**U.S. Department of Energy**

**Quarterly Teleconference on Implementing**

**Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Requirements**

**May 1, 2008 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (EDT)**

**[TOPICS]{.underline}**

-   DOE site Earth Day activities

-   Reuse of products in research projects

-   Environmentally preferable tires

**[MINUTES]{.underline}**

**Welcome** - Don Lentzen (DOE-HQ Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Lead)

-   Congratulations to Oak Ridge National Lab for winning the White
    House Closing the Circle award for Alternative Fuel and Fuel
    Conservation in Transportation

-   Congratulations to those recognized with Honorable Mention:

    -   Sandia National Laboratories -- EMS Implementation, Outreach,
        Program and Facilities Integration

    -   National Renewable Energy Lab -- Sustainable Design: First LEED
        Platinum DOE Lab

-   Department of Energy Headquarters has funding for site visits to
    help with any aspects of your Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
    Programs: building EPP into your Environmental Management System,
    brainstorming initiatives, how to find designated products at best
    prices, establishing tracking systems, template language for
    contracts, training

    **Earth Day Activities** -- DOE, Treasury Department, and Department
    of Veterans Affairs sites discussed briefly their Earth Day
    activities:

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-   DOE-HQ debuted its new Environmentally Preferable Purchasing display
    in the lobby of the Forrestal Building. The new display highlights
    for each designated product category a success story at several DOE
    sites.

-   Argonne National Lab sponsored a raffle for a rain barrel and handed
    out tree seedlings of red oak for purchasing raffle tickets.

-   Princeton Plasma Physics Lab held an Earth week, participated in the
    Mercer County Earth Day improvement event with two displays\--one on
    recycling and one on conservation, had the Deputy Secretary from EPA
    speak, became Energy Star partners, and held a cafeteria award
    ceremony for buying an Energy Star dishwasher and eliminating
    Styrofoam.

-   Sandia National Laboratories invited Dr. Robert Hirsch to talk about
    peak oil, organized a convention of exhibitors to market their green
    and sustainable products and systems, invited the custodial team to
    talk about their green activities, gave out 20% recycled content
    shopping bags and fluorescent bulbs, and planted trees on Arbor Day.

-   Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility held an Earth Day
    clean up of the site, gave out tree seedlings to plant at home,
    participated in NASA's event, and presented a slide show on Think
    Global Act Local.

-   The Treasury Department held "getting to green" training which
    covered OMB scorecards and electronics as well as other EPP topics,
    had the Secretary and his wife speak about their personal
    environmental commitment, recognized 4000 hours of environmental
    volunteer work with lifetime achievement awards, presented awards to
    energy and fleet managers and to Bureaus meeting their "Change a
    Light, Change the World" campaign goals, and sponsored a Sustainable
    Environment Fair and an Earth Day poster contest for children of
    employees.

-   VA Arkansas held two Earth Day celebrations on April 22 and 29,
    teamed with central Arkansas transit to offer free bus service to
    encourage staff to ride, and gave away oak tree seedlings.

**Office of the Federal Environmental Executive Update** -- Dana Arnold
(OFEE)

-   The Closing the Circle winners have been announced.

-   Federal Environmental Executive\'s 2004-2006 Report on the Federal
    government\'s environmental and energy efficiency accomplishments
    was released to the President. This report summarizes the
    environmental performance of Federal agencies from 2004-2006 and is
    jam packed with hundreds of examples of what agencies have been
    doing toward EO13423.

-   Space is still available for the OFEE symposium at both East and
    West locations. Deadline for registration is May 16.

-   The EPP policy letter from the Office of the Federal Procurement
    Policy should be published by summer.

-   The next three rounds (26-28 products) of USDA biobased designations
    are at the Office of the Federal Register and should be released
    shortly.

-   The new Federal Environmental Executive has yet to be announced.

**Department of Veterans Affairs Update** -- Sue Nogas (VA)

-   VA headquarters held an annual green purchasing awareness fair with
    the largest crowd ever to look at what the vendors had on display.

-   Congratulations to VA sites for Closing the Circle honorable
    mentions:

    -   Louisville VA Medical Center for recycling intravenous solutions
        to produce ethanol

    -   Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center for fuel economy in
        transportation

-   The VA updated and handed out to participants at the Earth Day Fair
    the green purchasing brochure, which reflects the new regulations
    and includes all designated products.

