*
Since adopting IPM in 1985, the Montgomery County, Maryland, school system has
reduced pesticide use by 90 percent. In
addition to IPM, the county has been investigating non-chemical technologies such as heat
treatments and sanding. (Bill Forbes, Montgomery County Public Schools, Maintenance
Division, 16651 Crabs Branch Way, Rockville,
MD 20855; (301)840-8100.)
*
New York’s Division of Housing and
Community Renewal and the Consumer
Protection Board have instituted guidelines for
pesticide use in state-aided housing. Under
the guidelines, tenants receive at least five
days notice in advance of pesticide applications, exterminatorsprovide product information including special alerts for susceptible
people and pesticide information is kept on
permanent file with fie manager. (Betty
Pohanka-Walsh, Division of Housing and
Community Renewal, Hampton Plaza, 38-40
State Street, Albany, NY 12207;
(5 18)473-2526.)
*
New York’s Office of General Services
( O G S ) has completely halted the use of
chemical pesticides in its facilities. (For a
copy of OGS’ pest management contract
specifications, contact the National Institute
of Governmental Purchasing, Reston International Center, 11800 Sunrise Valley Drive,
Suite 1050, Reston, VA 22091;
(703)7 15-9400.)
*
Four months after Public Citizen released
their Texas study in May 1991, the Texas
legislature enacted sweeping changes in school
pesticide policy, including mandated use of
IPM, posting of signs 48 hours in advance of
any pesticide application, information for
parents on school pesticide policy and training
for school employees who apply pesticides.
* Sarasota County, Florida, in 1991 became
one of the first counties in the country to
adopt an IPM program. Savings of $20,000
per year for pest control services are predicted. (Michael J. Holsinger, County Extension
Director, 2900 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota,
68
-
I
_
*
Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to
Pesticides, PO Box 1393, Eugene, OR 97440,
(503)344-5044.
FL 34237; (8 13)95 1-4240.)
* Canada's National Capital Commission has
eliminated the use of chemical pesticides and
herbicides on Parliament Hill. Staff use
organic fertilizers and a variety of methods,
including more frequent aeration, to maintain
the grounds. @r. P. Ayyam Perumal,
Manager, Urban Forestry and Horticulture
Division, National Capital Commission, 161
Laurier Avenue, W, Ottawa K1P 6J6 Ontario;
(613)837-2464.)
*
New York Coalition for Alternatives to
Pesticides, 33 Central Avenue, Albany, NY
12210; (5 18)426-8246.
*
Basic Guide to Pesticides: Their Characteristics and Hazarh, compiled by the Rachel
Carson Council, gives information on the
characteristics and the health and environmental effects of more than 700 pesticides. The
cost is $39.50 from (800)821-8312.
*
Canada's Intexpretive Service at Banff
National Park installed six birdhouses and
fifteen "bat flats" in the park to encourage
insect predators to take residence. The bat
flatsresulted in increased visitor comfort and
b a s e d pesticide use.%
33. PURCHASE
NON-CHLORINE
BLEACHED
PAPER PRODUCTS
Traditionally, to produce bright white paper
products, wood pulp is bleached with chlorinebased compounds.n This process creates as
many as 1,000 organochlorines, only 300 of
whose chemical properties have been evaluated?' Many of them, including dioxin, are
known carcinogens and m~tagens?~
RESOURCES
*
Dr.Albert -ne,
Integrated Pest Management Program,General Services Administration, National Capital Region, 7th and D
Strtet, SW, Room 7719, Washington, DC
20407;(202)708-6948.
According to Greenpeace, paper mills dump
an estimated 400-700 million pounds of
organochlorines into U.S. water annually.&
Biological treatment is generally ineffective
against organochlorines, because they resist
biological breakdown:l These effluents lead
to reduced reproductivity, suppressed immune
systems and impaired metabolism in fish."2
*
Bio-Integral Resource Center, PO Box
7414, Berkeley, CA 94707; (5 10)524-2567.
*
The Contaminated Classrooms reports
analyze pesticide use in Washington, Texas,
Philadelphia, Atlanta and Washington, DC,
school systems and are available for $10 each
from Public Citizen, 215 Pennsylvania
Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003;
(202)546-4996.
Organochlorines are extremely bioaccumulative - concentrations are multiplied higher
in the food chain. The presence of at least
168 organochlorines in the Great Lakes has
been linked to birth defects in children of
mothers who ate Great Lakes f i ~ h . 4 ~
*
National Coalition Against the Misuse of
Pesticides, 701 E Street, SE, Suite 200,
Washington, DC 20003; (202)543-5450.
69
be chlorine-free by 2002.5l In many European countries, consumers are given a choice
and overwhelmingly choose chlorine-free
Organochlorines are also found in the paper
products themselves.u EPA has found that
incineration of these chlorine-bleached products creates thousands of organochlorines."
-
Dioxin has been found to migrate from paper
products, such as cups and milk cartons, into
the food which they contain. Dioxins and
furons dissolve readily in the oils found in
coffee. As a ssult, Americans a -most
~ likely
to come in contact with organochlorines when
drinking coffee from paper CUPS.^
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
The General Services Administration is
purchasing unbleached recycled napkins, toilet
paper and paper towels, and has issued a bid
for hydrogen peroxide-bleached recycled
printing and writing papers. (Susan McAdam,
General Services Administration, Engineering
and Commodity Management Division,
Federal Supply Service -2FYE, 26 Federal
Plaza,New York, NY 10278; (212)264-8248.)
The paper industry has been switching f "
chlorine gas to chlorine dioxide. However,
using chlorine dioxide does not eliminate the
organochlorine problem.
Furthermore,
chlorine dioxide is much more dangerous to
paperworkers?'
*
Proposed legislation in Vermont and
Wisconsin would provide a 10 percent price
preference for chlorine-free products.
(Vermont Legislative Council, 115 State
Street, Drawer 33, Montpelier, VT 05633;
(802)828-223 1; and Representative Spencer
Black, PO Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708;
(608)266-7521.)
In the United States, printing and writing
papers routinely have a brightness rating of
83 and increasingly 90,while in Japan these
papers have a brightness in the low 70s. Most
paper products, such as cups, napkins and
toilet paper, do not have to be white, and
certainly not the brightest white. If we
accepted slightly less bright paper products,
it would facilitate the use of chlorine alternatives.
*
Vennont is purchasing unbleached printing
and writing papers. (Sylvia Vuanich, Vermont
Division of Purchasing, State Administration
Building, 128 State Street, Drawer 33,
Moatpelier, VT 05633; (802)828-2211.)
The alternatives include extending the pulping
process, which reduces the amount of
chemicals needed. Non-chlorine bleaches,
such as oxygen, ozone and hydrogen peroxide
are effective and less damaging environmentally.48
*
Oregon is developing a non-chlorine
bleached paper procurement program. (Terry
Lorance, Purchasing Division, Department of
General Services, 1225 Ferry Street, SE,
Salem, OR 97310; (503)378-4649.)
These altematives are being used elsewhere.
New Zealand banned bleached milk carton~."~
The Austrian paper industry announced that it will be chlorine-free by 1995.M
The province of British Colombia, Canada,
announced in 1992 that its paper industry will
*
Washington uses unbleached envelopes.
(Connie Stacey, Department of General
Administration, Office of State Procurement,
GA Building, Room 216, Mail Stop 1017,
Olympia, WA 98504, (206)753- 1038.)
