Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.65
Liaison Melissa Cadwell
Submission Date June 15, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Syracuse University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.75 / 3.00 Melissa Cadwell
Sustainability Coordinator
Energy Systems & Sustainability Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1: Institution-Wide Policies 

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

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:
Policy Statement Syracuse University is committed to the purchase and use of environmentally and socially responsible materials, goods, and services that conserve energy and natural resources and minimize damage to the environment and human health. This encompasses all stages of a product’s life cycle, including production, use, and disposal. Individuals expending University funds should select ecologically friendly products whenever reasonably practical, meaning that (1) a sustainable product is readily and reliably available; (2) the sustainable product can perform its intended function generally as well as a non-sustainable one; and (3) the cost of the sustainable product is either approximately similar to that of a non-sustainable product or is higher but can be justified on the basis of long-term savings. The Purchasing Office will recommend appropriate goods and services to all departments. https://policies.syr.edu/policies/administrative-and-financial/sustainable-purchasing-policy/

Part 2: Life Cycle Cost Analysis 

Does the institution employ Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) when evaluating energy- and water-using products and systems?:
No

Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
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A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
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Part 3: Commodity-Specific Sustainability Criteria

To count, the criteria must address the specific sustainability challenges and impacts associated with products/services in each category, e.g. by requiring or giving preference to multi-criteria sustainability standards, certifications and labels appropriate to the category. Broader, institution-wide policies should be reported in Part 1, above. 

Chemically Intensive Products and Services

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)?:
No

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

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:
Buildings at Syracuse University costing $10 million or more (and adjusted annually for inflation) will follow the LEED process and apply for a LEED rating. This threshold level will be applied to both new buildings and renovations to an entire building, and will apply to the following types: -Academic Office and Classroom Buildings -Residence Halls -Student Activity and Recreational Facilities -Athletic Facilities -Administrative Office Buildings Development of project budgets must include sufficient allowance to cover added project costs associated with obtaining a LEED rating, and project time schedules shall include sufficient allowance to accommodate added time requirements necessary to complete the added steps and efforts required by the LEED process. The level of LEED certification to be pursued will be determined on a case-by-case basis, but it is recognized that significant benefits of current state of the art sustainable design and construction practices circumstances are achieved under the LEED Certified rating. Higher LEED rating objectives may be set for certain projects, particularly when the educational opportunity or other reasons for achieving a higher rating warrant doing so. In such cases, necessary budget and schedule objectives necessary to achieve a higher standard must be recognized and approved at the outset of the project. Projects smaller than $10 million will also be designed and constructed using the LEED criteria as a framework for making decisions related to sustainable design, but will not pursue LEED Certification. Applying LEED to Projects Already Underway Obtaining LEED certification requires an added financial and time commitment over current project practices at the University, therefore the goal of obtaining LEED certification is most appropriately considered at the initial planning stage of a project when goals, schedule, and budget parameters are first being established. The longer it takes to make this decision the more costly and time disruptive it will be to the project. http://facilities.syr.edu/leed-policy/

Information Technology (IT) 

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)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for IT products and services:
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Food Services 

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food services:
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Garments and Linens 

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:
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Professional Services 

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering, public relations, financial)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional services:
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Transportation and Fuels 

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)?:
No

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

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating wood and paper products?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for wood and paper products:
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Other Commodity Categories 

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?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:
Sent and email to policy to see if we have one. Found an article on this from 2005 here: https://news.syr.edu/2005/10/su-partners-with-contractors-organization-to-increase-opportunities-for-minority-contractors/

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.