A Critical Review of the Scientific Certification Systems Environmental Report Card and the Green Seal Certification Mark Programs
Roger D. Wynne, Virginia Environmental Law Journal, vol. 14, p. 51-149, 1994
Wynne's article analyzes and compares SCS and Green Seal as private instruments of public policy. His discussion of the decisions, assumptions, and subjective judgments made in each program could be of interest to policy makers and potential users alike. Wynne first looks at how each program assesses environmental burdens and decides what to label. He also compares the effectiveness of each program in educating consumers, influencing purchasing decisions, and providing incentives for manufacturers to reduce their products' environmental burdens. Ultimately Wynne focuses on the issue of accountability.
For copies, contact Virginia Environmental Law Journal at (804) 924-3683.
Solstice is a free on-line resource on renewable energy, energy efficiency, the environment, and sustainable development run by the Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST). Among the many files that can be viewed, printed, and downloaded is a listing of Green Seal's certified products, the home page of the Rocky Mountain Institute, updates of energy efficiency and renewable energy policies and CREST's Guide to the Internet's Alternative Energy Resources.
Solstice can be reached through the World Wide Web (http://solstice.crest.org), Gopher (gopher.crest.org), or Anonymous FTP (solstice.crest.org).
E-Source (formerly called COMPETITEK) is an information service formed to gather, synthesize, and package detailed information on electricity-saving technologies and ways to implement them. E-Source delivers information on electric end-use efficiency through bimonthly mailings, detailed technical reports, periodic conferences, and on-site consultation. It provides technical information to more than 100 utilities, 60 governments, and 50 industries and design firms in 35 countries.
For more information: E-Source, 1033 Walnut Street, Boulder, CO 80302-5114 (303) 440-8500
Federal Supply Service, U.S. General Services Administration
The Environmental Products Guide lets federal government procurement officials identify and purchase "environmentally oriented" products available through the GSA's supply system. The guide lists more than 3000 items, including energy-related products such as appliances, office machines and accessories, insulation, energy management systems, exit-sign retrofit kits, energy-efficient lighting products and other lighting fixtures and accessories. Each product is accompanied by a brief description, an ordering number, and a price. The Guide is organized by supply method, such as stock (GSA Supply Catalog), Special Ordering Program, and Federal Supply Schedules.
Federal agency officials can receive free copies by writing General Services Administration, Centralized Mailing List Services (7CAFL), P.O. Box 6477, Ft. Worth, TX 76115-9939. The Guide can also be accessed on-line through MUFFIN (Multi-User File For Interagency News). To access MUFFIN, set communication parameters to 7 data bits, 1 stop bit, and even parity; then dial (202) 205-3890. At the master menu, select "B" for Environmental Products Guide.
Defense Logistics Agency, 1994
The Defense Logistics Agency, which distributes lighting products to federal agencies, produces a database of information on energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps ranging from 5 to 38 watts. Information on the performance of these products is gathered mostly from manufacturer-supplied independent test reports. All federal and military agencies can have access to this information on paper and diskette. The information is accessible to the general public via the Internet on the DLA's web site homepage: http://www.dgsc.dla.mil.
For more information, call 1 (800) DLA-BULB.
Green Seal, April 1995
The Office Green Buying Guide is a 110 page three-ring binder designed to help organizations develop a green buying program. It includes an Action Index that provides a full listing of Green Seal's certified products and information on how to purchase them. The Action Index lists Green Seal certified products along side products certified by Canada's Environmental Choice Program, products listed in the University of Florida's 1993 EcoPurchasing guide and those recommended by Environmental Partners on the basis of performance. The Index is organized into 29 product sections, for example "Windows" and "Water Efficient Fixtures." The Office Green Buying Guide is part of a series which includes monthly updates to the Guide.
To get a subscription to the Office Green Buying Guide Series, call (202) 331-7337 (ext. 33). It costs $45 for Environmental Partners and $150 for non-partners.
Florida Energy Extension Service (FEES)
In order to supply hotel owners and others with "unbiased information and assistance" in choosing environmentally preferable equipment, EnviroRoom describes the results of FEES's selection and trial use of resource-efficient equipment in hotel guest rooms. The guide first describes the criteria used to select "resource-efficient" lighting, water service, and air-conditioning equipment. FEES developed its criteria based on product literature, hotel engineers' experiences, vendor interviews, published performance specifications, and review articles. Manufacturers whose products were tested after satisfying the criteria are listed in the back of the guide. The rest of the publication describes how each type of product fared in terms of energy conservation, dollar savings, and guest response.
To obtain a free copy, contact: Alice M. Lewis, Hospitality Energy Agent, Florida Energy Extension Service, University of Florida, 3245 College Ave., Davie, FL 33314.
International Institute for Sustainable Development, 1994
While designed to assist entrepreneurs of small-to-medium sized businesses that sell environmentally preferable products, the Tool Kit can also be a useful publication for government purchasers, policy makers, administrators, operators of information centers, educators and students. The 172-page book includes chapters on "Green Procurement: Purchasing for a Sustainable Future," "Product Certification Organizations," and "Technology Assistance Organizations."
To obtain a copy of the Tool Kit, ($25 + $3 shipping and handling) contact: International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), 161 Portage Ave. East - 6th Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 0Y4, CANADA.
Nancy Casey-McCabe and Jeffrey P. Harris, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Energy and Environment Division, 1994
This paper provides an overview to energy labeling programs in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Harris and Casey-McCabe distinguish "Endorsement" from "Comparison" labeling programs and examine the advantages, disadvantages, and policy issues involved with each.
To obtain a copy, contact: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Energy and Environment Division, 1250 Maryland Ave., S.W., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20024; (202) 484-0880.
Kristin Dawkins, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, September 1995
Dawkins's paper examines eco-labeling programs in the context of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and competing eco-labeling programs in other countries. It discusses the problems involved with competing ideas of how to do life-cycle analysis and makes recommendations for facilitating the implementation of effective eco-labeling policies.
To obtain a copy, contact: Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, 1313 Fifth Street, Suite 303, Minneapolis, MN 55414-1546, (612) 379-5980, Fax: (612) 379-5982; E-Mail: iatp@igc.apc.org.
Marc Ledbetter and Loretta A. Smith, Washington, DC: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, 1993
ACEEE's latest edition of the Guide discusses the energy characteristics of personal computers, monitors, copiers, fax machines, and "hydra" combination machines. It includes life-cycle cost calculation worksheets for comparing operating costs and recommendations on types of equipment to buy. A 1995 edition will be available in February 1996. Each copy costs $10 (plus $4 shipping and handling).
To obtain a copy, write ACEEE Publications, 2140 Shattuck Ave., Suite 202, Berkeley, CA 94704, call (202) 429-8873, or fax orders to (510) 549-9984.
Richard Heede and the Staff of the Rocky Mountain Institute, Snowmass, Colorado: Rocky Mountain Institute, 1995
The Rocky Mountain Institute's new guide to cost-effective ways of cutting home energy bills, saving energy and water, and improving comfort is a solid first place to become informed about energy concepts even if you are someone more concerned with office energy-efficiency. The book is an easy-to-read guide to the concepts behind judging the preferability of energy saving products. It includes how-to explanations and listings of where you can buy its recommended products.
Each copy is $14.95. To order copies, contact: Rocky Mountain Institute, 1739 Snowmass Creek Rd., Snowmass, Colorado 81654-9199, (970) 927-3420, Internet: orders@rmi.org.