**Rounding Up Used Equipment for Physics Experiment** -- Richard Tesarek
(Fermi National Accelerator Lab)

Presentation file distributed with the conference call agenda.

-   The SciBooNE experiment was constructed with a cost savings of 73%
    or \$3.3 million. Items were re-used whenever possible to save money
    and help meet the quick schedule.

-   The SciBooNE experiment at Fermilab was built almost entirely from
    materials reused from previous experiments at Fermilab, Europe, and
    Japan. Researchers typically know the colleagues in their field and
    checked with them to find the needed equipment.

-   Experimenters negotiated international agreements between
    collaborating institutions to lend detectors and equipment for the
    experiment. Pools of materials and electronic equipment used in
    previous experiments and maintained at Fermilab also provided needed
    infrastructure for SciBooNE.

-   On completion of the SciBooNE experiment, nearly all the materials
    and equipment will be reused in future experiments.

[Comment]{.underline}: Tom McGeachen (PPPL) said they have no problems
reusing equipment

[Question]{.underline}: If you had funding to buy new equipment, would
you still have sought used equipment?

[Answer]{.underline}: We still would have sought used equipment. Also
the mandate is to make the experiment as inexpensive as possible.

**Slides with Details for Following Discussions Available at
<http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/purchasing_guides/tires/>**

**Retread Tires** -- Harvey Brodsky (Tire Retread Information Bureau)

Link to [www.retread.org](http://www.retread.org/)

-   Background: Tires have a very large percentage of synthetic
    (oil-based) rubber. Re-tread tires reduce the use of petroleum and
    reduce the amount of waste entering landfills. Tires are basically
    petro-chemical products. It takes approximately 22 gallons of oil to
    manufacture one new truck tire. Most of the oil is found in the
    casing, which is reused in the retreading process. As a result, it
    takes only approximately 7 gallons of oil to produce a retread.

-   Cost: Tires are now designed for several lives. The cost of a
    retreaded tire will usually be 30 to 50% less than the cost of a new
    tire.

-   Reliability: Studies show new tires fail more often than retreads

-   Availability: Truck retread tires are readily available. Quality
    passenger retread tires are now becoming more available.

-   Specifications: Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    referred to the Federal Specification 381 when retread tires were
    designated for purchase, that specification is out of date and has
    not been replaced. The National Highway Traffic Safety
    Administration does not have a specification regulating transit
    tires. Best guarantee is to buy from quality retreaders who use
    x-ray and other testing equipment to determine whether a carcass is
    suitable for retreading.

-   Source of quality retreads: Call 888-473-8732 or check the Buyers
    Guide on the website (<http://www.retread.org/Guide/>).

-   Best Practices for increasing life of tires and fuel economy:

    -   Ensure tires are properly inflated

    -   Ensure vehicle not overloaded

[Question]{.underline}: We typically use specs to guarantee quality
products. If 381 is out of date, are there other appropriate specs?

[Answer]{.underline}: Our position is that if you deal with a quality
re-tread manufacturer, you should not have any problems.

[Comment]{.underline}: Frank Armstrong (WAPA) observed quality control
process in Denver. The retreader has to mark the week and year on
retreaded tires. Also understands Florida tried to pass legislation
outlawing commercial retread tires and in Texas it was alleged when an
accident occurred, the Retread Association paid people to pick up rubber
tread on the road.

[Answer:]{.underline} The proposed Florida legislation was laughed out
and the Texas allegations are unfounded.

**Fuel Efficient/Low Resistance Tires** -- Luke Tonachel (Natural
Resources Defense Council)

> Link to
> <http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/purchasing_guides/tires/>

-   Low rolling-resistance tires contain specialized rubber compounds,
    which minimize rolling resistance to

    -   Maintain good traction and wear life

    -   Improve fuel economy

        -   10% reduction in rolling resistance offers 1-2% better gas
            mileage (National Academies of Science report)

        -   Light-duty fuel economy can increase by 2-4%

-   Labeling: Presently tires are not labeled, but the Energy
    Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires them to be labeled
    within 2 years and establishes a rating and information system.

-   To Identify: Require suppliers to provide the rolling resistance
    coefficient of tires as part of response to bid request. The
    coefficient is a unitless value that relates an energy force to a
    load force. Look for lower than 0.01, which on average will give you
    a low rolling-resistance tire.

-   To Specify: Specify low rolling-resistance tires with a coefficient
    of lower than 0.01 per the J1269 SAE test.

