美國綠色電子委員會(Green Electronics Council)開發了一個電子產品環境影響評價工具 (electronic product environmental assessment tool, EPEAT) 購買註冊系統。讓多達40個國家的電子產品製造商將其環保、節能型電腦和顯示屏幕登記到該系統中。截至目前爲止， EPEAT註冊資料庫只限用於在美國銷售的電腦設備。
與傳統的電腦設備相比，所有EPEAT註冊的電腦產品，基於保護人類健康和環境的因素，其鎘、鉛、汞含量較低。並且，這些產品較節能也較易升級和回收利用，因此可以降低引發氣候變遷的溫室氣體排放量。
EPEAT為電子產品環境影響評價工具的縮寫。該工具按51個由美國環保署支持，通過廣泛的利益相關者協議的過程所得到的環境標準來評估電腦台式機、筆電和顯示屏幕。
EPEAT評價工具系統歸綠色電子委員會管理，為一總部設在奧勒岡州波特蘭市的非贏利國際可持續發展基金會所執行的計劃。
EPEAT登記資料庫中已有30多個大型和小型的製造商參與，以及高達1,000多項註冊產品。美國政府要求聯邦政府機構至少95%所需產品的添購為EPEAT註冊產品。同時，也呼籲全球數百個政府和企業買家購買EPEAT註冊的產品。
滿足23項環保性能標準的產品，即可註冊登記為EPEAT的銅級產品。
同理，視其他28項的額外自願性產品達標多寡，亦可分別晉升獲評為EPEAT銀級或金級（最高級別）產品。
所有製造商登記於EPEAT註冊系統的產品，必須提供符合有利於環境與易於回收的方案。而其產品只要每個階段的生命週期滿足環境績效的相關標準，即能獲得加分的獎勵。
由美國環保署出資，於2002年8月和2006年5月間通過與零廢物聯盟（Zero Waste Alliance）的一項合作協議，贊助EPEAT的成立與發展。此外，環保署在三年內撥款375,000美元，提供綠色電子委員會的開辦費用。如今隨著EPEAT的啟動階段結束，便由製造商根據廠商的市佔率來支付其運作費用。
買方概況、製造商名單、EPEAT標準和環保特點請上以下網站查詢：http://www.epeat.net/。
The Green Electronics Council has created an international EPEAT® purchasing registry, a development that enables electronics manufacturers in 40 countries to list their environmentally-friendly, energy efficient computers and monitors. Until now, the EPEAT registry has been available only for computer gear sold in the United States.
Compared to traditional computer equipment, all EPEAT-registered computers have reduced levels of cadmium, lead, and mercury to better protect human health and the environment. They are more energy efficient, which reduces emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases, and they are easier to upgrade and recycle.
EPEAT stands for the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, a program that evaluates computer desktops, laptops, and monitors based on 51 environmental criteria developed through an extensive stakeholder consensus process supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPEAT system is managed by the Green Electronics Council, a program of the nonprofit International Sustainable Development Foundation headquartered in Portland.
EPEAT has developed a registry of more than 1,000 products and more than 30 participating manufacturers, large and small. The U.S. government requires federal agencies to buy EPEAT-registered products for at least 95 percent of their needs and hundreds of government and enterprise purchasers worldwide require products registered with EPEAT.
Products that meet 23 required environmental performance criteria may be registered at the EPEAT Bronze level.
Depending on the number of 28 additional optional criteria the product meets, it can be rated EPEAT Silver or EPEAT Gold, the highest level.
Manufacturers must offer environmentally responsible recycling options for all EPEAT-registered products. Products are rewarded with additional points as they meet environmental performance criteria related to every phase of the product lifecycle.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funded the EPEAT development process over the period between August 2002 and May 2006 through a cooperative agreement with the Zero Waste Alliance. EPA also provided a grant of $375,000 over three years to the Green Electronics Council to fund initial start-up costs. Now that the start-up phase is over, EPEAT is funded by fees paid by the manufacturers based on their relative size in the market.
Purchaser profiles, the participating manufacturer list, EPEAT criteria and environmental benefits are online at: http://www.epeat.net/.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
