Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.76
Liaison Aurora Sharrard
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Pittsburgh
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.25 / 3.00 Renee Galloway
Supplier Diversity & Sustainability Coordinator
Purchasing
"---" 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 commodity categories institution-wide?:
No

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

A 30-year Energy Master Plan was completed in 2017, which included LCCAs for all recommended energy and water conservation projects. Also in 2017, an Energy Conservation Plan evaluating the buildings with the highest energy utilization indices identified energy and water conservation measures (ECMs) that were bundled based on LCCAs. The plan is to perform energy conservation studies, including LCCAs for all ECMs, for all remaining buildings over the next four years.

The University Professional Design Manual requires that the Design Professionals provide energy and life cycle costs with the ability to analyze energy and product alternatives and to design facilities with low energy, maintenance, and operating costs, without significantly increasing initial costs. The Sustainable Landscape Design Guidelines require the landscape architects to strive to design a cost-effective landscape that addresses life-cycle costs.


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)?:
Yes

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

The University's Sustainable Landscape Design Guidelines mean to reduce use of harmful chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides, including the following requirements:

Strive to design landscapes that are easily maintained using the principles of sustainable landscape maintenance, such as NOFA (Northeast Organic Farm Associations of Connecticut) Standards for Land Care (http://www.nofamass.org).

Use compost certified by U.S. Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance Program, that exceeds EPA Class A standard 40 CFR for chemical contaminants and less than 1% physical contaminants - derived from partially decomposed leaves, un-composted, shredded leaves, and wood chips.

Prohibit materials, including but not limited to: chemically treated wood and paper, dyed and chemically treated mulches, plastic and non-woven geotextile fabrics that contain PVC (polyvinyl chloride), synthetic burlaps, galvanized steel, mulch made from recycled rubber tires, synthetic fertilizer, synthetic pesticides and herbicides, sewage sludge, raw manure, triple superphosphate, muriate of potash, synthetically derived sulphates, calcium and magnesium, genetically modified seed.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:
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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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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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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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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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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)?:
Yes

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

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Parking, Transportation & Services (PT&S) is committed to practicing efficient fleet purchasing as a means to:
- Reduce fossil fuel dependence of our operations
- Reduce lifecycle environmental and fleet costs
- Increase the availability of alternative fuel vehicles
- Promote the advancement of innovative technologies
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions, helping to mitigate climate change and improve air quality
- Support emissions reductions goals outlined in the University Sustainability Plan.

See additional documentation for full Vehicle Purchasing Guidelines.


Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating wood and paper products?:
Yes

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

See http://www.cfo.pitt.edu/pexpress/purchases/paper.php

Buying Green - Sustainable Purchasing

Paper: Tools, Tips, and Resources

Paper Product Tools:
StopWaste.Org StopWaste.Org is the Alameda County Waste Management Authority and the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board operating as one public agency. StopWaste.org has a site dedicated to Environmental Purchasing Links, and a specific link for Green Paper products.

• Green Seal Green Seal Certification ensures that a product meets rigorous, science-based leadership standards. This gives manufacturers the assurance to back up their claims and purchasers confidence that certified products are better for human health and the environment. Click here to find Green Seal GS-07 Printing-Writing Paper. Click here to find Green Seal GS-10 Coated Printing Paper.

• FSC The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Click here to view FSC’s paper products standards:

• Conservatree is a non-profit organization that provides web tools as well as in-depth information on environmentally sound papers. Click here to view a Paper Master List for Professional Paper Buyers, a Best Practices Manual for Single Stream Recycling as well as information to help assist in the selection of paper types.

• EPN The Environmental Paper Network (EPN), a non-profit organization, provides specific tools for paper purchasers. Click here to view the Paper Calculator and other components of the Purchaser’s Toolkit.

•EPA The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a governmental agency, has issued a series of web links designed to provide procurement professionals and consumers with web tools to help evaluate paper products. Click here for general information about paper products. Click here for EPA’s Buy-Recycled Series or visit the searchable supplier database to find suppliers that cell CPG designated products with recycled content.

Paper Product Tips:
•Before printing, consider if it is absolutely necessary to print a particular file or document.
•For a large file, consider whether it is necessary to print the entire document.
•Before selecting the printer, choose the most energy efficient printer available in your area.
•Prior to printing, select the Properties tab on the Printer dialogue box and select 2-sided printing.
•Consider whether it is absolutely necessary to have a document printed in color or will a black & white print meet your needs, especially for drafts.
•Chose the most sustainably efficient paper to meet your printing requirements (Acid Free, FSC Certified, 10%, 30% or 100% recycled content).
•Always recycle used paper as well as spent toners and cartridges.

Paper Product Resources:

University Resources
•Office of Facilities Management - Recycling
•Office of Facilities Management - Sustainability and Green Initiatives

Other Resources
•Green Building Alliance
•Sustainable Pittsburgh
•Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
•Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering at Yale
•DOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
•Forum on Science and Technology for Sustainability
•Greener Buildings
•Rocky Mountain Institute
•University Leaders for a Sustainable Future
•U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
•Engineers Without Borders
•Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW)


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:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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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.