| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.54 |
| Liaison | Jane Stewart |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2024 |
Washington and Lee University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.25 / 3.00 |
Jane
Stewart Energy Specialist Treasurer's office |
Does the institution have written policies, guidelines, or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
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:
This a standard evaluation tool for new systems and is written in the 2019 Climate Action Plan. https://www.wlu.edu/the-w-l-story/leadership/office-of-the-president/issues-and-initiatives/citizenship/sustainability-initiatives/climate-action-plan/ "All new construction and significant renovation projects should be considered in the context of a comprehensive campus space utilization analysis to avoid any redundancy. W&L’s square footage to student ratio is high, and existing building space should be maximized before more is created. When construction and significant renovation are unavoidable, it is recommended that: A. Projects will be developed internally and presented for bid externally with explicit recognition of Washington and Lee’s carbon neutrality goal as a frame for project parameters, and each project will include a target Energy Use Intensity (EUI). Recommendations have been provided through the Campus Master Planning process. B. All new buildings and, where possible, all significant renovations, will be certified at a standard of U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver or higher, or an equivalent independent, third-party certification standard selected and approved in cooperation between University Facilities and the University Sustainability Committee. Energy Efficiency categories should be a priority in meeting certification standards. C. PassiveHaus and NetZero design will be explored for feasibility on all new construction projects. D. Life cycle cost analysis will replace first-cost analysis in driving project decision-making. E. Every effort should be made to design mixed-use buildings (e.g. office, classroom, labs) to cluster HVAC zones by type of use for maximum flexibility in tailored heating and cooling schedules. F. Programmatic considerations will include appropriate times of use, and buildings will be designed for maximum energy conservation not only when they are in use but also when they are not (e.g. HVAC can be set back, lights can be switched off, etc.)"
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
W&L's Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines, published on-line here: https://my.wlu.edu/sustainability/sustainability-how-to/how-to-practice-sustainable-purchasing provide a broad framework for making responsible purchasing decisions. Guidance is intentionally general enough to be widely applicable but practical enough for day-to-day decision making. The document also offers support from the Sustainability Office in reviewing special products required for department-specific work.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
The University's Sustainable Design Guidelines state: "Project materials, including those....employed for finishes, furnishings and equipment, will be evaluated for both negative health impacts, embodied carbon and VOC emissions thresholds. Red List chemicals will be avoided, construction materials decisions will be informed by the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3), and VOC contents will, at minimum, meet LEED Silver certification standards."
The University mandade for LEED Silver certification on all new projects includes specific criteria for furniture and furnishings, including choosing FSC certified wood products, low VOC products and products that meet the ANSI/BIFMA Furniture Sustainability Standard.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
The Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines specify the following:
"Choose products with WaterSense and Energy Star certifications, and for electronics look for products with an EPEAT rating of silver or higher. Avoid products that require continuous power."
Information Technology Services uses the above and the additional criteria listed in the guidelines in their checklist for new purchases.
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
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 service providers?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program 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.