Transforming Business as Usual: Applying Market Transformation Lessons to Green Procurement at the U.S. House of Representatives

This paper discusses how principles of market transformation inform organizational change across the U.S. House of Representatives. By regarding the specific House procurement "market" as analogous to the general energy efficiency market, we are designing and implementing a House green procurement program that benefits from market transformation philosophies and methods.

Driven by the Speaker's mandate to reduce the House's carbon footprint and resource consumption, the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) seeks to change House practices with a Green Procurement program developed by the Green the Capitol office. The CAO controls the purchase of most goods and services for the House itself and stands to influence procurement decisions throughout the broad network of autonomous Congressional offices and legislative agencies, including each Representative's DC and district offices, CAO vendors, and House support agencies.

An effective green procurement program must withstand inevitable political pressures and changes in Congressional priorities. Based on the model of market transformation in energy efficiency markets, the House Green Procurement program applies similar tools to increase demand for and availability of environmentally preferable products and services. Not only will this approach transform the House procurement market, but it will stimulate enduring House contribution to a larger change in the market for "green" goods and services.