Overall Rating | Silver |
---|---|
Overall Score | 61.15 |
Liaison | Ashley Woolman |
Submission Date | April 8, 2022 |
Western Colorado University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
2.25 / 3.00 |
Sherry
Ford Manager, Business Services Business Services |
Part 1. Institution-wide sustainable procurement policies
A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
The policies, guidelines or directives:
Part 2. Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Which of the following best describes the institution’s use of LCCA?:
A brief description of the LCCA policy and/or practices:
Part 3. Product-specific sustainability criteria
To count, the criteria must address the specific sustainability challenges and impacts associated with products and/or 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
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for chemically intensive products and services:
a. Cleaning solvents should be biodegradable, phosphate free, and citrus-based, and/or vinegar when their use will not compromise quality of service.
b. Industrial and institutional cleaning products that meet Green Seal certification standards or environmental preferability and performance shall be purchased or required to be used by janitorial contractors.
c. All surfactants and detergents used shall be readily biodegradable and shall not contain phosphates.
e. Whenever possible, products and equipment should not contain lead or mercury. For products
that contain lead or mercury, preference should be given to those products with lower
quantities of these metals and to suppliers with established lead and mercury recovery
programs.
f. Pest control shall be managed through prevention—physical and mechanical—and through the purchase of environmentally friendly products. As a last resort, use of the least toxic pest control substance is required
Consumable office products
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for consumable office products:
such as agricultural crops and residues are encouraged.
5. Forest Conservation
a. Ensure that all wood and wood contained within the products that WSCU purchases is certified to be sustainably harvested by a comprehensive, performance-based certification system. The certification system shall include independent third-party audits, with standards equivalent to,
or stricter than, those of the Forest Stewardship Council certification.
b. Purchase or use of previously used or salvaged wood and wood products are encouraged.
Furniture and furnishings
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
4-d. Paper, paper products, and construction products made from nonwood, plant-based contents such as agricultural crops and residues are encouraged.
5-a. Ensure that all wood and wood contained within the products that WSCU purchases is certified to be sustainably harvested by a comprehensive, performance-based certification system. The certification system shall include independent third-party audits, with standards equivalent to,
or stricter than, those of the Forest Stewardship Council certification.
5-b. Purchase or use of previously used or salvaged wood and wood products are encouraged.
6-c. When specifying asphalt concrete, aggregate base or cement concrete for road construction projects, recycled, reusable, or reground materials shall be used when practicable.
6-d. The use of reclaimed stone and brick and the use of secondary or recycled aggregates shall be specified.
8. Green Building
1. Green purchasing concepts shall be integrated into architectural designs, final construction documents, and the final construction of all university buildings and renovations of property or facilities owned by the university. All buildings and renovations undertaken by the university shall follow green building practices for design, construction, and operations, where appropriate, as described in the LEED Rating System.
2. When maintaining buildings, products such as paint, carpeting, adhesives, furniture and casework with the lowest amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), highest recycled content, and low or no formaldehyde shall be used when practicable.
3. All carpet distributors and/or manufacturers of carpet installed at the university shall have a carpet recycling plan that is approved by Purchasing and Business Services.
4. The use of chlorofluorocarbon and halon-containing refrigerants, solvents, and other products shall be phased out, and new purchases of heating/ventilating/air conditioning, refrigeration, insulation, and fire suppression systems shall not contain them.
Information Technology (IT) and equipment
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for Information Technology (IT) and equipment:
b. Copiers and printers purchased shall be compatible with the use of recycled content and remanufactured products.
c. Copiers will have double-sided printing capability.
d. All electrical products purchased by WSCU shall meet the US EPA Energy Star certification when available and practicable. When products with Energy Star labels are not available, products that are in the upper 25 per cent of energy efficiency as designated by the federal Energy
Management Program shall be used.
e. Suppliers of electronic equipment, including but not limited to computers, monitors, printers,
and copiers, shall be required to take back equipment for reuse or environmentally safe
recycling when deemed appropriate by WSCU.
Food service providers
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food service providers:
Garments and linens
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
Professional service providers
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
Transportation and fuels
A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for transportation and fuels:
4-c. Vehicle fuels made from nonwood, plant-based contents such as vegetable oils are encouraged.
Optional Fields
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.