Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 72.14
Liaison Teddy Lhoutellier
Submission Date Jan. 26, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of Miami
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 3.00 Teddy Lhoutellier
Sustainability Manager
Environmental Health and Safety
"---" 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:

BSJ-180 SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT
PURPOSE
To strive to purchase environmentally and socially responsible materials, products, and services.
POLICY
In an effort to promote healthier and safer communities, both locally and globally, the University of Miami (UM) is committed to lessen environmental and social impacts throughout the organization. UM applies these principles to achieve optimal environmental and corporate social responsibility standards consistent with institutional goals and financial consideration.
PROCEDURE
1. Environmentally Preferred Products and Services (EPPS) guidelines:
UM will consider products and services that:
• Use renewable natural resources and conserve non-renewable natural resources through cost efficient use and careful planning.
• Conserve energy, water, and improve the energy efficiency of our operations. Make every effort to use and promote environmentally safe, cost-effective and sustainable energy and water sources.
• UM is committed to purchasing products that have earned the Energy Star label, and have met the Energy Star specifications for energy efficiency, wherever possible and practical (visit www.energystar.gov for complete product specifications and updated lists of qualifying products).
• Minimize the generation of waste through source reduction, re-use and recycling programs.
• Manage, minimize and eliminate, whenever possible, the use of hazardous materials.
• Ensure the health and safety of our employees, students, patients and community by promoting environmentally and socially responsible well being best practices.
• Provide UM employees, students and patients with educational programs to promote safety, sustainability awareness, and social well being.


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 less comprehensively, e.g. for certain types of systems or projects and not others

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

University of Miami Building Standards (UMBS)
The principal purposes of these Building Standards are to ensure that the University’s buildings, grounds and infrastructure, be of a quality control standard consistent with the upper echelon of higher education, to implement the University’s commitment to sustainability, and to ensure the life cycle value of the physical campus environment.

The standards have been developed as a practical tool for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of facilities. The content is organized in the current format of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), the design and construction industry standard, to support professionals in their development of construction documents, bidding and procurement of materials. The standards are designed to be available via the Internet on a controlled access basis to the UM community and approved consultants and vendors.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating chemically intensive products and services?:
Yes

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

https://greenu.miami.edu/topics/supply-chain/green-procurement/index.html

Our Custodial Companies are required to follow those EPP guidelines and most of the products that they use have one of the following Sustainable/Green labels: Green Seal, Green guard, Eco logo.


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:

Miami Herbert Business School
Sustainable Purchasing Policy

5 - ONGOING CONSUMABLES
Ongoing consumables refer to low cost-per-unit materials that are regularly used and replaced throughout the daily course of business. These materials include, at a minimum, paper (printing or copy paper, notebooks, notepads, envelopes), toner cartridges, binders, batteries, and desk accessories. The use of environmentally sensitive materials is preferred.
• The five most purchased product categories based on total annual purchases.

SUSTAINABILITY CRITERIA FOR ONGOING CONSUMABLES
As applicable, a target of at least 50% of total purchases per year should comply with one of the following: • Recycled materials and products: The content of purchases must meet or exceed the levels listed in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines. Products not covered by the Guidelines can get credit for their recycled content with no minimum.
- Catering/ Food & Beverage services
- Coffee and tea
- Office Supplies (Paper, toner cartridges, binders, batteries, and desk accessories)
- Electronics
- Miscellaneous Items (Event supplies, study room supplies)

https://greenu.miami.edu/_assets/pdf/signed-purchasing-policy-mbs.pdf


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

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

Sustainable Building Policy

In support of the University's commitment to a high level of environmental stewardship and social values, it is the policy of the University of Miami's Design and Construction Department to plan, design, construct, manage, renovate and maintain it facilities in a sustainable manner. This policy applies to all new construction and all major renovations. Al projects shall consider sustainability issues including site design, water and energy efficiency, the use of products and materials that minimize environmental impact and indoor air quality. All contractors, Architects and other vendors shall be required to participate in this team effort to minimize the impact of University construction projects on the environment.

The US Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Building Rating System, which establishes guidelines and evaluated environmental sustainability of buildings, will be the design and measurement standard. Specifically:

Flooring:

All flooring must comply with the following as applicable to the project scope:
All carpet installed in the building interior must meet one of the following requirements:
Meets the testing and product requirements of the Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label Plus1 program.
Maximum VOC concentrations are less than or equal to those specified in the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers, including 2004 Addenda, using the office scenario as defined in Table 7.5 within the practice. The additional VOC concentration limits listed in Section 9.1a must also be met.All carpet cushion installed in the building interior must meet the requirements of the Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label program.
All carpet adhesive must meet the requirements of IEQ Credit 4.1: Adhesives and Sealants, which includes a volatile organic compound (VOC) limit of 50 g/L (0.4 lb/gal).
All hard surface flooring installed in the building interior must meet one of the following requirements:
Meet the requirements of the FloorScore2 standard (current as of the date of this rating system, or more stringent version) as shown with testing by an independent third-party.
Demonstrate maximum VOC concentrations less than or equal to those specified in the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers, including 2004 Addenda, using the office scenario as defined in Table 7.5 within the practice.