70
-
*
The 1991 Pollution Prevention Action Plan
pulmonary function and cancer in workers at
polystyrene and styrene plants.M After
determining the level of exposure to styrene
at which workers suffer chromosomal abnormalities, both Germany and Finland established permitted levels of exposure that are
much lower than levels permitted in the
United states?"
issued by EPA Region 10 recommends that
unbleached paper be used in all copy machines within the region. The Action Plan
was printed on unbleached, recycled paper.
(EPA Region 10,1200 6th Avenue, Mail Stop
AT-08,Seattle, WA 98101; (206)553-1200.)
Manufacturing polystyrene is also a major
producer of pollution. In 1986, EPA ranked
the 20 chemicals whose production generated
the most hazardous waste. Polystyrene was
number five.s
RESOURCE
*
Greenpeace, 1436 U Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009; (202)462-1177.
34. ELIMINATE
THE USE OF POLYSTYRENE
Polystyrene recycling programs are heavily
subsidized by polystyrene manufacturers to
improve the environmental image of their
products.60 Furthermore, polystyrene recycling is not "closed loop" -collected plysty.
rene cups are not remanufactured into cups,
but into other products, such as packing filler
and cafeteria trays. This means that m o e
resources will have to be used, and more
pollution created, to produce mare polystyrene
cups.
Though polystyrene manufacturers claim that
their products axe "ozone-friendly" or free of
CFCs, this is only partially true. Some
polystyrene is now manufactured with HCFC22, which, though less destructive than its
chemical cousins, CFC-11 and CFC-12, is still
a greenhouse gas and harmful to the ozone
la~er.5~
In fact, according to a 1992 study
by the Institute for Energy and Environmental
Research, HCFCs are three to five times more
destructive to the ozone layer than previously
believed.s4
A study by the Portland, Oregon, public
school system concluded that switching the
school system from polystyrene to reusable
polycarbonate foodware would, over a fiveyear period, save 11 billion BTUs of energy.
It would prevent 248,000 pounds of solid
waste and 60,OOO pounds of airbome emissions (chiefly, pentane, a greenhouse gas and
contributor to smog, and sulfur dioxide, an
acid rain pollutant). It would increase water
consumption by 10,600,000 gallons and
produce 39,500 pounds of waterborne waste.
The amount of water used, equivalent to the
domestic consumption of 38 households, could
be reduced with water-efficient washing
machines!*
Polystyrene has serious negative impacts on
workers producing it and consumers using it.
According to the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education, styrene, a
component of polystyrene, leaches into food
from polystyrene foodware. Styrene has been
found in 100 percent of human tissue samples
and 100 percent of human nursing milk
samples tested. Them is evidence that styrene
is a carcinogen and n e u r o t o ~ i nand
~ ~ it has
also been linked to reproductive problems.%
Styrene has also been linked to increased
levels of chromosomal damage, abnormal
71
* Environmental Costs and Benefits of
SwitchingfromPolystyrene Disposable Ware
to Polycarbonate Permanent Ware costs $2
from Renn Harris, Supervisor,Environmental
Services, Portland Public Schools, PO Box
3107, Portland, OR 97208; (503)249-2000.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
* In 1989, the Department of the Interior
banned polystyrene in its Washington, DC
headquarters. (Office of Public Affairs,
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street,
N W ,Washingon, DC 202Ao; (202)208-6416.)
*
Facts To Act On Numbers 5, 22 and 23
discuss the health effects of styrene leaching
from polystyrene. Each costs 85 cents f”
Institute for Local Self-Reliance, 2425 18th
Street, N W , Washington, DC 20009;
(202)232-4108.
*
The Canadian House of Commons
switched from polystyrene cups to china cups
in committee and caucus rooms, reducing the
number of polystyrene cups used by 400,000
per year. (Angela Ebsworth, Environment
Coordinator, House of Commons, La Promenade Building, 151 Sparks Street, Room 712,
Ottawa, Canada, K1A OA6; (613)943-1564.)
35. REDUCE POLLUTION
PRINTING
OPERATIONS
*
Vermont developed an analysis of a
hypothetical school serving 200 meals a day.
The model demonstrated that, adding in all
the costs of both options (Le., buying a
dishwasher and reusable plates versus
continuously purchasing disposables),purchasing reusable dishes is the least expensive
option. (Solid Waste Management Division,
Vermont Department of Natural Resources,
103 S. Main Street, Laundry Building,
Waterbury, VT 05671; (802)244-7831.)
PRODUCED IN
One major facet of environmentally responsible printing is reducing the release of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which
lead to the formation of ground-level ozone,
the primary component of smog. Groundlevel ozone is a serious health and economic
hazard. A recent study found that nonsmokers in the ozone-filled Los Angeles area
have twice the risk of getting cancer as those
people living in cleaner environments.“
EPA estimates that annual crop losses due to
ground-level ozone are between $2.5 and $3
billi0n.6~
*
GSA’s Fedend Supply Service’s New Item
Introductory Schedule Class #8135 offers a
starch-based substitute for polystyrene
packaging peanuts. (Alberta Kronen, General
Services Administration, Federal Supply
Service, FCRE, Crystal Mall ##4,Room 712,
Washington, DC 20406; (703)3O5-5182.)
One step in reducing VOCs is switching from
petroleum to vegetable-based inks. The
evaporation of petroleum oils in the heat-set
process releases V O C S . ~Inks with a vegetable base may release 85 percent fewer
VOCs, but the quality of vegetable-based inks
is comparable to that of petroleum-based
inks.6s Soy-based inks are also easier to
&ink from paper than petroleum-based inks,
thereby increasing recyclability.M
RESOURCES
*
Citizen’s Clearinghouse for Hazardous
Wastes, PO Box 6806, Falls Church, VA
22040, (703)237-2249.
72
.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
The higher the vegetable oil content in the ink,
the lower its VOCs emissions. Unfortunately,
the American Soybean Association grants its
seal of approval to inks that contain as little
as u)percent soybean 0i1.6'
*
Missouri offers a 10 percent price preference for soy-based ink. (Gary Judd, Director,
Missouri State Printing Division, PO Box 809,
Jefferson City, MO 65102; (314)751-3307.)
Another method of reducing VOC emissions
*
Illinois has mandated 100 percent use of
soy-based inks. (Nicholas Whitlow, Superintendent of Printing, Department of Central
Management Services, 425 4th Street,
Springfield, IL 62701; (217)782-4561.)
from inks is by increasing the solid (Le.,
pigment andor resin) content. This can
d u c t solvent level from as much as 45
percent by weight to 30 percent.68 VOCs
can also be reduced by replacing isopropyl
alcohol in the dampening system with a
substitute,such as 2-Butoxy ethanol, or using
waterless plates, which do not require a
dampening system.@
*
The U.S. Department of Agriculm
(USDA) uses soy-based inks for all of its
printing. In 1992, USDA changed its contracted printing to soy-based inks with no
price increase. (Warren Bell, Chief Printer,
Department of Agriculm, Printing Division,
Room 501 A, 14th Street and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250;
(202)720-7509.)
Other wastes encountered in the printing
process can be reduced or recycled. Because
silver compounds from photoprocessing are
classified as hazardous wastes, whenever
possible, silver-free films should be used.
Otherwise, silver should be recovered.'o
Ink wastes can be recycled by blending
different colors together to produce black ink,
which can be donated to trade schools or
colleges 02 substituted for lower-quality black
inks, such as newsprint ink."
RESOURCES
*
Opportuniies to Reduce Waste Generation:
Printing Industry is available at no cost from
the Virginia Waste Reduction Assistance Program, Virginia Department of Waste Management, 11th Floor, Monroe Building, 101 N.
14th Street, Richmond, VA 23219;
(8O4)37 1-8716.