-   Cost: The additional cost of low rolling-resistance tires for
    passenger cars is approximately \$2 per tire, which quickly
    amortizes itself with cost savings from improved fuel economy. In
    trucking applications, long haul trailers will have the quickest pay
    back due to their high mileage rate.

[Question]{.underline}: Are there low rolling-resistance retread tires
on the market?

[Answer]{.underline}: There is no reason why retreads cannot be low
rolling resistant, but does not know whether retreads have the specs for
low resistance

**Lead Free Wheel Weights** -- Matt Kittell (Responsible Purchasing
Network)

> Link to leadfreewheels.org

-   Background: Every tire has a wheel weight so tires roll uniformly.
    The typical vehicle will have 4.5 ounces of weight per tire. Most
    are lead---a toxic that causes brain damage. Of the 65,000 tons of
    weights used on vehicles in the United States, 2000 tons of lead
    wheel weights fall off each year usually in urban environments.
    Weights on the tires are no problem, but when exposed to air, water,
    vehicles, and foot traffic, the weights degrade into particles,
    which are washed by rain water into water sheds and so pollute
    drinking water supplies. Also while major tire companies send
    removed lead weights back for remanufacture, many tire vendors are
    small companies that tend to dispose of the lead wheel weights
    improperly. The estimate for this waste stream is about 4000 tons.

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-   Outlook: Beginning with 2009 model all automobiles except Chrysler
    will switch to lead free wheel weights. Jeff Gearhart with Ecology
    in Michigan has taken the lead. The replacement tire market will
    continue to use lead because vendors are small companies and less
    able to adjust their practices.

-   To Identify: Three types of non-lead weights are
    available---plastic, steel, and zinc. Steel is the best from cost
    and environmental perspective. When ordered in large quantities,
    steel is cost competitive with lead, but steel weights can corrode
    quickly so important they have a thin layer of lead or plastic
    coating over the steel. Zinc costs more than lead.

-   To Specify: Specify lead free weights in contracts. The state of
    Maine specified lead free wheel weights with a clause which allows
    small business to sell lead wheel weights in the near term but
    requires them to implement a plan for switching over. King County
    good example

**Alternative Wheel Weight** -- Bob Toppen (King County Department of
Transportation)

Link to
[**http://www.metrokc.gov/procure/green/bul92.htm**](http://www.metrokc.gov/procure/green/bul92.htm)

Link to
[**http://www.imiproducts.com/xact/index.aspx**](http://www.imiproducts.com/xact/index.aspx)

Link to
http://www.responsiblepurchasing.org/UserFiles/File/Tires/Webcast/KingCounty.pdf

Although Bob was unable to rejoin the teleconference when disrupted,
information on the alternative wheel weight system being used in King
County is available at the above websites.

**Next teleconference**

-   Date -- July 24, 2008

-   Potential topics for the next teleconference. Please share your
    ideas. Some suggested so far are

    -   Electronics Stewardship Success Stories

    -   Effect on EPP of Energy Security and Independence Act

    -   EPP Training Template for Use by DOE Sites

    -   Energy/water efficient products

    -   Cafeteria Products (dishware)

    -   Construction: Insulation, paint, roofing sealant, water free
        urinals

    -   Other?

**Adjourn**

**RESOURCE MATERIALS AND UPDATED EPP INFORMATION**

**[NEWLY DESIGNATED RECYCLED PRODUCT AND NEW DEFINITION]{.underline}**

**Begin Purchasing and Collecting Purchasing Data by September 15,
2008**

-   Fertilizer

-   Compost (new definition)

Web Info: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/products.htm

**[NEWLY DESIGNATED BIOBASED PRODUCTS]{.underline}**

**Begin Purchasing and Collecting Purchasing Data by May 14, 2009 except
where denoted**

**CLEANERS/SOLVENTS**

-   Adhesive and mastic removers -- 58%

-   Bath and spa cleaners -- 74%

-   Carpet and upholstery cleaners

    -   General purpose cleaners -- 54%

    -   Spot removers -- 7%

-   Floor strippers -- 78%

-   Glass cleaners -- 49%

-   Graffiti and grease removers -- 34%

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-   Hand cleaners and sanitizers

    -   Hand cleaners -- 64%

    -   Sanitizers -- 73%

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-   Laundry products

    -   General purpose laundry -- 34%

    -   Pretreatment/spot removers -- 46%

**CONSTRUCTION**

-   \*Carpets - 7%

-   \*Insulating foam (plastic) for residential and commercial
    construction -- 7%