Composite Wood:

Composite wood and agrifiber products used on the interior of the building (i.e., inside the weatherproofing system) must contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins. Laminating adhesives used to fabricate on-site and shop-applied composite wood and agrifiber assemblies must not contain added urea-formaldehyde resins. Composite wood and agrifiber products are defined as particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, wheatboard, strawboard, panel substrates and door cores. Materials considered fixtures, furniture and equipment (FF&E) are not considered base building elements and are not included.

Walls and Adhesives

All adhesives and sealants used on the interior of the building (i.e., inside of the weatherproofing system and applied on-site) must comply with the following requirements as applicable to the project scope1:
Adhesives, Sealants and Sealant Primers must comply with South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1168. Volatile organic compound (VOC) limits listed in the table below correspond to an effective date of July 1, 2005 and rule amendment date of January 7, 2005.

Walls and Ceiling:

Paints and coatings used on the interior of the building (i.e., inside of the weatherproofing system and applied onsite) must comply with the following criteria as applicable to the project scope1:
Architectural paints and coatings applied to interior walls and ceilings must not exceed the volatile organic compound (VOC) content limits established in Green Seal Standard GS-11, Paints, 1st Edition, May 20, 1993.
Anti-corrosive and anti-rust paints applied to interior ferrous metal substrates must not exceed the VOC content limit of 250 g/L (2 lb/gal) established in Green Seal Standard GC-03, Anti-Corrosive Paints, 2nd Edition, January 7, 1997.
Clear wood finishes, floor coatings, stains, primers, sealers, and shellacs applied to interior elements must not exceed the VOC content limits established in South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113, Architectural Coatings, rules in effect on January 1, 2004.


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:

DEFINITIONS
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and
the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the
environment through energy efficient products and practices.
POLICY (...)
3. Purchasing is committed to purchasing products that have earned the Energy
Star label, and have met the Energy Star specifications for energy efficiency,
wherever possible and practical.


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

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

RFP introduction:
- Contractor will agree to follow UM Environmentally Preferred Products and Services (EPPS) guidelines:
UM will consider products and services that:
• Use renewable natural resources and conserve non-renewable natural resources through cost efficient use and careful planning.
• Conserve energy, water, and improve the energy efficiency of our operations. Make every effort to use and promote environmentally safe, cost-effective and sustainable energy and water sources.
• UM is committed to purchasing products that have earned the Energy Star label, and have met the Energy Star specifications for energy efficiency, wherever possible and practical (visit www.energystar.gov for complete product specifications and updated lists of qualifying products).
• Minimize the generation of waste through source reduction, re-use and recycling programs.
• Manage, minimize and eliminate, whenever possible, the use of hazardous materials.
• Ensure the health and safety of our employees, students, patients and community by promoting environmentally and socially responsible well being best practices.
• Provide UM employees, students and patients with educational programs to promote safety, sustainability awareness, and social well being.


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:

GOOD WILL LAUNDRY AND LINENS GREEN INITIATIVES
Overview

Goodwill Laundry and Linens is the newest state of the art commercial healthcare laundry in South Florida. By nature the processing, laundering and re using textiles as opposed to disposable linen is the major component in being green for the customer and the provider.

Processing Equipment/ Energy Efficient

Energy efficient laundry processing equipment was given the highest priority when selecting the laundering and finishing equipment for the new laundry.

Tunnel Washers: Milnor Pulse Flow tunnel washers were selected for the main washers to process linen for Goodwill Laundry and Linens. The American manufactured washers use only .40 gallons per pound of water to wash linens as opposed to the other manufacturers which are using .75 to one gallon of water per pound to do the same process.

This results in potentially over 1.6 million gallons of water not used from the Aquifer annually this year. The anticipated water savings with Jackson Health poundage will be over 5 million gallons saved annually.

https://newsletter.miami.edu/_assets/acad-bufin/greenu/pdf/Goodwill-Laundry-Booklet.pdf


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:

Sustainable Building Policy
All contractors, Architects and other vendors shall be required to participate in this team effort to minimize the impact of University construction projects on the environment.
(...)
Contractors and Architects shall employ, whenever possible, LEED accredited staff to assist in the management and documentation of design and construction activities for LEED certification.


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:

RFP for Shuttles : "The Bidder must provide options and costs that include the following vehicle types:
[...]
 Alternative fuel fleet, including all affiliated costs, such as fueling stations
 Hybrid vehicle fleet
 Electric vehicle fleet, including all affiliated costs, such as charging stations
 Electric and/or Hybrid vehicles
 Passenger Doors, Front and Mid-Body, with automated passenger counters
 10 passenger vehicle for ‘Safe Ride’ program
 Bicycle Racks on two vehicle fleet for the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science."


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.