Ingram Micro Offers Green IT Assessment Tool

Ingram Micro said its product database now includes ratings using the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), which is managed by the Green Electronics Council.

EPEAT evaluates products based on 51 criteria regarding the environment and assigns each product a gold, silver or bronze ranking, according to the percentage of criteria they meet. Registered criteria include Energy Star efficiency ratings and a system for recycling at end of life.

Ingram Micro, Santa Ana, Calif., is the first distributor to partner with EPEAT, according to Jeff Omelchuck, executive director for the Green Electronics Council and EPEAT program manager.

"and#91;Ingram Micro'sand#93; leadership will help resellers respond to purchaser demand for Green IT options, expand the Green IT market, and provide end users with an easy way to determine at point of purchase which products are environmentally preferable," Omelchuck said in a statement.

Solution provider Softchoice, Toronto, recently added EPEAT ratings as a searchable field in its online Web storefront, evidence that the ratings are becoming more popular. In addition, vendors such as Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo are building new PCs to meet EPEAT requirements.

Federal government agencies are requiring EPEAT registered products to ensure their electronics purchases are compliant, according to Bob Laclede, vice president and general manager for government sales at Ingram Micro.

"By having these designations in our product database, Ingram Micro is providing the green information needed for our resellers to include on bids for government contracts. It also assists others in identifying environmentally friendly products for their end users," Laclede said in a statement.