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Maine Wins EPA Award

By Jetta Antonakas, State Planning Office

On Earth Day, April 22, the State of Maine received an Environmental Merit Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at Boston 's famed Faneuil Hall. Maine was honored as a “Silver Partner” in the Northeast States Electronic Challenge (SEC), a project coordinated by the Northeast Recycling Council, and was recognized for its leadership role and accomplishments in computer electronics purchasing and end-of-life management. The Office of Information Technology (OIT) was instrumental in the success of this project. OIT and Purchasing staff collaborated to develop strong green purchasing specifications for RFPs and contracts. Now all computer equipment acquired by the State of Maine is registered as Silver EPEAT certified. Because Maine 's participation in the SEC represents all of its state government agencies, its activities and results serve as a model for other states.

In 2008, Maine purchased 2,678 Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool ( EPEAT) units, effectively reducing energy use by 11.5 million kilowatt hours. Other benefits included 357 lbs. of reduced toxics, including lead and mercury, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equal to removing 689 passenger cars from the road for one year.

Along with members from OIT, the Maine SEC committee includes representatives from Department of Administrative and Financial Services/Purchasing; Building and General Services/Surplus Division; Department of Environmental Protection, and the State Planning Office.

To learn more about the State Electronics Challenge, go to http://www.stateelectronicschallenge.net .