The program is called the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program -- hard to say, but designed to be easy on the environment. The brainchild of the City's Environmental Services and Purchasing Departments, the program evaluates products before they're purchased based on environmental impact. City departments will look for products that are less toxic, biodegradable, made from recycled content, and recyclable themselves. Officials say they want to expand efforts the city is already making.
Kip Sturdevan, Environmental Services Dept. : Through this program, we want to have those departments that are doing this -- that are really working and that have a strong work ethic -- they are going to help teach other departments. They're going to say, ‘look, we've bought these, they work, and they meet the criteria.’ This is a large organization, so part of it is just communication.
But how much will it cost to make these changes? Mayor Jerry Sanders says while initial costs of environmentally-conscious products may be greater than alternatives, they often save the city money in the long-term because they last longer and are more efficient.
Sanders : City-wide, we save over $3.5 million annually in reduced energy consumption and costs due to conservation and retrofits, as well as through the installation of solar panels at city facilities.
Some green products already being used include recycled office supplies and paper products, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and office carpeting made from recycled content. But city officials hope San Diego's purchasing power -- to the tune of $2.8 billion spent on commodities annually -- will act as an incentive for manufacturers.
Sturdevan : As the vendors realize that the city is serious about this -- that the city has adopted this policy, that the city is taking this action -- the vendors in the private sector are going to take their innovation and they're going to come forward to us and say, look, here are things you can use that will meet your requirements and do what you want to have done.
Representatives from the Environmental Services Department say they will make annual reports to the mayor and city council documenting the results of the program. They will also train city staff to look for and select products that meet the environmentally-friendly criteria.
