Federal Electronics Challenge
Annual Reporting Forms and Award Applications Due January 31, 2010!
FY2009 Annual Reporting Forms and 2010 Award Applications are due in January. For more information, please see Annual Reporting or Apply for an Award.
What is the Challenge?
The Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) is a partnership program that encourages federal facilities and agencies to:
- Purchase greener electronic products.
- Reduce impacts of electronic products during use.
- Manage obsolete electronics in an environmentally safe way.
Why Electronics?
The purchasing, use, and disposition of electronics, such as computers, printers, and mobile phones, has significant environmental impacts. Electronic equipment may:
- Contain toxic constituents.
- Consume significant energy during use.
- Present complex challenges when disposed of.
These characteristics present opportunities and responsibilities in managing electronic products to reduce the environmental impacts associated with each phase of the electronics life-cycle:
- Acquisition and procurement
- Operation and maintenance
- End-of-life management
Why Should the Federal Government Get Involved?
The federal government, which purchases billions of dollars* worth of information technology equipment and services annually, has the opportunity to provide leadership in the environmentally sound and cost effective management of electronic assets throughout their life-cycle. Executive Order (E.O.) 13514 sets goals for the federal government to improve our environmental, energy and economic performance, in part through specific electronics stewardship activities. The FEC assists federal agencies and facilities in meeting the goals of E.O. 13514 and facing the challenges posed by electronics acquisition, use and disposal.