Hazardous chemicals such as benzene, carbon
tetrachloride, trichloroethane and methanol
have been components of cleaning sohtions.n Altematives include soap, detergent
solutions, or lower volatility solvent washes
and specially-made blanket washes, which are
less toxic and less flammable.'3
Solvent
recovery units can pay for themselves in less
than two years by minimizing raw material
purchase costs and eliminating off-site solvent
disposal.74
* Guides to Pollution Prevention: The
Commercial Printing Industry is available
from the Center for Environmental Research
Information, Office of Research and Development, EPA, 26 W. Martin Luther King
Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268; (5 13)569-7931.
73
conditions. For example, aerosol mist can
aggravate lung conditions such as asthmau
Aerosols can be slightly to moderatkly toxic
and often contain methene chloride, a known
carcinogen, or organic solvents, nitrous oxide,
ophenylphenol or propane, all of which are
ignitable and explosive.M Spray bottles are
the safe, effective alternative.
36. PURCHASE
ENVIRONMENTALLY
SOUND
CLEANING
PRODUCTS
Even something as seemingly benign as
cleaning poses an environmental and health
threat. Most household and commercial
cleaning products contain phosphates and toxic
organic sol~ents."~Phosphates in lakes and
rivers, 50 percent of which originate from
washing powders,'6 cause "algae bloom"
which suffocates fish." Organic solvents
cause ground-level ozone to form and
contribute to global warming.'*
When
poured down the drain, they also contaminate
lakes, rivers and drinking sup~lies.'~ Trichloroethylene, a solvent found in some
typewriter correction fluids, paint removers/strippers, adhesives, spot removers and
rug-cleaning fluids, is known to cause leukemia and liver cancer in animals and has been
linked to birth defects in humansw
Inmasingly, companies are manufacturing and
distributing effective, more environmentally
sensitive cleaning products. While many
consumers were dissatisfied with phosphatefree cleaning products when they were tlrst
introduced in the 1970s, Consumer Reports
tested phosphate and phosphate-& brands
in 1987 and found the differences negligible.86
Marketing claims should be astutely analyzed
for "half-truths". For example, stating that a
product is biodegradable does not reflect how
long it takes to biodegrade and what harmful
intermediary products might be formed during
the process. Liquid detergents do not contain
phosphates, not because of environmental
sensitivity on the part of manufacturers, but
because in liquids, phosphates destroy optical
brighteners and enzymes.87 To replace
phosphates, between three and four times more
petrochemical surfactants are added.=
In addition, many cleaning products use
chlorine as a disinfectant. In water, chlorine
reacts with organic and other compounds to
create carcinogens and other toxins.8' The
surfactants in detergents are derived from
petroleum products,depleting a non-renewable
resource?2
Cleaning products also pose significant risks
to those applying them. The Federal Hazardous Substances Act requires the use of
warning labels on products that can cause
substantial personal injury or illness, but it
focuses only on immediate effects. Chemicals
in cleaning products can have devastating
Warning labels are not
effects over
required to mention that most cleaning
products during normal use can cause headaches, fatigue and burning eyes. Cleaning
product manufacturers are also not required
to warn against product use by those who are
at high risk because of specific medical
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
GSA has a supply schedule of cleaning
products and depasers that are biodegradable
and do not contain phenolic compounds or
petroleum products. GSA also offers alternatives to the hazardous, ozone-depleting 1,1,l
Trichloroethane (TCE),a solvent used for
degreasing and cleaning electricalequipment.
(Trisha Pierson, (9FI'E-10), General Services
74
-
~
~
Administration, 400 15th Street, SW, Auburn,
WA 98001; (206)931-7120.)
151 Sparks Street, Room 712, Ottawa, K1A
OA6 Canada; (613)943-1564.)
*
*
The Department of Defense's Fort Ord
instituted the use of high-pressure spray
washers to degrease and clean automotive
parts, eliminating the need for dip tanks filled
with trichloroethane. This initiative paid for
itself in approximately two years.w
The Si@ Mountain Lodge in Wyoming's
Grand Teton National Park saved over $5,ooO
in one year by switching tomore environmentally sensitive cleaning supplies for laundry,
kitchen and house cleaning. For example,
previously 11.5 ounces of five combined
chemical ingredients were used for each load
of laundry. Now four ounces of one biodegradable detergent and two ounces of nonchlorine bleach axe used. (For a free copy of
Dirty Laundry In the National Park,contact
S.A.F.E. Consulting for the Earth, PO Box
435, Moran, WY 83013; (307)543-2955.)
* The Army Construction Engineering
Research Laboratory has developed a program
to identify the most economical means of
eliminating solvents under the Used Solvent
Elimination program. The program describes
how to perform a life-cycle cost analysis on
threerecycling options, as well as incineration.
(Bernie Donahue, Army Corps of Engineers,
Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Po Box 9005, Champaign, IL 61826; in
Illinois call (800)252-7122, outside Illinois
call (800)USA-CERL.)
*
The Canadian House of Commons' Maintenance Branch reviewed their cleaning
products and converted to more environmentally sensitive altematives, including the
elimination of products containing phosphates
archlorhe. (Ray Valle, Maintenance Branch,
151 La Promenade Building, Room 208,
Ottawa K1A OA6; (613)996-4835.)
RESOURCES
*
*
Washington Toxics Coalition, 4516 University Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98105;
(206)632-1545.
George Reyes, manager of the custodial
and grounds division of the University of
California at Davis, devised a list of ingredients to avoid when choosing cleaning products. Some of these ingredients pose safety
hazards to cleaning personnel. They m:butyl
cellosolve; phenol; ethylene glycol; potassium
hydroxide; formaldehyde, sodium hydroxide,
hydrochloric acid; sodium hypochlorite;
hydrofluoric acid; sodium metasilicate;
kerosene; and sulfuric acid. (George Reyes,
2725 Chestnut Hill Drive, Sacramento, CA
95826; (916)386-1066.)
* Ecologue: The Environmental Catalogue
and Consumer's Guide for a Safe Earth,
edited by Bruce N. Anderson, Prentice Hall
Press, 1991, New York, NY.
*
Stepping Lightly On the Earth, Gmnpeace
Action, 1436U Street, N W ,Washington, DC
20009; (202)462-1177.
*
Canada'sHouse of Commons' vehicle fleet
is washed with water, without detergents.
(Angela Ebsworth, Environment Coordinator,
House of Commons, La Promenade Building,
37. REDUCETHE USE OF PLMTICS
In response to concem about degradation, the
plastics industry created "biodegradable"
75
fighters have good reason in particular to
oppose the use of PVC in construction: one
Gennan environmental organization detected
dioxin at 90percent of fires where Chlorinated
plastics, particularly PVC, were found.97
According to a study by the Institute for
Energy and Environmental Research, p d u c tion of the feedstock for PVC, dichloroethylene, contributes to the ozone-destroying
chlorine buildup in the atmosphere.98 A
Tellus Institute study of the environmental
impacts of packaging materials concluded that,
based on valuations of environmental impacts,
the highest-cost material is PVC at $5,288 per
ton. Paper products, steel and recycled aluminum costs range from $247 to $433 per
ton.*
plastics, which enjoyed a brief life on supermarket shelves, if not in landfiils, as evidence
of their non-biodegradability poured in.90
In response to the recycling boom, the plastics
industry began inadequate plastic recycling
programs. Unfortunately, plastic milk jugs
and soda bottles are often recycled into park
benches and rulers. This does not "close the
loop." Consequently, more plastic will have
to be made - and more resources used to make new sada bottles and milk jugs.
