Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 73.91
Liaison Daryl Pierson
Submission Date March 1, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Portland State University
OP-3: Building Operations and Maintenance

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.85 / 5.00 Amanda Wolf
Program + Assessment Coordinator
Campus Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total floor area of building space:
486,772.05 Square meters

O+M Certified Space

Building space must be certified under a rating system focusing on the operations and maintenance of existing buildings (e.g. LEED O+M) to count as certified space for this credit. Sustainability in new construction and major renovation projects (e.g. LEED BD+C certification) is covered in the Building Design and Construction credit.

Floor area of building space that is certified at each level under a green building rating system for the operations and maintenance of existing buildings used by an Established Green Building Council:
Certified Floor Area
LEED O+M Platinum or the highest achievable level under another GBC rating system 0 Square meters
LEED O+M Gold or the 2nd highest level under another 4- or 5-tier GBC rating system 38,556.51 Square meters
Certified at mid-level under a 3- or 5-tier GBC rating system (e.g. BREEAM-In Use, CASBEE for Existing Buildings, DGNB, Green Star Performance) 0 Square meters
LEED O+M Silver or at a step above minimum level under another 4 -or 5–tier GBC rating system 29,892.38 Square meters
LEED O+M Certified or certified at minimum level under another GBC rating system 0 Square meters

Floor area of building space that is certified under a non-GBC rating system for the operations and maintenance of existing buildings, e.g. BOMA BESt, Green Globes CIEB:
0 Square meters

Percentage of building space certified under a green building rating system for the operations and maintenance of existing buildings:
14.06

If reporting certified space, provide:

A brief description of the green building rating system(s) used and/or a list or sample of certified buildings and ratings:
In February 2018 PSU's Urban Center Building received LEED O+M Silver certification. In August 2018 PSU's Joseph C. Blumel Residence Hall received LEED O+M Gold certification In October 2018, PSU Richard and Maurine Neuberger Center (formally Market Center Building) received LEED O+M Gold certification In April 2019, PSU's University Services Building and Parking Structure 2 received silver LEE O+M Certification. News stories: -https://www.pdx.edu/cupa/news/urban-center-certified-under-leed-operations-maintenance-program -

If reporting uncertified space, provide the following:

Uncertified Space 

Indoor Air Quality Management 

Of the institution's uncertified building space, what percentage of floor area is maintained in accordance with a published indoor air quality (IAQ) management policy or protocol? (0-100):
14

A copy of the IAQ management policy or protocol:
The website URL where the IAQ policy/protocol may be found:
---

Green Cleaning 

Of the institution's uncertified building space, what percentage of floor area is maintained in accordance with a published green cleaning policy, program or contract ? (0-100):
100

A copy or the green cleaning policy:
A brief description of how green cleaning is incorporated into cleaning contracts:
PSU's custodial contract mandates purchased cleaning products be in accordance with LEED for Existing buildings operations & maintenance standards. Also the custodial contractor must provide quarterly reports to PSU documenting the types and cost of chemicals purchased to demonstrate compliance with the 30% by cost requirement. Reports shall be delivered to PSU's Custodial Coordinator with a copy to PSU's Sustainability Coordinator.

Energy Management and Benchmarking 

Of the institution's uncertified building space, what percentage of floor area is maintained in accordance with an energy management or benchmarking program? (0-100):
100