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-   \*Panels - composite panels

    -   Acoustical composite panels -- 37%

    -   Interior panels -- 55%

    -   Plastic lumber composite panels -- 23%

    -   Structural interior panels -- 89%

    -   Structural wall panels -- 94%

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-   Release fluids - concrete and asphalt -- 87%

**DISHWARE**

-   Cutlery - disposable -- 48%

-   \*Disposable containers -- 72%

**LUBRICANTS**

-   2-cycle engine oils -- 34%

-   Firearm lubricants -- 49%

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-   Greases

    -   Food grade -42%

    -   Multi-purpose -- 72%

    -   Rail track -- 30%

    -   Truck -- 71%

    -   Unspecified -- 75%

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-   Metalworking fluids---straight oils

    -   Straight oils -- 66%

    -   General purpose soluble, semi-synthetic, synthetic -- 57%

    -   High performance soluble, semi-synthetic, synthetic **(delayed
        preference compliance date)** -- 40%

**SEALANTS**

-   Wood and concrete sealers

    -   Membrane concrete sealers -- 11%

    -   Penetrating liquid sealers -- 79%

**OTHER**

-   De-icers - general purpose de-icers -- 93%

-   Dust suppressants -- 85%

-   \*Fertilizers - 71%

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-   Films

    -   Non-durable -- 85%

    -   \*Semi-durable (plastic bags) -- 45%

-   Fluid filled transformers

    -   Synthetic esterbased transformer fluids **(delayed preference
        compliance date)** -- 66%

    -   Vegetable oil-based transformer fluids -- 95%

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-   \*Hydraulic fluids - stationary equipment -- 44%

-   Lip care products -- 82%

-   \*Sorbents -- 89% (proposed 52%)

**Begin Purchasing and Collecting Purchasing Data by March 16, 2007
except where denoted**

-   Lubricants, penetrating -- 68% biobased content by weight

-   Diesel fuel additives -- 90%

-   Urethane roof coating/sealant -- 20%

-   Hydraulic fluids for mobile equipment (tractors, etc.) -- 44%

-   Bedding, bed linens, towels **(November 20, 2007 preference
    compliance date)** -- 12%

-   Water tank coating/sealant **(November 20, 2007 preference
    compliance date)** -- 59%

\* May overlap with recycled content requirements. Recycled content
requirements have precedence.

Regulations:
http://www.biopreferred.gov/ProposedAndFinalRegulations.aspx

**[SOURCES OF INFORMATION]{.underline}**

**DOE's "Environmentally Preferable Products Program" website for access
to the reporting site, annual report, teleconference agenda and minutes,
and sources of helpful information**

U.S. Department of Energy's RCRA 6002/Executive Order 13423 home page

http://www.hss.doe.gov/pp/epp/

**Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Executive Orders, Regulations,
Guidelines**

Office of the Federal Environmental Executive

[www.ofee.gov]{.underline}

**Buying Green**

FedCenter

http://www.fedcenter.gov/programs/buygreen/

**What Is Green Purchasing, Anyway?**

Office of Personnel Management

[www.golearn.gov]{.underline} (Free Catalog Section, then Legislatively
Mandated\...Topics)

**GENERAL PRODUCT INFORMATION**

**Environmentally Preferable Products**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

<http://yosemite1.epa.gov/oppt/eppstand2.nsf>

**Environmentally Preferable Products**

U.S. Department of Energy

http://www.hss.doe.gov/pp/epp/

**Alternative Fuels and Vehicles**

U.S. Department of Energy

[http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/epact/federal/]{.underline}

**Biobased Products**

U.S. Department of Agriculture

[http://www.biopreferred.gov/?SMSESSION=NO]{.underline}

**Construction**

Whole Building Design Guide \-- Technical Guidance for Implementing the

Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance and

Sustainable Buildings Memorandum of Understanding

[[http://www.wbdg.org/sustainablemou]{.underline}](http://www.wbdg.org/sustainablemou)

The Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers with more than

60 model green construction spec sections

[[http://fedgreenspecs.wbdg.org]{.underline}](http://fedgreenspecs.wbdg.org/)

**Energy/Water Efficient Products**

Federal Energy Management Program

<http://www.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/>

**Recycled Products and Suppliers**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Comprehensive Procurement
Guidelines

[http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/index.htm]{.underline}