Moreover, w e n t evidence has shown that
much of our plastic collected for recycling is
exported to other countries where it is landfilled?l
The problems with plastics extend far beyond
their solid waste impact. Plastic production
is almost synonymous with air pollution. Of
the 47 chemical plants ranked highest in
carcinogenic emissions, 35 are making
ingredients used to produce plastics.m Even
recycling plastics generates hazardous wastes.
One major plastic recycler, Wellman, Inc., in
1988 reported releasing into the environment
or transporting off-site almost 400,OOO pounds
of terephthalic acid, over 140,000 pounds of
ethylene glycol and 1,500 pounds of l,l,lTrichloroethane, among other
PVC is widely used in floor tiles, window
frames, pipes, medical equipment and other
office and home products. Substitutes for
PVC include linoleum, wood and ceramics for
floor coverings; wood and aluminum for
window frames; and glass for blood and
infusion containers." Source reduction also
helps reduce plastic consumption: using
reusable products, such as washable silverware
instead of disposable plastic cutlery and
durable cloth bags instead of throwaway bags
and reducing packaging. In addition, the
government should avoid the prokurement of
recycled plastic products and the substitution
of plastic for products currently made f"
wood, such as benches, rulers and fences.
Particularly problematic is polyvinyl chloride
(PVC). A 1983 review of scientific literature
revealed that people living within two miles
of a PVC plant have an increased risk of
cancer due to vinyl chloride emissions.%
Studies have also found that PVC plant
employees are 11-16 times more likely to
develop liver cancer and four times more
likely to develop brain cancer than the general
population.*
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
* In Germany, more than 60 local governments, including Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart,
have phased out the use of PVC in public
construction and government offices. One
German hospital was constructed almost
entirely PVC-Eree, except for a few applica-
The major source of environmental dioxin is
the reaction between paper and chlorinated
plastics, such as PVC, in incinerators.% Fire
76
waste comes in contact with the raw materials,
toxics become incorporated with the cement
itself, a fact confirmed by the cement industry."
As a result, the use of the cement
threatens worker safety and public health.
Overall, the use of cement produced in kilns
burning hazardous waste detracts from efforts
to reduce hazardous waste production."
tions where there was no suitable substitute.
(ManfredKrautter, Greenpeace e.V., Vorsetzen 53, D-2000Hambur 11, Germany; 4031186420.)
*
The SMZ-Ost Hospital in Vienna, Austria
is virtually PVC-free.(Bruno Klausbrucknr,
Magistrat der Stadt Wien (City Council of
Vienna), MA 17, Schottenring 24, A-1010
Vienna, Austria; 43-(1)-531-14-8718.)
STRATEGIES A N D EXAMPLES
*
Numerous municipalities have banned the
use in city-fundedprojects of cement produced
in kilns burning hazardous waste. These
include Fort Collins, Colorado, and Crowley,
Texas. (James B. O'Neill 11, Director,
Purchasing and Risk Management Division,
Fort Collins, CO 80522; (303)221-6775, and
Citizens Aware and United for a Safe Environment, Po Box 912, Midlothian, TX
76065.)
RESOURCES
*
Greenpeace, 1436 U Street,NW, Washington, DC 20009, (202)462-1177.
*
Citizen's Clearinghouse for Hazardous
Wastes, PO Box 6806, Falls Church, VA
2 W , (703)237-2249.
38. ELIMINATE-CHASE3
OF CEMENT
PRODUCED IN KILNS WHICH BURN
HAZARDOUS WASTE AS FUEL
RESOURCES
*
Greenpeace, 1436 U Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009; (202)462-1177.
Enticed by the fees offered by hazardous
waste producers, operators of some 25 cement
plants are burning hazardous waste as fuel.
Their profit is produced, however, at the
expense o€ exposing both workers and the
general public to toxic chemicals. Toxic
chemicals can be released in spills, accidents
and fugitive emissions during the transport,
starage and transfer of hazardous waste. Kiln
stacks emit unbumed wastes, heavy metals and
products of incomplete combustion (PICs).
The handling and disposal of kiln dust can
lead to exposure to these substances."'
* Citizen's Clearinghouse for Hazardous
Wastes, PO Box 6806, Falls Church, VA
22040, (703)237-2249.
39. USE ALTERNATIVES TO ROCKSALT ON
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS
While use of rack salt as a de-icer for roads
increases, so does awareness of its costly
environmental impact. Rock salt absorbs
much of the water that would go to the roots
of plants along highways and road@
s'. '
In
addition, toxic ions released when rock salt
dissolves cause leaf "scorch" and twig Web-
Beau= the Cement plants 'burn waste containing heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic,
cadmium and chromium, which are not
destroyed by incineration, and because the
77
&.
105
40.ELIMINATE
PURCHAsEs OF
Excessive salt levels in the water
supply can be traced to areas with highways
on which rock salt is heavily used.'M In
addition rock salt causes billions of dollars of
damage to cars, bridges, roads and underground cables.'07
11
RAINFORESTWOOD
According to the Rainforest Action Network,
50,000 acres of rainforests are destroyed every
day.'" Logging is responsible for 25 percent of this destruction,"' with many of
these logs destined for the united ~tates."~
Alternatives include sand, light gravel, cinders,
urea and calcium magnesium acetate
(CMA).lM A 1980 Federal Highway Administration report stated that CMA was as
effective as rock salt and less comsive.'Og
Tropical defmstation is a major contributor
to the greenhouse effect.'13 Seventy percent
of the plants identified by the National Cancer
Institute as having cancer-fighting properties
are found in rainforests.'" And millions of
tribal people depend on the rainforests for
survival.
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
* Michigan uses CMA for de-icing its
Capitol grounds. (Jerry Lawler, Executive
Director, Michigan Capitol Committee, Po
Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909;
(5 17)373-0289.)
People associate rainforest wood with fine
teaks and mahoganies, but most tropical hardwoods are imported in the form of plywood,
veneers and lumber, for which there are plenty
of domestic altemative~."~
*
Michigan Senate Bill 46 would create a
commission to examine the costs of salt and
altematives, including costs associated with
environmental damage. (Senator William Van
Regenmorter, PO Box 30036, Lansing, MI
48909; (5 17)373-6920.)
Germany announced in 1989 a ban on
using tropical timber in government buildings.
RESOURCES
*
STRATEGIES AND EXAMPLES
*
State and local governments which have
stopped using tropical timber include: the
State of Arizona, the Cities of San Francisco
and Santa Monica, California, and Bellingham,
Washington, and Howard County, Maryland.
Howard County published a list of prohibited
tropical wood products which is reproduced
in Appendix C.
*
Salt Injury to Roaciside Plants, by George
W. Hudler, succinctly discusses the problems
with road salt. It costs 50 cents from the New
York State College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences, Distribution Center, 7 Research
Park,Cornel1 University, Ithaca, NY 14850;
(607)255-2080.
*
RESOURCE
Dr.Brian Chollar, an expert on alternatives
*
Rainfarest Action Network, 4450 Sansome
Street, Suite 700,San Francisco, CA 94133;
(415)398-4404.
to road salt, is at the Federal Highway
Administration, 6300 Georgetown Pike,
McLem, VA 22 101; (703)285-2342.
78
~
~
Endnotes
SOLID WASTE REDUCTION
1. Recycling in Federal Ofices: RLSOW e Materials, m i c e of Solid Waste, EPA, Washington,
DC,December 1991, p.2.
2. Ibid.
3. bid.
4. Solid Waste Disposal in the United States, EPA Report to Congress, Office of Solid Waste,
EPA, Washington, DC, 1988; IRR Facility Survey,ffJuly 1989.
5. "Environmental and Health Impacts of MSW Incinerators", Clean Water Action, Washington,
DC,July 1991.
