| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.65 |
| Liaison | Laura Bain |
| Submission Date | Jan. 19, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Furman University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 3.00 |
Laura
Bain Associate Director of Sustainability Assessment David E. Shi Center for Sustainability |
Does the institution have written policies, guidelines or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across commodity categories institution-wide?:
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
GREEN PURCHASING GUIDELINES
Purchasing decisions result in large socio-economic and environmental impacts, both locally and globally. As a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), Furman University is committed to the use and purchase of environmentally and socially responsible products and services. Departments are encouraged to support this initiative in accordance with the following guidelines.
Definition
According to the National Association of Educational Procurement, “Green Purchasing shall be defined as the method wherein environmental and social considerations are taken with equal weight to the price, availability and performance criteria that colleges and universities use to make purchasing decisions. Green Procurement minimizes negative environmental and social effects through the use of environmentally friendly products. Green Procurement attempts to identify and reduce environmental impact and to maximize resource efficiency.”
Goals
● Recognize Furman’s role as a leader in the community with regards to sustainability issues.
● Demonstrate Furman’s commitment to environmentally and socially responsible stewardship and carbon neutrality, as outlined in the sustainability master plan, “Sustainable Furman.”
● Encourage the manufacturing and service sectors to be more environmentally and socially responsible.
Purchasing Guidelines
General/All Purchasing
● Include language in all RFP/bidding specifications to consider all environmentally and socially responsible alternatives that are available for a product, project, or service.
● Encourage and support suppliers in the reduction and reuse of packaging and shipping materials.
● Choose environmentally superior products where quality, function and cost are equal or superior.
● Consider energy efficiency, natural resource consumption, and potential for reuse and/or non-hazardous disposal in the purchasing decision matrix.
● Consider locally or regionally manufactured products in the purchasing decision matrix.
● Consider supplier diversity, including disadvantaged or community-based service providers, in the purchasing decision matrix.
Construction and Renovation
● Integrate Green Purchasing concepts and products into all phases of construction and renovation projects, including architectural designs, construction documents, and the final construction of all new buildings and renovations.
● Ensure that energy efficiency is a prerequisite when purchasing appliances and fixtures including light bulbs and street light bulbs. Refer to www.energystar.gov for ENERGY STAR products.
● Consider product and equipment life cycles when evaluating alternatives along with price, quality, etc. in the purchasing decision matrix. A Life Cycle Cost Analysis estimates the total life cycle direct and indirect costs, including product maintenance, replacement of parts, energy use, and disposal.
● Purchase materials that meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements whenever possible.
Electronics
● Purchase EPEAT registered computers and electronics whenever possible.
● Ensure that all photocopiers and printers purchased or leased are capable of double-sided copying/printing and are set to default duplex copying whenever possible.
Paper/Wood Products
● Ensure that all wood and wood contained within products is from sustainably managed sources and/or is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified whenever possible.
● Purchase paper with the maximum post-consumer recycled-content and/or FSC-certified paper whenever possible.
Janitorial and Cleaning Supplies
● Use biodegradable and non-toxic supplies, solvents and cleaners wherever possible. Choose products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, Green Seal, UL ECOLOGO, or Safer Choice label.
Grounds
● Avoid the purchase and use of all potentially hazardous chemicals including pesticides and wood preservatives for which safety evaluations to current standards have not been carried out and which are known to be persistent in the environment. If no suitable alternative exists, such substances should be used under strictly controlled conditions and subject to a full environmental, health and safety assessment.
Transportation and Fuels
● Minimize the impacts of travel and transport whenever possible.
● Purchase equipment and vehicles which utilize alternative fuel or other environmentally responsible energy methods whenever possible.
Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
The university's purchasing guidelines state: "Consider product and equipment life cycles when evaluating alternatives along with price, quality, etc. in the purchasing decision matrix. A Life Cycle Cost Analysis estimates the total life cycle direct and indirect costs, including product maintenance, replacement of parts, energy use, and disposal."
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services (e.g. building and facilities maintenance, cleaning and sanitizing, landscaping and grounds maintenance)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
Furman's Facilities Services Risk Management Safety manual state: Avoid the purchase and use of all potentially hazardous chemicals including pesticides and wood preservatives for which safety evaluations to current standards have not been carried out and which are known to be persistent in the environment. If no suitable alternative exists, such substances should be used under strictly controlled conditions and subject to a full environmental, health and safety assessment.
Additionally, the university's purchasing guidelines state:
● Use biodegradable and non-toxic supplies, solvents and cleaners wherever possible. Choose products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, Green Seal, UL ECOLOGO, or Safer Choice label.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:
The university's purchasing guidelines state:
● Integrate Green Purchasing concepts and products into all phases of construction and renovation projects, including architectural designs, construction documents, and the final construction of all new buildings and renovations.
● Ensure that energy efficiency is a prerequisite when purchasing appliances and fixtures including light bulbs and street light bulbs. Refer to www.energystar.gov for ENERGY STAR products.
● Consider product and equipment life cycles when evaluating alternatives along with price, quality, etc. in the purchasing decision matrix. A Life Cycle Cost Analysis estimates the total life cycle direct and indirect costs, including product maintenance, replacement of parts, energy use, and disposal.
● Purchase materials that meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) requirements whenever possible.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) products and services (e.g. computers, imaging equipment, mobile phones, data centers and cloud services)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for IT products and services:
The university's purchasing guidelines state:
● Purchase EPEAT registered computers and electronics whenever possible.
● Ensure that all photocopiers and printers purchased or leased are capable of double-sided copying/printing and are set to default duplex copying whenever possible.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food services:
Sustainability criteria are included in request for proposals for food services and proposals are reviewed by sustainability staff. For example, the RFP for vending services/beverages included this language:
"Environmental 15 Points
· Provide details of your company’s environmental/sustainability philosophy.
· Provide examples where you company has put into practice.
· Advise what your company is prepared to offer Furman University to assist with these initiatives.
· Anything else the vendor may wish to include to enhance this section."
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating garments and linens?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering, public relations, financial)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional services:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels (e.g. travel, vehicles, delivery services, long haul transport, generator fuels, steam plants)?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
The university's purchasing guidelines state:
● Minimize the impacts of travel and transport whenever possible.
● Purchase equipment and vehicles which utilize alternative fuel or other environmentally responsible energy methods whenever possible.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating wood and paper products?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for wood and paper products:
The university's purchasing guidelines state:
● Ensure that all wood and wood contained within products is from sustainably managed sources and/or is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified whenever possible.
● Purchase paper with the maximum post-consumer recycled-content and/or FSC-certified paper whenever possible.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating products and services in other commodity categories that the institution has determined to have significant sustainability impacts?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.