| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.61 |
| Liaison | Alan Brew |
| Submission Date | Feb. 26, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Northland College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.75 / 3.00 |
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:
The College's procurement policy requires that all products and services be evaluated and selected to minimize negative impacts on society and the environment while simultaneously maximizing positive impacts through responsible purchasing.
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 College's procurement policy requires suppliers to document the supply-chain impacts of their products and consideration for the life cycle cost to the College, the environment, and the global economy.
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:
Northland College will purchase Green Seal certified (or equivalent) cleaning supplies whenever possible for all janitorial and facilities maintenance operations. When Green Seal products are not available for the required application, the College will select products that conform to environmental and health safeguards (e.g. reduced toxicity, biodegradable, low ozone depletion potential, non-polluting to aquatic ecosystems, reduced volatile organic compounds, recyclable packing).
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 College uses the Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide criteria as its guiding policy:
1. The College's interest in and commitment to sustainable building and renovation will be communicated to all design professionals invited to submit proposals for college projects costing more than $250,000. Proposals will be expected to address green building practices.
2. Design teams selected for a project will be expected to inform themselves about the Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide process.
3. Early in the design process the architects will provide an opportunity for campus wide input to the plans. One component of this public forum will be how the Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide criteria will be addressed.
4. As part of the schematic design proposals the design team will address options for meeting Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide criteria. Targets will be selected in consultation with the Campus Facilities Master Planning Committee.
5. As the designers develop the final construction documents, they will include specifications for the selected green building options. They will provide a written summary of the final green components of the project and its informal rating in the Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide process. This information will be communicated with the campus community.
6. General contractors selected to build projects will be made aware of the commitment to green building, of the green specifications within the construction plans, and of the expectation that they and their subcontractors adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of the green specifications. Where applicable the general contractor will be required to verify compliance.
7. The process as well as the final functioning of each building will be evaluated so the learning can inform the next project.
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:
Northland College is dedicated to sustainability and ensuring the technology utilized by the college is energy efficient and made through environmentally responsible methods. The College will strive to purchase computers, monitors and laptops that are EnergyStar certified and/or rated EPEAT bronze or higher whenever possible.
This does not include servers, mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, or specialized equipment for which no EnergyStar or EPEAT certified products are available.
The IT department oversees all electronics purchasing across campus and will select EPEAT and EnergyStar products when available.
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:
Northland College contracts to Chartwells for its procurement of food services. Chartwells agrees to demonstrate constant, demonstrable progress toward procuring selected food items with the following characteristics: non-national chain or name brand, 100% natural, no artificial sweeteners, low calorie, no preservatives, low sodium, non-GMO, locally or regionally produced/produced, organically grown, low/no trans fats, no use of synthetic fertilizers/pesticides, made without gluten ingredients, low/no cholesterol, certified Kosher, minimal packaging, recyclable packaging, and vegan.
For all items not available locally they will be sourced with the following in mind, Cage Free Eggs, Fair Trade Certified rBGH Free Yogurt & Milk, Reduced Antibiotic Chicken And Turkey, Socially and Ecologically Certified Coffee, Seafood from sustainable sources.
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:
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:
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.