6. National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc., Reston, VA, 1990.
7. Recycling in Federal Offices: Resource Materials, m i c e of Solid Waste, EPA, Washington,
DC,December 1991, p. 1.
8. Ibid., p. 9.
9. Facts To Act On, Release #5, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Washington, DC, August 15,
1990.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Styrene: Health Effects of Low-Level Exposure, FASE REPORTS, Foundation For
Advancements in Science and Education, Los Angeles, CA, Winter 1988, p. 1.
13. Conversation with Robert Marcus, Real Property Management and Safety Division, General
Services Administration, Washington, DC, February 1992.
14. 40 USC 6907,6964; 40 CFR Part 244.
15. Letter from Sylvia K. Lowrance, Director, Office of Solid Waste, EPA, Washington, DC,
September 6, 1991.
16. Reusable News, Office of Solid Waste, EPA, Washington, DC, Spring/Summer 1991, p. 11.
79
17. Breaking Down the Degradable Plastics Scam, Anita Sadun,Thomas F. Webster, and Barry
Commoner, Prepared for Greenpeace, Washington DC,March 14, 1990, p. 80.
18. 1991-1992 Green Index, Bob Hall and Mary Lee Ken, Island Press, Washington, DC,1991,
p. 101.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. "Inside Landills: A Preliminary Report of the Garbage Project's 1987-88 Excavations at
Five Landfills," W.L.Rathje, W.W. Hughes, G.H. Archer et al, presented at Municipal Solid Waste
Technology Conference, San Diego, CA, January 1989; Presented by Dr. Riley Kinman and Dr.
William Rathje, in transcript of Degradable Plastics and the Environment, 1988 Environmental
Symposiums sponsored by Mobil Chemical Company at Pittsford, NY.
22. Memo from Charles L. Grizzle, Assistant Administrator, Wice of Administration and Resources
Management, P A , Washington, DC, August 15, 1989.
23. Letter from Sylvia K. Lowrance, Director, Office of Solid Waste, EPA, Washington, DC,
April 28, 1992.
24. Memo from David J. O'Connor, Director, Procurement and Contracts Management Division,
Office of Administration and Resources Management, EPA, Washington, DC, July 18, 1990.
25. Conversation with Richard Keller, Recycling Project Manager, Northeast Maryland Waste
Disposal Authority, Baltimore, MD, April 1992.
26. "Getting the Most from Our Materials,"Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Washington, DC,
1992.
27. Ibid.
28. "Source Separation and Citizen Recycling," Robert Cowles Letcher and Mary Sheil, The Solid
Waste Handbook: A Practical Guide, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1986.
29. Ibid.
30. Conversation with Professor Arthur Rosenfeld, Director, Center for Budding Science, Lawrence
Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, February 1991.
31. A Portrait of the United States Appliance Industry, Appliance Magazine, September 1991.
80
32. Recycling Scrap Iron and Steel, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc., Washington DC,
1990, p. 4.
33. bid.
34. General Motors Corporation Advertisement, The Washington Post, December 23, 1991, p.
A9.
35. Annual Repon for 1991, U.S.Government Printing Office, Washington, DC,April 1992, p.
16.
36. Letter from Jared I. Roberts, Esq., National Railroad Passenger Corp., Washington, DC,
September 5, 1991.
37. Letter fiom Robert McC. Adams, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, October
2, 1991.
.
38. EPA Order, Classification #1000.25, Washington, DC, January 24, 1990.
39. National Center For State Courts, Williamsburg, VA.
81
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
1. Energy, Environment & Architecture, American Institute of Architects, Washington, DC,
December 1991, p. 58.
2. "Expensive Energy," Defense Monitor, excerpted in The Nationul Times, July 1992.
3. Renewable Energy for the World, U.S. Export Council for Renewable Energy, Washington,
DC, September 1990, p. 8.
4. Energy: From Crisis to Solution, The Energy Foundation, San Francisco, CA, January 1991.
5. Annual Energy Review 1990, Energy Infomation Administration, U.S.Department of Energy,
Washington, DC, 1991, p. 25.
6. Consumer Guide to Solar Energy, Scott Sklar and Kenneth Sheinkopf, Bonus Books, Chicago,
IL,1991, p. xiii.
7. "The 'Negawatt' Revolution: New Techniques for Electric Efficiency," Amory B. Lovins, Site
Selection, December 1990, p. 5.
8. Energy: From Crisis to Solution, op. cit.
9. "Economic Development Draft Report," Drafr New York State Energy Plan, New York State
Energy Office, Albany, NY,May 1989.
10. ' D o e s Abating Global Warming Cost or Save Money?," Rocky Mountain Institute Newsletter,
Snowmass, CO, FalWinter 1990, p. 1.
11. Energy Eficiency in the Federal Government: Government by Good Example?, Office of
Technology Assessment, U.S. Congress, Washington, DC, May 1991, p. 3.
12. Ibid.
13. Electricity-Saving Ofice Equipment, Amory B. Lovins and H. Richard Heede,E Source,
Boulder, Colorado, September 1990, p. ix.
14. HVAC Equipment Replacementfor Best Size and Eficiency, Urban Consortium Energy Task
Force, Washington, DC, October 1989, p. iii.
-
15. 1991 Procurement Survey, National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Reston, VA.
_
I
_
16. Schoolhouse In the Red: Management Summary, American Association of School
Administrators, Arlington, VA, November 1991, p. 5.
82
17. Conservation Update, State Energy Conservation Program,Energy Extension Service, Frankfart,
ICY, March 1992.
18. Schoolhouse In the Red, op. cit.
19. 1991 Procurement Survey, op. cit.
20. "Efficiency Barriers in the Administration of Subsidized Housing: A Statistical Analysis of
the Public and Section 8 Program," Steven Ferrey, Proceedings, American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy (ACEEE) Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, ACEEE,
Washington, DC, 1990, p. 7.51.
21. Energy Eflciency in the Federal Government: Government By Good Example?, op. cit., p.
5.
22. "Efficiency Barriers in the Administration of Subsidized Housing", ACEEE, op. cit., p. 7.53.
23. Energy Eflciency in the Federal Government: Government by Good Example?, op. cit., p.
45.
24. Making Peace With the Planet, Bany Commoner, Pantheon Books, New York, 1990, pp.
206-207.
25. "Problems of Price and Transportation: Two Proposals to Encourage Competition from
Alternative Energy Resources," F. Paul Bland, I O Harvard Environmental Law Review 345,1986.
26. Testimony of Dr. Arthur H. Rosenfeld, Director, Center for Building Science, Lawrence
Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, U.S.Senate,
Washington, DC,February 1992.
27. Ibid.
28. Ibid.
29. Ibid.
30. Ibid.
31. Amory Lovins, cited in Energywise Options for State and Local Governments, Center for
Policy Alternatives, Washington, DC,1990, p. 3.
32. Overview of EnerTrac Energy Accounting, LoanSTAR Program, Governor's Energy Office,
Austin, TX.
83
33. Building Energy Eficiency, Office of Technology Assessment, U.S.Congress, Washington,
DC, May 1992, p. 50.
34. Testimony of Dr. Arthur H. Rosenfeld, op. cit. op. cit.
35. Ibid.
36. Ibid.
37. Energy E.ciency in the Federal Government, op. cit., p. 12.
38. Institutional Manger's Guide to Energy Conservation, Office of Technical and Financial
Assistance, U.S.Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
39. Bright Idem, California Energy Extension Service, Governor's Office of Planning and Research,
Sacramento, CAY1989.
40. Maintaining In the Nineties, California Energy Extension Service, Governor's office of Planning
and Research, Sacramento, CA.
