Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 47.04
Liaison Debbie Liddick
Submission Date April 21, 2023

STARS v2.2

Black Hills State University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.75 / 3.00 Maggie Torness
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Institution-wide sustainable procurement policies

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:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:
Purchase of Environmentally Preferred Products - SDCL 5-18A-38 Each state agency and institution shall procure environmentally preferable products whenever practicable.

Bureau of Administration Administrative Rules 10:02:05:01 through 10:02:05:15 pertain to the use of environmentally preferred products when purchasing printing projects, paper stock and cleaning and maintenance equipment and supplies.

Part 2. Life Cycle Cost Analysis 

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:
As indicated in the Black Hills State University Climate Action Plan, purchases ranging from cleaning products to campus infrastructure undergo a life-cycle assessment. This assessment is performed with the goal of protecting the university, the students, and the environment. The following areas are highlighted in the Climate Action Plan and have been implemented while making decisions in the last 3 years:

1. Architecture and Planning:
In 2007, former President Kay Schallenkamp committed BHSU to meet a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Rating on all future university building projects. LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and provides a framework for identifying and implementing green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. Buildings designed under this plan aim to improve their performance with energy and water use, reduces carbon dioxide emissions, an improved indoor environment, and the stewardship of resources. Subsequent to President Schallenkamp’s designation, the South Dakota Legislature passed a law stating that all state-owned new construction or major renovation must be LEED Silver certified and that all state-owned new construction or major renovation must be LEED Silver certified.

2. Product Use:
In 2007, along with the commitment to LEED certified buildings, BHSU committed to purchase Energy Star rated appliances. Energy Star appliances have been independently certified to meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. Facilities Services on campus uses many Green Seal certified cleaning products, including all purpose cleaners and towels. Green Seal certified products have undergone a thorough evaluation of the entire life‐cycle of the product to assure that all significant environmental impacts are considered, from the extraction of the raw materials to the use and disposal of the product. An example is the use of Twist and Fill products, which are concentrated cleaning products, which lessen the transportation and packaging used in the life‐cycle of the product. Additionally, the Bureau of Administration Administrative Rules 10:02:05:01 through 10:02:05:15 pertain to the use of environmentally preferred products when purchasing printing projects, paper stock, and cleaning and maintenance equipment and supplies. Refer to these rules when purchasing these items.

Storm Water Management:
Black Hills State University is located on a northern facing, sloped aspect, that at times is required to drain large amounts of storm water. A major goal of all new construction, including the new Crow Peak residence hall, is the ability to slow and divert this storm water. Much of this runoff is in turn captured and diverted to large bioswales, removing silt and pollution from the water. This prevents both erosion and sedimentary pollution of Spearfish Creek, located downhill from campus. Bioswales are located in the Jonas parking lot, the Student Union, and Crow Peak landscaping. The Student Union also features a green roof with low maintenance plants, helping to better manage the runoff from the roof as well as improving the heating and cooling efficiency of the building.


Additionally, BHSU has purchased several new arrays of solar panels after assessments of our energy usage indicated where the University could improve both with clean energy usage and to decrease costs in the long term.

Link to the Climate Action Plan:
https://www.bhsu.edu/Portals/0/Student-Life/Go-Green/Climate%20Action%20Plan%202015%20Update.pdf

BHSU Purchase Policy
https://www.bhsu.edu/Faculty-Staff/Campus-Services/Business-Services/Purchasing

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

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:
10:02:05:11. Procurement of cleaning and maintenance products. Each state agency and institution shall specify products that meet at least one of the following requirements when procuring any cleaning or maintenance product:
(1) Green Seal certified;
(2) Ecologo certified;
(3) Designated for preferred procurement through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Designed for the Environment Safer Product Labeling Program by meeting the requirements of the EPA's DfE Standard for Safer Cleaning Products (SSCP), as revised on March 2010;
(4) Determined to be biobased products using ASTM Method D6866, 10 Standard Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid, and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis, as in effect on July 1, 2010. Any cleaning or maintenance product included in the United States Department of Agriculture's BioPreferred Program electronic catalog of qualifying biobased products is accepted as compliant with this section; or
(5) Certified as meeting or exceeding any of the other requirements listed in this section by an independent and knowledgeable third party based on standardized test procedures.
Source: 37 SDR 111, effective December 7, 2010.
General Authority: SDCL 5-18A-38.
Law Implemented: SDCL 5-18A-38.

Consumable office products

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:
Recycled Content Paper Products and State Printing Projects:
State agencies shall purchase recycled content paper products from the state contract or from Central Supply if available. When requesting bids or quotes for state printing projects or paper purchases, state agencies shall specify minimum recycled content based on recommendations adopted by the Office of Procurement Management. All printing projects shall include the statement “Printed On Recycled Paper”. Agencies wishing to utilize virgin paper stock instead of recycled content paper stock for any office use or printing project must document their reasons and submit the request to the Office of Procurement Management prior to making the purchase or entering into agreements for any printing services.

Furniture and furnishings

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating furniture and furnishings?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for furniture and furnishings:
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Information Technology (IT) and equipment

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:
Energy Efficient Products:
When acquiring energy-consuming products State agencies shall purchase ENERGY STAR® designated products. Information regarding ENERGY STAR® is available via the Internet at http://www.energystar.gov/products. An agency is not required to procure an ENERGY STAR® designated product if the head of the agency determines in writing, to the Office of Procurement Management, that No ENERGY STAR® designated product is reasonably available that meets the functional requirements of the agency; or that no ENERGY STAR® designated product is cost effective over the life of the product taking energy cost savings into account.

Food service providers

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food service providers?:
No

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

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional service providers?:
No

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional service providers:
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Transportation and fuels

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating transportation and fuels?:
No

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

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable procurement program or initiatives is available:
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.