Federal Environmental Purchasing: Maximizing Impact and Efficiency in Climate Change Mitigation

1. NPS, photo Climate Change Environmental Purchasing and Waste Reduction

2. Federal purchasing power is $250 Billion! • EP = environment + price + performance • Every purchase has health and environmental impacts

3. Environmental Purchasing • recycled content products • biobased products • energy efficient products • non-toxic products • water efficient products • Know your federal requirements

4. Environmental Purchasing • Specifying Green Products • Careful selection • Buy locally produced materials • Take control of packaging • Think Lifecycle Costs • PLAN (early) • PRIORITIZE (i.e. energy) • Federal Whole Bldg. Design Guide • PWR Directive 48 • Buildings contribute up to 48% GHG emissions.

5. Sustainability has to be incorporated into design at the beginning. It can’t be an add-on at the end. North Cascades Environmental Institute is LEED certified

6. Challenges and Opportunities “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” Mark Twain • How do you evaluate and track purchasing? • What are your incentives to save, to waste? • Decentralized spending • Smart cards

7. Opportunities - expand use of...? • green janitorial products • biobased hydraulic fluids, greases, chainsaw fuels • RC building products (i.e. insulation, restroom partitions) • EP paints and carpet and non-carpet • water-based solvents and adhesives; no VOC’s • alternatives to pressure treated lumber • sustainably harvested wood • energy and water efficient appliances • non-lead practice bullets • buy RC office products • electronics disposal • use less paper

8. Throwing away one less large bag of garbage every two weeks can reduce GHG gas emissions by more than half a ton a year. If we used 10% less paper, we would save 1.6 million T of GHG, and keep 280,000 cars off the road for one year.

9. Integrated Solid Waste Alternative Plans (ISWAP) • 1997 Stehekin; 2002 rest of park • Evaluate system components • Increase waste diversion/partnering • Improve tracking

10. ISWAP Funding Criteria • Infrastructure: containers, equipment, composting • Cost difference for green products, incl. biobased • Further studies • Educational materials and programs USS Arizona Memorial maintenance workers check energy use North Cascades

11. Can North Cascades improve its solid waste management? • Tracking quantities and diversion rates • Monitor fill rates • Containers and signage in visitor use areas • Recycling located next to trash • Pack-in and pack-out • Concessioner tracking and accounting • STEHEKIN • 36 CFR part 6 • Working with the county • Less labor intensive operation • Rate structure

12. Resources and Guides • Green Purchasing How-To Plan • Green Office Practices • Best Management Practices • Green Janitorial Products and Practices • (free) EP training at parks • Tip of the Month • Green Voice Newsletter

13. Going Beyond compliance to Sustainability: EMS is a Tool to Reduce Impacts • Climate action goals fit into EMS • Identify activities, impacts, and targets • Continuous improvement – two goals each year

14. Experience Your America Thank You Sonya Capek sonya_capek@nps.gov 206-220-4271