University of Tennessee at Knoxville
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: The University of Tennessee, consistent with state and federal law, seeks to optimize business opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses. The university will seek to do business with firms and organizations that demonstrate and embrace diversity within their programs and policies. Through these efforts The University of Tennessee will actively pursue its goal of building a more reflective marketplace for the community within the State of Tennessee.

The state chief procurement officer will determine which commodities and products may be bought according to energy efficiency standards. The state must adopt rules and regulations relative to energy efficiency standards for major energy-consuming products. Life cycle costs are to be used in contracting for major energy-consuming products. In determining life cycle costs, the state may consider: -Acquisition cost of the product, -Energy consumption and projected cost of energy over the useful life of the product, and -The expected re-sale or salvage value of the product. Except where prohibited by private act or state law, the municipality must adopt the energy efficiency standards and life cycle costing employed by the state. The municipality may develop and adopt its own energy efficiency standards, provided they are more stringent than the state standards.

Though the university does not have formally published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products, UT is dedicated to a clean, safe, and accessible study and work environment. The Green Cleaning Program began at the university in 2006 when we became the first university in the nation to be Green Seal Cleaning Certified.

The University of Tennessee abides by the State of Tennessee Sustainable Design Guidelines. The Tennessee SDG is a project approved by the State Building Commission that is to be utilized by Real Property Administration (RPA), Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), and the University of Tennessee (UT) as part of their designer manuals as a minimum standard and guideline for designers to ensure that the principles of good sustainable design and construction practices are being implemented on State of Tennessee projects. See https://tn.gov/assets/entities/generalservices/stream/attachments/080728_State_of_TN_Sustainable_Design_Guidelines_v5.pdf

Per the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Energy Conservation Policy, ENERGY STAR qualified equipment, systems, and appliances (see http://www.energystar.gov) shall be purchased whenever such products are available and the following two conditions are satisfied: 1) The quality and function of the ENERGY STAR qualified product is equal or superior to that of non-ENERGY STAR qualified products; and, 2) The additional upfront cost of the ENERGY STAR qualified product is less than its resulting lifecycle energy savings. If it is not possible to satisfy both of these conditions, then the most energy efficient-equipment, systems and appliances possible shall be purchased. Energy-efficient flat panel computer monitors shall be purchased unless medical, instructional, research or other special requirements necessitate the use of less efficient CRT monitors.

Yes. UT Facilities Planning oversees architectural and engineering projects for the university. For large scale projects, professional service proposals must follow the policies outlined in the State of Tennessee Sustainable Design Guidelines. See http://facilitiesplanning.utk.edu/DManual/Chap3%20Design%20v4%20Dec13.pdf for more details on the guidelines for the Design/Bid/Build projects. http://facilitiesplanning.utk.edu/links_designersmanual.html CRITERIA FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN/PROFESSIONAL SERVICES State Requirements: Upon project initiation, discuss with the Owner the application of the State of Tennessee Sustainable Design Guidelines (SDG) as provided in Appendix 2 and follow required SDG procedures and the additional guidance in this Section 3.4. Discuss with the Owner any additional sustainable design requirements related to U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program. The State Fire Marshal’s Office will require energy code compliance certificates for envelope, interior lighting, exterior lighting and mechanical with the Designers seal on the certificates. B. Sustainable Design Process: 1. Use a graded approach when evaluating the feasibility of incorporating design criteria, as enumerated and described in the SDG, to select the most cost-effective features among the credits available. 2. Conduct a Pre-design SDG Review of (1) the Program, (2) the SDG requirements, and (3) any other relevant project information and meet with the Owner to report on the review results at the earliest opportunity in the design schedule. At this meeting, request of the Owner any needed clarification of the Program and provide to the Owner the Designer’s preliminary SDG Tracking Checklist with identification of applicable design features. 3. Based on the Owner’s review and comments from the meeting described above, conduct a Sustainable Design Workshop which shall include the project’s principal designers and all design consultants. At this meeting, provide to the Owner for review and approval (1) a listing of applicable SDG criteria, (2) an assessment of the feasibility of the options based on the Program and Bid Target, and (3) the Designer’s recommended action. 4. Report on SDG implementation in successive design review meetings and obtain the Owner’s approval at appropriate milestones. The Owner typically requires an approval of the checklist prior to Design Development and Construction Document phase completion approvals. C. Indoor Lighting Design: 1. Endeavor to exercise creativity and ingenuity within the reasonable limits of the project scope, site, Program, and budget to maximize daylighting and exterior views for building occupants in regularly occupied building areas in accordance with the SDG. Early efforts related to indoor lighting shall focus on the analysis of design strategies to minimize building energy required for artificial lighting as well as for cooling due to the interior heat generated by artificial lighting. 3. Where reasonable, endeavor to reduce general ambient illumination to a minimum and favor user-controlled task and focused-function illumination. 4. Incorporate lighting control methods such as dual switching for full and lower (e.g., half level) ambient lighting and motion sensor switches for ambient lighting in offices and classrooms. These control methods shall focus on reducing the building’s lighting energy demand by digitally controlled sensing, dimming, or modulating artificial lighting levels based on occupancy, need, and available natural light. D. Outdoor Lighting Design: 1. Endeavor to design creatively to focus outdoor lighting on (1) the time of need through daylight sensor controls or timers adjusted for varying natural light conditions, and (2) the functional need for lighting for vehicular access, exterior parking areas, pedestrian access paths and walkways, building entrances and exits, grounds security, and building feature highlighting for identification and wayfinding. 2. Through careful and considerate design of exterior lighting fixtures, avoid the three types of recognized light pollution: (1) Sky Glow, (2) Light Trespass, and (3) Glare, as described in the Illuminating Engineering Society Standard RP-33-99, Lighting for the Exterior Environments and by the LEED Lighting Design Lab: Exterior Lighting Requirements in LEED Rating System Version 2.1 NC (New Construction). Technical guidance is available on the following Web sites. http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightinganswers/lightpollution http://lightingdesignlab.com/commercial/LEED_Exterior.pdf Make purposeful selection of lighting fixtures and luminaires, cutoffs or baffles, to focus outdoor lighting on its purpose rather than using fixtures such as “wallpaks” for general illumination but may create light pollution. E. Material Recycling Collection Design: 1. Design areas distributed throughout the building for material recycling receptacles to preclude later accommodation in unplanned locations which may obstruct or diminish required fire egress paths or reduce planned functionality. 2. Provide a dedicated interior building recycling material collection room appropriate for building function and size adjacent to the main building service access point or loading dock. For multi-story buildings with large floor areas, secondary recycling collection rooms adjacent to service elevators may also be required. Consult with the Owner to ascertain campus-specific requirements.

https://mtasresource.mtas.tennessee.edu/reference/life-cycle-cost-and-procurement-act-summary