**Materials Exchange Products**

(especially chemicals, equipment, and hazardous materials) at other DOE
facilities

Log on with user name (erhquser) and password (erhqdoe)

DOE Complex Wide Materials Exchange

<http://wastenot.er.doe.gov/me/login.aspx>

**Substitutes for Ozone-Depleting Products**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

[http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/lists/index.html]{.underline}

**SPECIFIC PRODUCT CATEGORIES**

**Carpet**

**Contract Language and Standards/Guidelines**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Select "carpet" at
<http://yosemite.epa.gov/oppt/eppstand2.nsf/Pages/Search.html?Open>

California Carpet Standard

> http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/green/epp/standards.pdf

**Recycled Content Specifications and Suppliers**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

> [http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/products/carpet.htm]{.underline}

**Suppliers Meeting California Carpet Standard**

> http://www.green.ca.gov/EPP/carpets.htm

**Cement/Concrete**

**Recycled Content Specifications and Suppliers**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

> [http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/products/cement.htm]{.underline}

**Cleaning Products**

> **Contract Language and Standards/Guidelines**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

> Select "cleaning supplies" at
> [http://yosemite.epa.gov/oppt/eppstand2.nsf/Pages/Search.html?Open]{.underline}

**Suppliers**

EcoLogo CCD 104 Hand Cleaners -- Industrial

http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=329

EcoLogo CCD 110 Cleaning and Degreasing Compounds

http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=335

EcoLogo CCD 115 Odor Control Additives

<http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=340>

EcoLogo CCD-146 Hard Surface Cleaners

<http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=371>

EcoLogo CCD-147 Floor Care Products

<http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=372>

EcoLogo CCD 148 Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners

http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=373

EcoLogo CCD 166 Disinfectants and Disinfectant Cleaners

http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=391

Green Seal GS-37 Industrial and Institutional Cleaners

> <http://www.greenseal.org/findaproduct/index.cfm#cleaners>

**Construction Materials and Products**

**Contract Language**

U.S. Department of Energy

> [http://www.hss.doe.gov/pp/epp/epspecs.html]{.underline} , see
> "Construction Services"

**Paint**

**Recycled Content Specifications and Suppliers**

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

> [http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/products/paint.htm]{.underline}

**Suppliers**

EcoLogo CCD-47 Surface Coatings (Paints, Stains, and Varnishes)

<http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=272>

EcoLogo CCD-48 Surface Coatings (Recycled)

http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=273

Green Seal GS-43 Recycled Content Latex Paint

> http://www.greenseal.org/newsroom/GS-43_Recycled_Content_Latex_Paint.pdf

**Toner Cartridges**

> **Recycled Content Specifications and Suppliers**

EcoLogo CCD-039 Printing Cartridges Remanufactured

http://www.ecologo.org/en/seeourcriteria/details.asp?ccd_id=264

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

> [http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/products/toner.htm]{.underline}

**[DOWNLOAD AND RUN BEES 4.0 SOFTWARE]{.underline}**

BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software
helps designers, builders, and product manufacturers identify the
environmental and economic performance of

building/construction products. Developed by the NIST (National
Institute of Standards and Technology) Green Buildings Program with
support from the U.S. EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program
and the HUD Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) the
tool is based on consensus standards and designed to be practical,
flexible, and transparent.

**Register for software at
[[http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees/registration.html]{.underline}](http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/bees/registration.html)
(no cost involved):**

-   Fill out registration form

-   Click submit

    **To install BEES 4.0:**

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-   Download bees30dzip.exe, a 14.6 MB self-extracting file. (If
    prompted during the download, choose to save the file).

-   From Windows Explorer, double click on bees30dzip.exe to start the
    self- extraction process.

-   When prompted, choose a folder to unzip the file to and click Unzip.

-   Using Windows Explorer, go to the folder you specified in Step 3,
    double click on Setup.exe and follow the directions on the screen.
    You will need to choose a folder in which to install BEES 3.0d. This
    folder must be different from the one you specified in Step 3.

    **To run BEES 4.0:**

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-   Select Start-\>Programs-\>BEES-\>BEES 3.0d

    **OR**

-   Go to "My Computer" or wherever you can see all folders and files on
    your computer. Do not try to open the BEES exe file from a software
    application, such as Word.

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-   Go to where you stored the BEES files (probably in a folder labeled
    "BEES")

-   Open the BEES30d.exe file

-   Go to "Analysis" at top of window

-   Go to "Define Parameters"