41. Energy Eflciency in the Federal Government, op. cit., p. 11.
42. Federal Energy Management Program, Department of Energy, Washington, DC.
43. Federal Energy Management Program,Department of Energy, Washington, DC, February
1991.
44. "Efficiency Barriers in the Administration of Subsidized Housing," op. cit., p. 77.52.
45. NFRC Update, National Fenestration Rating Council, Silver Spring, MD, May 1992.
46. Energywise Options for State and Local Governments, op. cit., p. 71..
47. Building Energy Eflciency, OTA, op. cit., p. 51.
48. "Change in the Building Industry," Tage C. G. Carlson, Energy and the Environment in the
21st Century, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press, Cambridge, MA, 1991.
49. Bright Ideas: Passive Solar Buildings, Passive Solar Industries Association, Washington, DC,
August 1989, p. 15.
50. Cool Energy: The Renewable Solution to Global Warming, Union of Concerned Scientists,
Cambridge, MA, 1990, p. 29.
84
51. "Buildings in the Next Century," David M. Pellish, U.S.Department of Energy, Energy and
the Environment in the 21st Century, op. cit.
52. Executive Order 12699, January 5, 1990.
53. "Lessons Learned from the Energy Edge Project for New Commercial Buildings," Will Miller,
et al, Proceedings, American Council for An Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) 1990 Summer
Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, ACEEE, Washington, DC,1990, p. 7.124.
54. Ibid.
55. Maintaining In the Nineties, op. cit., p. 7 .
56. Institutional Manager's Guide, op. cit.
57. Ibid.
58. "Operation, Maintenance and Commissioning Practices for Commercial Building Efficiency
Programs," Will Miller, et al, ACEEE Summer Study on Efficiency in Buildings, op. cit., p. 8.152.
59. New Mexico State Energy Policy, Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Santa
FeyNM, November 1991, p. 106.
60. Improving Energy Eficiency In Schools, Oregon Task Force, Oregon Department of Energy,
Salem, OR, 1992.
61. "Energy for Buildings and Homes," op. cit.
62. The Potential of Renewable Energy: An Interlaboratory White Paper, Solar Energy Research
Institute, Golden, COY1990, p. 3.
63. 1991 Procurement Survey, National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, op. cit.
64. Promoting Solar Electric Systems to State Agencies, Interstate Solar Coordination Council,
St. Paul, MN.
65. Energy Directions: Toward a Sustainable Future, Center for Study of Responsive Law,
Washington, DC, 1992, p. 40.
66. Consumer Guide to Solar Energy, op. cit., p. 23.
67. Ibid., p. 53.
85
68. Solar Thermal Seminar, Soltech '91 Conference, Solar Energy Industries Association,
Burlingame, CA., March 27, 1991.
69. Ofice Technology Eficiency Program Guide, Volume I , Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
San Ramon, CA, June 1992,p. 8.
70. Ibid., p. 10.
71. Ibid., p. 1.
72. Electricity-Saving Office Equ@ment, E Source, Boulder, CO,1990, Executive Summary.
73. Office Technology Efficiency Programs Guide, op. cit., p. 2.
74. "Activities and Programs to Promote Office Equipment Energy Efficiency," Marc R.Ledbetter,
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Washington, DC, 1992,p. 8, presented at
Energy Efficient Office Technologies, The Outlook and Market.,San Jose, CA, June 17-18,1992.
75. Electricity-Saving Ofice Equipment, op. cit., p. 309.
76. Office Equipment and Energy Efficiency, Ontario Hydro, Toronto, Canada, p. 4.
77. Electricity-Saving Ofice Equipment, op. cit., p. 319.
78. Office Equipment and Energy Eficiency, op. cit., p. 7.
79. Electricity-Saving Ofice Equipment, op. cit., p. 321.
80. Ofice Technology Eficiency Programs Guide, op. cit., p. 8.
81. Ibid., p. 11.
82. "Energy Consumption and Desktop Computers," Guy R Newsham and Dale K. Tiller, Electrical
Equipment News, June 1992.
83. Ofice Equipment and Energy Eficiency, op. cit., p. 6.
84. Office Technology Eficiency and Programs Guide, op. cit., p. 11.
85. Ofice Equipment and Energy Eficiency, op. cit., p. 9.
86. Ibid., p. 10.
87. Ibid., p. 9.
86
~
88. "Efficient Use of Electricity," Arnold P. Fickett, Clark W. Gellings and Amory B. Lovins,
Scientific American, September 1990.
89. Ibid
90. Energy Ideas, Government Purchasing Project, Washington, DC, July 1992.
91. Green Lights Program,Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC,1991.
92. Conversation with Robin Roy, Project Director, U.S. Congms, Office of Technology
Assessment, Washington, DC, October 4, 1991.
93. Energy Eflciency in the Federal Government, op. cit., p. 55.
94. Ibid.
95. "Stmet Lighting Conversions: A Good Place for Local Governments to Start Saving Energy
and Money," Bob Henry, Texas Town and City, August 1990.
96. Ibid.
97. Energy Ideas, Government Purchasing Project, Washington, DC, October 1992.
98. "Energy for Buildings and Homes," op. cit.
99. Conservation Research Notes, Center for Building Science, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory,
Berkeley, CAYMay 1988.
100. "Energy for Buildings and Homes," op. cit.
101. "Studies: Window Film Can Save Employee Costs as Well as Energy," Energy User News,
Radnor, PA, June 1991, p. 1.
102. Bright Ideas: Passive Solar Buildings, op. cit., p. 8.
103. Ibid., p. 9.
104. Ibid.
105. Water-Elft'icientTechnologies, Rocky Mountain Institute, Snowmass, COY1991, p. 23.
106. Ibid.
107. Ibid., p. 63.
87
108. "Field Measurements of Low Flow Showerheads," David Robison, ACEEE 1990 Summer
Study of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, op. cit., p. 1.185.
109. Water-Eflcient Technologies, op. cit, p. 105.
110. Ibid., p. 161.
111. Ibid., p. 105.
112. Maintaining In the Nineties, op. cit., p. 24.
113. Water-Eflcient Technologies, op. cit., p. 189.
114. News of Energy Education for Teachers, Arizona State Energy Office, Phoenix, AZ,Spring
1992.
115. Maintaining In the Nineties, op. cit., p. 55.
116. Making Peace With the Planet, op. cit., p. 207.
117. The Advanced Automobile Development Challenge, American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy, Washington, DC, March 1991, p. 4.
118. 1991 Procurement Survey Results, National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, op. cit.
119. "Cleaner Cars ...Finally!," City Heat, Portland Energy office, Portland,OR, Summer 1992.
120. "Significant Improvements in Fuel Economy Possible, New Analysis Shows," Power Line,
Environmental Actiomnergy Conservation Coalition, Takoma Park, MD, July/August 1992.
121. Energy Eflciency in the Federal Government, op. cit., p. 23.
122. Natural Gas Vehicle Use by the U.S.Postal Service: The Beneflts of Fleet Conversion,
Committee on Government Operations, U.S.House of Representatives, Washington, DC,November
29, 1990, p. 12.
123. Energy Directions, op. cit., p. 7.
124. "Fuel Efficiency and Alternative Fuels," Communications Consortium Briefing, January 7,
1992, Deborah Gordon, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC, p. 1.
125. "Move Over Gasoline: Solar Electric Cars are Coming," Jay Harris, Safe Energy
Communications Council, Washington, DC, 1991.
88
126. "Fuel Efficiency and Altemative Fuels," op. cit., p. 2.