A brief description of the energy management or benchmarking program:
In 2012, PSU hired a Utilities and Energy Manager. Part of this position was to develop a benchmarking system to measure energy performances of our buildings and to motivate performance improvements. As part of the Energy management strategy, the Utilities and Energy Manger created a spreadsheet to track and report monthly energy use for each of our buildings to compare energy use overtime to effectively manage and continuously improve PSU's efforts to reduce energy consumption. This information is also used for our Green Revolving Fund, identifying buildings that could benefit from energy saving upgrades. PSU also uses Energy Star Portfolio Manager for all of our buildings over 20,000sf (69% of our buildings), as part of a city of Portland benchmarking requirement. This online tool measures and tracks energy use intensity (EUI) and carbon emissions and is also used to motivate performance improvements. Energy Management Plan: The purpose of Portland State University’s Energy Management Plan is to provide a framework for reducing energy consumption on campus through a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach involving numerous administrative departments. The plan will aid in the implementation of best practices, thoughtful design of new construction and renovations, verification and tracking of energy consumption against historical usage and established goals, and engagement of all categories of building occupants. These strategies will provide the framework for PSU to not only reduce operational costs, but be good stewards of natural resources and minimize the impact of providing a well-rounded educational experience. PSU Energy Management Plan Objectives Objective #1: Gain and maintain the organizational commitment needed to successfully apply best practices in managing our energy consumption to reach our energy reduction goal(s). Objective #2: Identify and apply best practices in facility operations to minimize energy related operating costs and enhance the reliability and longevity of building systems, equipment and infrastructure. Objective #3: Identify and invest in financially attractive facility upgrades that reduce the PSU’s costs of asset ownership and contribute to reaching its energy reduction goal(s). Objective #4: Establish and use purchasing and procurement standards that minimize PSU life cycle costs and total cost of ownership. Objective #5: Adopt and apply new construction practices using integrated design principles to reduce the PSU’s costs of asset ownership and contribute to reaching its energy reduction goal(s). Objective #6: Engage and empower company employees and building occupants as partners in organizational efforts to effectively manage energy use and reduce consumption. Objective #7: Track & report on PSU performance to assure organizational accountability and continuous improvement in company efforts to effectively manage energy use and reduce consumption. Finally, our Energy Conservation Guidelines apply to all of campus: Energy Saving Guidelines for Portland State University: Heating and Ventilation - Conditioned spaces will be heated to a temperature range of 67-70 in the winter and cooled, where applicable, to a temperature range of 72-76. Plan for the season and dress appropriately. - Personal or University owned space heaters will not be allowed, unless approval from FPM has been granted for cases where spaces cannot otherwise be heated to the appropriate range. Once approval has been granted, space heaters must comply with fire code, be turned off when a space is not being occupied and be selected with energy efficiency and safety as top priorities. FPM will then work to identify a long range solution to heating the space to an appropriate level. - Building ventilation will be based on actual use of the space, as determined by Academic Schedules, Posted Building Occupancy, and Special Events. - Windows in conditioned spaces are to remain closed when building conditioning systems are operating. - All supply and return air vents in offices, classrooms, and laboratories must be unobstructed at all times. - Utility Manager and Facilities staff will work with events scheduling team to consolidate activities into energy efficient buildings on campus. Purchasing - When available, all electronic purchases must be Energy Star certified including laboratory, clinical, research, or other educational equipment. - Computer purchases, per OIT recommended configurations, should meet Energy Star and EPEAT GOLD certification. Technology & Other Electronics: - All computers must comply with University Power Management Settings that reduce electrical consumption of monitors and CPU’s unless a valid reason exists for the CPU to always be on. - Whenever possible, users should utilize networked printers and scanners. Exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances, including, but not limited to, high volume of confidential documents, lack of accessibility to appropriate networked equipment. - Refrigerators, microwaves and coffee makers are not authorized for use in individual spaces on campus Lighting: - All spaces will be lit to an appropriate lighting level for the tasks being performed. Unless exceptional circumstances exist, including but not limited to safety or security concerns, lighting in unoccupied spaces will remain off. - Building occupants are encouraged to take advantage of natural light, whenever possible. - New construction and renovation will incorporate daylight sensing technology, allowing overhead fixtures to dim when outside lighting is sufficient. - Instead of lighting an entire room, focus light where you need it with task lighting. - Utilize energy efficient bulbs in task lighting (like compact fluorescent or LED). Unoccupied Spaces: - Through a combination of campus awareness and automated systems, campus facilities should be set to minimum energy consumption standards when unoccupied both during the day and after hours. - Where possible, students, faculty, and staff, including custodial contractors, should turn lights off when vacating a space. - When leaving at the end of the day, operable window covering should be lowered to prevent thermal losses during heating season and gains during cooling season. - When leaving a lab, close fume hood sashes when not in use. - Turn off computers, monitors, printers and all other equipment at the end of each day

