NERC in the News
State Electronics Challenge Enters 4th Year, Expands Across USA
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Scrap Monster; March 31, 2012
In its fourth year, the State Electronics Challenge expanded from its Northeast roots to serve state, regional, tribal, and local governments across the United States. The program grew from 48 Partners in 16 states to 82 Partners in 31 states between the end of 2010 and December 2011. Partners employed over 120,000 people. The goal is to have Partners in all 50 U.S. states by the end of 2012. In 2011, the Challenge is recognizing 11 Partners for their accomplishments. Challenge Partners are eligible for one of three recognition levels – Bronze, Silver, or Gold – based on completion of program requirements.
A record four gold awards were announced, three silver, and four bronze.
Gold (Completed all Lifecycle Phases: Procurement, Operations & Maintenance, End-of-Life Management):
- Regional Technology Cooperative, Borough of State College, Pennsylvania
- Manitou Springs School District, Colorado
- City of Wilmington, Delaware
- City of Madison, Wisconsin
Silver:
- Town of Windsor, Connecticut - Procurement & End-of-Life Management
- City of Providence Schools, Rhode Island
- Procurement & Operations and Maintenance
- DuPage County, Illinois - Procurement & End-of-Life Management
Bronze:
- Vermont Agency of Natural Resources - End-of-Life Management
- Ball State University, Indiana - End-of-Life Management
- City of La Crosse, Wisconsin – Procurement
- Maryland Department of Environment - Procurement
The environmental results of the 39 Partners that reported about their efforts to “green” the lifecycle of their computer assets — from purchasing EPEAT registered products to lowering the energy consumption of computers in use, extending the lifetime of equipment, and recycling equipment at the end of its service life — were significant.
- Avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 8,000 cars from the roads/year, -Saved enough energy to power 7,000 homes/year
- Avoided the use of more than 3,000 pounds of toxic materials, including lead and mercury,
- Avoided solid waste generation equivalent to 500 households/year, and
- Avoided hazardous waste generation of 200 tons.
The Challenge is a free program that works with state, regional, tribal, and local governments to decrease the environmental footprint of their computer equipment.
