Members of the Computational Sciences & Technology, Procurement, and Sustainability departments at Jefferson Lab include (left to right) Paul Letta, Katrina Sample, Davis Wright, Aubrie Davie, David Rackley, Barbara Rice, Denise Leary-Stith, Kelvin Edwards, and Renee Carter. The group poses for a photo after winning the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) award for the eighth straight year. Jefferson Lab photo/Aileen Devlin
Lab honored for continued commitment to choosing electronic devices with reduced environmental impact
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Earth Day is every day at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. And every year for the past eight years, the lab has been recognized as a global leader in the purchasing of sustainable electronics.
That streak continued in 2024 with Jefferson Lab collecting another EPEAT Purchaser Award from the Global Electronics Council, an organization that manages an online database for tracking grading the sustainability of electronic devices.
EPEAT is an ecolabel that stands for “Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool.” Products that meet its criteria are considered for energy efficiency and sustainability throughout their life cycle, from materials selection all the way down to the recyclability of the packaging. Electronics that make the registry are labeled as bronze, silver or gold.
Annually, the EPEAT Purchaser Award is given to public and private organizations, ranging from healthcare and finance to government and research, based on their excellence in maintaining sustainable electronics procurement. Jefferson Lab has earned the prize each year since 2016, but according to Sustainability Program Lead Aubrie Davie, the lab isn’t in it for the accolades.
“Not only are we showing nationally that we're committed to sustainability,” said Jefferson Lab Sustainability Program Lead Aubrie Davie, “but we're also committed to reducing the environmental impact on our local community.”
The EPEAT award recognized Jefferson Lab’s purchases in four categories: computers and displays, mobile phones, servers, and televisions. But going after it is no easy task, Davie said.
The honor requires a strong effort from the lab’s sustainability, procurement, IT and computational sciences and technology teams. These groups go the extra mile by purchasing items that earn silver or gold labels.
“It’s about a continued commitment to environmental stewardship,” Davie said.
During fiscal year 2023, Jefferson Lab purchased 718 EPEAT-labeled products – 73 more than the previous year. The efficiency of those devices equates to an energy savings of 385,060 kilowatt-hours, which is about as much as the annual consumption by 32 U.S. households. The greenhouse gas reduction is estimated at 83,149 kilograms of carbon dioxide, about the same as taking 18 average U.S. passengers off the road for an entire year. These products also offer significant reductions in hazardous waste, solid waste, material conservation, water consumption and the use of toxic chemicals. Over their lifetimes, the devices could generate costs savings of more than $15,000.
Davie, who is responsible for ensuring Jefferson Lab meets the Department of Energy’s sustainability goals, said winning the award for eight consecutive years sets an important example both locally and worldwide. And these kinds of improvements start with educating staff.
“Education and awareness are important throughout our organization,” Davie said. “Awards like this improve the culture around sustainability. It shows that it's not just one person's responsibility, but a collaborative effort.”
While the Global Electronics Council aims to create a world of sustainable technology and Jefferson Lab continues to contribute to a cleaner environment, buying the right electronics is not the only way to help. The DOE offers tips on how you can contribute to building a sustainable world – not only at work but also at home. Click here to learn ways a healthy environment can be built every day.
Further Reading
EPEAT Purchaser Award winners
Jefferson Lab Receives 2023 EPEAT Purchaser Award
By Xavier Gardner
Contact: Matt Cahill, Jefferson Lab Communications Office, cahill@jlab.org