Water Management and Benchmarking 

Of the institution's uncertified building space, what percentage of floor area is maintained in accordance with a water management or benchmarking program? (0-100):
100

A brief description of the water management or benchmarking program:
Similar to PSU's efforts to benchmark energy use, the Utilities and Energy Manager measures water performance for all of PSU's buildings as well as our irrigation system. Tracking and reporting monthly on water use, water use is tracked overtime to effectively manage and continuously improve PSU's efforts to reduce water use. This information has been used to identify issues with irrigation systems and is also used for our Green Revolving Fund, identifying buildings that could benefit from water saving upgrades. PSU has a water management plan: Indoor Water Use: ● Continue to implement water conserving fixtures and appliances as noted in the Technical Design Standards and update standards at least annually to reflect evolving water efficient technologies. ● PSU will pursue LEED for Existing Buildings, Operations & Maintenance in four campus buildings. Certification of first two buildings to be completed in 2017. ● The Campus Sustainability Office will work with the Utility Manager to identify incentive opportunities to fund increased water conservation measures (e.g. through City of Portland Water Bureau). ● Ensure that each annual round of Green Revolving Fund project selection considers at least one water conservation project. ● Prioritize WE credits on all new LEED projects. Outdoor Water Use: ● Enable water use reduction through improved data: PSU uses third party bill pay partnership with Engie which will provide meter-level detail for all water and irrigation consumption, and thus more accurate consumption data to assist in meeting quantitative reduction goals. ● Establish a quantitative irrigation reduction goal: To be established fall 2018, after modernization of central irrigation system is complete and all controllers are installed, Engie partnership is established, and accurate baseline is determined. ● No net increase in irrigated acreage. ● Priority zoning of irrigation in drought conditions, see drought contingency plan below. ● Increase use of native plants with low water requirements. ● Continued modernization of central irrigation system to cover over 50% of PSU’s irrigation needs: three additional irrigation controllers and several flow sensors will be installed. ● Pursue LEED for Existing Buildings, Operations & Maintenance in at least two campus buildings. ● Improve soil quality as needed in irrigated areas to improve water absorption and reduce reliance on irrigation through: ● Planning for water efficiency in new landscaped spaces: carefully consider characteristics like sun exposure, shade, slopes, and soil types when choosing plants for new spaces. ● Mulch landscaped areas to retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, slow evaporation, and protect roots. ● Update the drought contingency plan to include a decorative fountain (SHAC, Walk of Heroines, Urban Plaza) shut off schedule. ● Turf Drought Contingency Plan: 1. Low Priority Shut-off:​ annual color beds and planters and / or drought resistant areas coded on map as pink. These areas will not be watered. 2. Moderate / Perceived High Priority Shut-off​: groundcover and some plants, areas coded on map as orange. Irrigation to be determined by Facilities Director and Landscape Supervisor on a case by case basis according to severity of drought 3. High Priority Shut-off:​ new plantings and highly visible locations, areas coded on map as green, including the Park Blocks which require the largest amount of irrigation at PSU. Shut-off in Park Blocks requires permission from the City.

Optional Fields 

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:
Energy Management Plan: https://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/sites/www.pdx.edu.sustainability/files/SEM%20Plan.pdf Human Resource Fragrance Free Policy: https://www.pdx.edu/hr/fragrance-free-value-statement Technical Design Standards: https://www.pdx.edu/construction/technical-design-standards Water Conservation Plan: https://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/sites/www.pdx.edu.sustainability/files/PSU%20Water%20Conservation%20Plan.pdf

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.