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​Lifecycle of Electronic Stewardship

​​​​​What do magic potions, vampire hunters and necromancers have in common? The first thing that comes to mind probably isn’t electronic stewardship. But in this article, we’ll show you how these concepts can apply to practices that lower energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent pollution.

Like a magic potion, if you use the wrong ingredients, you’ll get a less desirable result. This is why proper procurement is the first important practice of electronic stewardship. Federal Acquisition Regulations and the Energy Policy of 2005 mandate the purchase of ENERGY STAR-qualified products when procuring electronic equipment, where possible.¹ This includes everything from laptops, monitors, phones and even lab equipment, including freezers.²

Products with the ENERGY STAR ecolabel guarantee that they meet a specific energy efficiency and quality standard. For more on ENERGY STAR and other ecolabels to consider during procurement, check out our September 2024 article​. Energy efficient electronics will consume less electricity over their lifespans, resulting in lower energy costs and less greenhouse gas emissions. It’s almost like magic!

The next electronic stewardship practice is reducing energy through efficient operation. While a device may have the potential to be energy efficient, if it isn’t operated efficiently, you won’t get the desired results. For example, the Net Zero Energy (NZE) Warehouse​ near Research Triangle Park campus ensures its occupants go through proper training so that both the office areas and the warehouse equipment are operated in an efficient manner. The NZE warehouse is truly ‘net-zero’ only because of the efficient operations, not purely based on its features. Turning off lights, powering down equipment and using power saving settings are great ways to do this.

At the end of the day, turn off power strips or unplug equipment when able, such as lamps, monitors and laptops, to avoid what is called ‘vampire power.’ This phenomenon occurs when electrical devices continue to draw energy while appearing to be off. Vampire power can also be avoided by turning off the surge protectors that these devices are plugged into. Use energy efficient products to their maximum potential by keeping an eye out for those vampires.

The final important practice is proper management of e-waste. Once an electronic product reaches the end of its lifecycle, or you receive an upgrade which makes it obsolete, the true necromancy begins. Both at work and at home, there are several dark rituals, or recycling methods, you can use to effectively dispose of electronic devices. Read our Take Action article​ for more details.

Electronics that are no longer needed are responsibly managed in one of two ways. If the product is in good enough condition, it may be sold or reused as-is. Otherwise, it is sorted, disassembled and stripped of its useful components. These useful components are then sold to companies for reuse in manufacturing. What remains is recycled through typical metal or plastic recycling systems.³ Like zombies or Frankenstein’s monster, death is not the end for electronics.

As you buy, use or dispose of electronics, consider how to lessen your environmental impact. Green procurement and sustainable operations reduce energy consumption, operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions, while proper e-waste management prevents harmful pollution and waste. Despite the potions, vampires and necromancers, electronic stewardship isn’t so scary at all! ​

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Greg Leifer, Energy Management Branch Chief​ ​ ​​Greg Leifer works as the Branch Chief for the Energy Management Branch in the Division of Facilities Stewardship (DFS). He oversees a plethora of new and existing energy projects across all the NIH campuses. From energy audits to installing solar arrays, if it deals with energy, Greg is on the case. LEA​RN MORE​​​​

​​Take Action                                                                                                                                                                              ​                                                                                                

​	​Proper E-Waste Disposal​ ​ ​When an electronic device reaches the end of its useful life, it’s time to properly dispose of it. But how? Surely it doesn’t go in the recycling bin! Throwing it in the trash could result in harmful components and pollution entering the environment.​​ ​​LEARN MORE​​​​​

NEMS Training                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Did you know? ​​E-waste can contain toxic materials like lead, mercury, beryllium and cadmium. ​If improperly disposed to a landfill, these hazards can leech into the soil and water and pollute the nearby environment. To learn more about waste disposal at the NIH​​​​​​​​​​, please visit the NEMS T​raining webpage to view a short (20 minute) NIH environmental awareness training video.