Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 60.56
Liaison Mari Acob-Nash
Submission Date Oct. 30, 2021

STARS v2.2

North Seattle College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 3.00 Adam Maurer
District Sustainability Coordinator
Finance and Ops
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have written policies, guidelines, or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across multiple commodity categories institution-wide?:
Yes

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:

Green Purchasing
The Seattle Colleges have a strong commitment to the environment and seek environmentally preferable products and services. The Purchasing Department may seek, specify or favorably score products that are recycled, certified, or provide
innovative and environmentally preferable solutions.


Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
Yes

Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
Institution employs LCCA as a matter of policy and standard practice when evaluating all energy- and water-using products, systems and building components

A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:

Since 1975, the State of Washington has required that an Energy Life Cycle Cost Analysis (ELCCA) be performed during the design of all publicly owned or leased facilities, both new construction and major renovations, including all construction activities where public funds are used.
 
The ELCCA is a decision-making tool that compares the owning and operating costs for energy using systems: heating, cooling, lighting, building envelope, and domestic hot water. The analysis accounts for the initial cost of construction or renovating a facility, as well as the cost of owning and operating a facility over its useful life. These costs make up the total cost of ownership for a building.
https://des.wa.gov/services/facilities-leasing/energy-program/energy-life-cycle-cost-analysis


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:

n/a


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating consumable office products?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:

Washington State House Bill 2287 requires that, "state agencies to use on hundred percent recycled content paper."


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:

All new construction must be built to LEED Silver, so any new construction follows LEED standards, most notably, prerequisites that must be met to gain certification. Furthermore, Seattle Central currently purchases all KI furniture through WorkPointe. WorkPointe executes moving with E-crates, reusable stackable crates, so there is no waste in moves. KI has a published commitment to sustainability, http://www.ki.com/sustainability/environmental-stewardship/

Seattle Energy Code also provides strict criteria for construction:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/codesrules/codes/energy/forms/default.htm


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating Information technology (IT) and equipment?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:

Student leadership voted to require EPEAT Gold for all new computer and monitor purchases starting July 2010, to which student fees pay for yearly.
The language reads:
"All equipment purchased with Universal Technology Fee dollars must be certified with the Gold EPEAT standard.
Exceptions include:
1. Technologies not covered by EPEAT.*
2. Required functionality not present in the EPEAT approved alternative.**
3. Major price differences that would cause the program involved substantial operational difficulties.**

*Preferential treatment should be given still be given to other environmental standards if the technology is not covered under EPEAT (energy star, European standards, etc).
**UTF requests which apply for an exemption under articles 2 or 3 must factor in environmental consequences in their request, i.e. additional energy costs, consequences of heavy metal pollution, etc.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:

n/a


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating garments and linens?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:

n/a


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional service providers?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:

The Seattle Colleges have set guidelines for a Supplier Diversity Program. The Seattle Colleges are committed to supplier diversity by maintaining purchasing practices that promote and expand contracting opportunities for diverse suppliers, and is dedicated to fair and equal opportunities for all. The Purchasing Department strongly encourages the participation of minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses, socially and economically disadvantaged business enterprises, and small businesses in its purchasing and contracting activities. The participation may be through direct contracting or sub-contracting or a business partnership. The Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) certifies firms that are a minority or women-owned business.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:

Effective June 1, 2018, all local government agencies must, to the extent practicable, use 100% biofuels or electricity to operate all publicly owned vehicles. Furthermore, state agencies must achieve an average fuel economy of 36 miles per gallon for passenger vehicle fleets in motor pools and leased conventional vehicles. Agencies may substitute natural gas or propane for electricity or biofuel if the Washington State Department of Commerce (Department) determines that electricity and biofuel are not reasonably available.

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.19.648
https://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/all?state=WA


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:
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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.