127. Natural Gas Vehicle Use by the Postal Service, op. cit., p. 2.
128. Ibid.
129. Energy Directions, op. cit., p. 9.
130. Ibid., p. 54.
131. "Altemative Auto Fuels," Conservation and Renewable Energy Inquiry and Referral Service,
Silver Spring, MD, April 1991.
132. "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions with Alternative TransportationFuels," Environmental
Defense Fund, Washington, DC.
133. "Fuel Efficiency and Altemative Fuels," op. cit., table 3.
134. "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions with Alternative Transportation Fuels," op. cit.
135. Natural Gas Vehicle Use by the US.Postal Service, op. cit., p. 2.
136. Ibid., p. 2.
137. Alternative Transportation Fuels Infrastructure Issues,Urban Consortium Energy Task Force,
Washington, DC, June 1991, p. 38.
138. Natural Gas Vehicle Use by the Postal Service, op. cit., p. 14.
139. "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions with Alternative Transportation Fuels," op. cit.
140. "Alternative Auto Fuels," op. cit.
141. Alternative Transportation Fuels Infrastructure Issues, op. cit., p. 19.
142. Ibid., p. 20.
143. Ibid., p. 55.
144. "Fuel Efficiency and Altemative Fuels," op. cit., table 3.
145. Ibid.
146. "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions with Alternative Transportation Fuels," op. cit.
89
147. Ibid.
148. A Guidebook for Alternatively-Fueled Vehicles, Urban Consortium Energy Task Force,
Washington, DC,April 1991, pp. 21-22.
-
149. "FuelEfficiency and Alternative Fuels," op. cit.
150. "Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions With Alternative TransportationFuels," op. cit.
151. What Works:Air Pollution Solutions, The Environmental Exchange, Washington, DC, May
1992, p. 33.
152. Energywise Options for State and Local Governments, op. cit., p. 41.
153. "Transit Subsidy Recruit," The Washington Post, April 26, 1992, p. B2.
154. "Stolen Bikes Join War on Pollution," The New York Times, May 18, 1991.
90
~
POLLUTION PREVENTION
1. Sixth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality, Intemational Joint Commission,
Washington, DC, 1992, p. 4.
2. "Rachel's Hazardous Waste News #272," Environmental Research Foundation, Washington,
DC,February 12, 1992.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5 . Tackling Toxics in Everyday Products, Inform,New York, NY,1992, p. 7.
6. Ibid., p. 1.
7. The Nontoxic Home & Ofice, Debra Lynn Dadd, St. Martin's Press, New York, NY, 1992,
p. 6.
8. Ibid., p. 11.
9. Ibid., p. xv.
10. Ibid., p. 7.
11. Lawn Care Pesticides: Risks Remain Uncertain While Prohibited Safety Claim Contim?,
General Accounting Office, Washington, DC,March 1990.
12. ChemicaWATCHFactsheets, National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides, Washington,
DC.
13. "Lawn-Care Chemical Tied to Cancer," The Washington Post, September 4, 1991, p. A7.
14. ChemicalWATCH Factsheets, op. cit.
15. "Lethal Grass: The Perilous Pesticides on America's Lawns," The WashingtonPost, September
16, 1991, p. D5.
16. Testimony of Susan Cooper, Staff Ecologist, National Coalition Against the Misuse of
Pesticides, Washington, DC,before the Baltimore, MD, City Council on Integrated Pest Management
in schools and on public grounds, June 20, 1991.
17. Conversation with Jay Feldman, Director, National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides,
Washington, DC, October 8, 1991.
91
18. Ibid.
19. Contaminated Classrooms, Public Citizen, Washington, DC.
___
20. Ibid.
21. "Secret Ingredients in Pesticides: Toxic Waste," Everyone's Backyard, Citizen's Clearinghouse
for Hazardous Waste, Falls Church, VA, October 1991, p. 7.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Contaminated Classrooms, op. cit.
25. "School Pesticide Use Reduction Guide," Environmental Health Coalition, San Diego, CA,
March 1, 1991.
26. Testimony of Susan Cooper, NCAMP, op. cit.
27. Ibid.
28. Ibid.
29. Ibid.
30. Ibid.
31. Ibid.
32. Ibid.
33. Contaminated Classrooms, op. cit.
34. Ibid.
35. Integrated Pest Management: TechnicalReport I , General Services Administration, Washington,
DC, March 1989.
36. Our Environment: Go Green At Work, Environment Canada, January 1992.
37. The Greenpeace Guide to Paper, Greenpeace, Washington, DC, 1990, p. 13.
38. Ibid.
92
-
39. Ibid., p. 16.
40. Toxics factsheet, Greenpeace Action, Washington, DC.
41. The Greenpeace Guide to Paper, op. cit., p. 16.
42. Factsheet, Greenpeace, Washington, DC.
43. "New methodologies for assessing the effects of pnatal toxic exposure on cognitive functioning
in humans," J. Jacobson and S . Jacobson, Toxic ContamiMntS and Ecosystem Health: A Great
Lakes Focus, M. Evans, ed., Wiley and Sons, New York, 1988.
44. Greenpeace Guide to Paper, op. cit., p. 17.
45. The Product Is the Poison, Greenpeace, Washington, DC, 1991, p. 39.
46. "Dioxins and Organochlorines in Paper Production," Conservatree Paper Company, San
Francisco, CAY1991, p. 5.
47. "Chlorine Dioxide -- No Solution!," The New Catalyst, British Columbia, Canada, Summer
1991.
48. Greenpeace Guide to Paper, op. cit., p. 3.
49. Ibid., p. 17.
50. Factsheet, Greenpeace Action, Washington, DC.
51. The Zero Discharge News, Dioxin/Organochlorine Center, Volume 1, Number 3, Eugene,
OR, Spring 1992.
52. Greenpeace Guide to Paper, op. cit., p. 49.
53. "McTruth: Fast Food for Thoughts," Curtis A. Moore,The WashingtonPost, December 10,
1989.
54. "Study Finds CFC Alternatives More Damaging Than Believed," The WashingtonPost, February
23, 1992, p. A3.
55. "Styrene:Health Affects of Low-Level Exposure," FASE Reports, Foundation for Advancements
in Science and Education, Los Angeles, CAYWinter 1988, p. 1.
56. "Reproductive Effects of Environmental Chemical Exposure," FASE Reports, Foundation
for Advancements in Science and Education, Los Angeles, CAYSpring 1992.
93
57. "Re:sources," Environmental Action Magazine, Environmental Action, Takoma Park, MD,
July/August 1988, p. 19.
58. "Styrene: Health Effects of Low-Level Exposu~e,"op. cit.
____
59. "Re:sources," op. cit.
60. "Plastics Industry Grasps for Straws," Everyone's Backyard, JanuaryFebruary 1990, Citizen's
Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste, p. 6.
61. Environmental Costs and Benefits of Switching j?om Polystyrene Disposable Ware to
Polycarbonate Permanent Ware," prepared for the Portland, OR, Board of Education, April 25,
1991.
62. What Works: Air Pollution Solutions, The Environmental Exchange, Washington, DC, May
1992, p. 16.
63. Ibid.
64. Everything You Need to Know About the Environmental Impact of Inks, Conservatree Paper
Company, San Francisco, CA, 1991, p. 2.
65. Ibid., p. 3.
66. Soy Ink and Recyclability, John Serafano, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, April
1991.
67. Everything You Need to Know About the Environmental Impact of Inks, op. cit.
68. Use Cluster Analysis of the Printing Industry, Draj? Final, Economic and Technology Division,
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, EPA, Washington, DC,May 1992.
69. Ibid.
70. Waste Reduction Factsheet, Volume 1, Issue 2, Virginia Department of Waste Management,
Richmond, VA.
71. Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Commercial Printing Industry, Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, EPA, Washington, DC, August 1990, p. 21.
72. Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Commercial Printing Industry, op. cit., p. 21.
73. Ibid.
94
~
74. "Printing and Photographic Services," Waste Management Authority Division, Iowa Department
of Natural Resources, Des Moines, IA.
75. Stepping Lightly On the Earth: A Minimum Impact Guide to the Home, Greenpeace Action,
Washington, DC.
76. Ecover Ir$ormation Handbook, Ecover, West Sussex, England, 1989, p. 2.1.
77. "Are Your Cleaning Chemicals 'Green'?," Cleaning Management Magazine, Latham, NY,
September 1991.
78. Stepping Lightly On the Earth, op. cit.
79. Ibid.
80. "Popular Solvent, TCE, Seems to Cause Serious Birth Defects In Animals, Humans," Rachel's
Hazardous Waste News #267,Environmental Research Foundation, Washington, DC, January 8,
1992.
8 1. 50 Simple Things Your Business Can Do to Save the Earth, The Earthworks Group, Berkeley,
CA, 1991, p. 24.
82. Stepping Lightly On the Earth, op. cit.
83. The Non-toxic Home and Ofice, op. cit., p. 10.
84. Ibid., p. 11.
85. The G.0.LD. Manual, Waste Reduction, Recycling and Litter Control Program,Washington
State Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA, January 1991.
86. The Green Consumer, John Elkington, Julia Hailes and Joel Makower, Penguin Books,New
York, 1990.
87. Ecover Ir$ormution Handbook, op. cit.
88. Ibid.
89. Testimony of David J. Berteau, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, before the
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Senate Committee on Governmental
Affairs, Washington, DC, November 8, 1991.
90. Breaking Down the BiodegradablePlastics Scam, Anita Sadun, Thomas F. Webster and Barry
Commoner, prepared for Greenpeace, Washington, DC,March 14, 1990.
95
91. "Plastics: Trashing the Third World," Multinational Monitor, Washington, DC, June 1992.
92. Plastics: An environmental menace, Greenpeace Action, Washington, DC.
93. unpublished research, Center for the Study of Responsive Law,Washington, DC.
94. "Re:sources," op. cit.
95. Ibid.
96. Making Peace With the Planet, Barry Commoner, Pantheon Books, New York, 1990, p. 31.
97. We Don't Have to Use PVC, Frank Claus, Henning Friege and Dieter Gremler, translated
for Greenpeace Intemational, Washington, DC,August 1991.
98. Saving Our Skins,Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, Takoma Park, MD, 1992,
p. 24.
99. Results Summary, Tellus Institute Packaging Study, Tellus Institute, Boston, MA, 1992.
100. We Don't Have to Use PVC, op. cit., pp. 52-69.
101. Letter from Joseph Thomton, Greenpeace, to James Clift, Vice-President, Price Brothers
Corporation, April 11, 1991.
102. "Hazardous Waste Residues in Cement and Kiln Dust: New Industry Study Confirms
Contamination," Greenpeace, Washington, DC.
103. Ibid.
104. "Salting the Wounds," E Magazine, January-February 1991, p. 44.
105. Ibid.
106. Earth Right, H. Patricia Hynes, Prima Publishing and Communications, Rocklin, CAY1990,
p. loo.
107. "White Death," John A. Kinch, reprinted from Adirondack Life, 1988, in Environment.
108. "Salting the Wounds," op. cit.
109. "White Death," op. cit.
96
110. "Rainforest Action Network Municipal Tropical Timber Campaing," Rainforest Action
Network, San Francisco.
111. Resolution No. 70, United States Conference of Mayors, Washington, DC,June 19, 1991.
112. Conversation with Pamela Wellner, Rainforest Action Network, San Francisco, CAYNovember
4, 1991.
113. "Rainforest Action Network Municipal Tropical Timber Campaign,"op. cit.
114. Ibid.
115. Ibid.
97
APPENDIX A
EPA Regional Offices for Solid Waste
Region 1
EPA
JFK Federal Building
Boston, MA 02203
(617)573-9670
Region 6
EPA
Interstate Bank Building
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202
(214)655-6760
Region 2
EPA
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
(212)264-3384
Region 7
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913)s 1-7050
Region 3
EPA
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(219597-7936
Region 4
EPA
345 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
(404)347-2091
Region 5
EPA
77 W. Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604
(312)886-0976
Region 8
EPA
999 18th Street
Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202
(303)293-1661
Region 9
EPA
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(413744-2091
Region 10
EPA
1200 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206)553-6522
APPENDIX B
REGIONAL GOVERNORS’ORGANIZATIONS
Coalition of Northeast Governors
400 N. Capitol Street, Suite 382
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202)624-8450
Membership: CT,ME,MA, NH,NJ, NY,PA, RI, VT.
Council of Great Lakes Governors
35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312)407-0177
Membership: IL, IN,MI, NY,OH, PA, WI.
Midwestern Governors’ Conference
641 E. Butterfield Road, Suite 401
Lombard, IL 60414
Phone: (708)810-0210
Membership: IL, IN,KS,KY,MI, MN, MO, NE,ND, OH, SD, WI.
New England Governors’ Conference, Inc.
76 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617)423-69OO
Membership: CT,ME,MA, NH, RI, VT.
Southern Governors’ Association
444 N. Capitol Street, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202)624-5897
Membership: AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KY,LA, MD, MS, MO, NC, OK, SC, TN, VA, WV,
Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.
Western Governors’ Association
600 17th Street, #1705 S. Tower
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303)623-9378
Membership: AK,AZ, CA, CO,HI,ID,KS,MT, NE,NV, NM, ND, OR, SD,UT, WA, WY,
American Samoa and Guam.
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APPENDIX C
HOWARD COUNTY,MARYLAND’S, LIST OF PROHIBITED TROPICAL WOOD PRODUCTS
Scientific Name
Vouacapoua americana
Pericopsis elata
Shorea almon
Peltogyne spp.
Guibourtia
Aningeria spp.
Dipterocarpus grandiflorus
Ochrama lagopus
Viorla spp.
Anisoptera thuxifera
Guibourtia arnoldiana
Detarium Senegalese
Guibourtia demeusii
Moria copaifera
Antiaris afiicana
Dalbergia retusa
Cordia spp.
Diospyros spp.
Aucoumea klaineanal
Chlmphora excelsa
Acacia koa
Pterygota macrocarpa
Common Name
acapu
afromosia
almon
amaranth
amazaque
aningeria
apitong
balsa
banak
bella rosa
benge
boii
bubinga
cativo
chenchen
concobolo
cordia
ebony
gaboon
iroko
koa
koto
Scientific Name
Shorea nepsensis
Pentacme contorta
Shorea polysperma
Tenninalia supurba
Aniba duckei
Khaya ivorensis
Swietenia macrophylla
Tieghemella heckelii
Distemonanthus benthamianus
Pterocarpus soyauxii
pterocarpus angolensis
Aspidosperma spp.
Peotogyne spp.
Gonystylus spp.
Dalbergia spp.
Entandmphragma cylindricum
Shorea philippinensis
Tectona grandis
Lovoa mchilioides
Milletia laurentii
Mimberlinia brazzavillensis
Howard County Purchasing office
3450 Court House Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410)313-2036
Common Name
red lauan
white lauan
tanguile
limba
low0
Afiican mahogany
American mahogany
makm
movingui
Afiican paduak
angola paduak
peroba
purpleheart
ramin
rOSeWOod
sapele
sonora
teak
tiger wood
wenge
zebrawood
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