Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.23
Liaison Merry Rankin
Submission Date Sept. 1, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Iowa State University
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.50 / 3.00 Kelly Freel
Purchasing Agent
Purchasing
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1: Institution-Wide Policies 

Does the institution have written policies, guidelines or directives that seek to support sustainable purchasing across commodity categories institution-wide?:
Yes

A copy of the policies, guidelines or directives:
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The policies, guidelines or directives:
Green Purchasing at ISU. http://www.purchasing.iastate.edu/green Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guidelines. http://www.purchasing.iastate.edu/green/guidelines Vendor Code of Conduct. http://www.purchasing.iastate.edu/vendors/code-of-conduct

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:
Iowa State University purchases ENERGY STAR® products or those certified by the Federal Energy Management Program as energy efficient in all categories available. If this solicitation is for a product in a category for which ENERGY STAR® or certified products are available, submit evidence of the ENERGY STAR® status or certification for the products contractor is bidding. Additionally, ISU’s contract for Nuaire Biosafety cabinets contains 65% recycled material used in manufacturing the cabinets, and 97% is recyclable at the end of the cabinets life.

Part 3: Commodity-Specific Sustainability Criteria

To count, the criteria must address the specific sustainability challenges and impacts associated with products/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 (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 purchase of environmentally preferable cleaning products, when practicable, but without reducing quality, safety, and cost effectiveness. - Identifying and using products with lowest amounts of volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, lead or mercury. - Restricting the purchase of foam products manufactured with chlorofluorocarbons and phase out chlorofluorocarbon-containing refrigerants, solvents and similar products.

Construction and Renovation 

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating construction and renovation products (e.g. furnishings and building materials)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for construction and renovation products:
- Purchase used/surplus or remanufactured products such as laser toner cartridges, furniture, equipment, etc. whenever practicable and cost effective over its life cycle, without reducing safety, quality or effectiveness. - Energy-efficient equipment and lighting. - Products for which the U.S. EPA Energy Star certification is available or equivalent non-certified products. - Water-saving products or processes. - Support LEED silver construction goals.

Information Technology (IT) 

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)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for IT products and services:
- Products addressed in Iowa laws and Executive Orders. Iowa State University shall purchase and use recycled printing and writing paper for 90% of total use. 100% of their tissue products shall be recycled product. - The purchase of soybean-based inks for printing services. - Purchase used/surplus or remanufactured products such as laser toner cartridges, furniture, equipment, etc. whenever practicable and cost effective over its life cycle, without reducing safety, quality or effectiveness.

Food Services 

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating food services (i.e. franchises, vending services, concessions, convenience stores)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for food services:
- Request packaging that is reusable, recyclable or compostable when suitable uses and programs exist.

Garments and Linens 

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

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for garments and linens:
All linens are purchased through American Hotel Register Company. This company has Living Green standards that are posted on their website. A copy of these guidelines and standards are attached in the submission.

Professional Services 

Does the institution have published sustainability criteria to be applied when evaluating professional services (e.g. architectural, engineering, public relations, financial)?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for professional services:
All design professionals working on the ISU campus must adhere to the ISU Facilities Design Manual, as posted at: http://www.fpm.iastate.edu/planning/projects/apguestlogin_to_FDM.asp All new construction and major renovations are required to achieve LEED Silver as a minimum per Board of Regents Sustainability Guildelines and at Iowa State, LEED Gold is preferred. The LEED scorecard with expected credits is included in the manual for reference. On all other projects, LEED-NC standards are followed although those projects do not qualify under LEED-NC.

Transportation and Fuels 

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:
Life cycle cost and energy efficiency shall be included in the criteria used by Iowa State University in developing standards and specifications for purchasing energy- consuming products. Iowa State University shall purchase new passenger vehicles and light trucks so that the average fuel efficiency for the fleet of new passenger vehicles and light trucks purchased in that year equals or exceeds the average fuel economy standard for the vehicles' model year as established by the United States secretary of transportation under 15 U.S.C. Iowa State University State's intention is to give priority and preference to vehicles that are free from mercury added products. Vendors shall be responsible for notification and identification to the bid Issuing Officer of any components of the proposed vehicles that contain mercury-added products.

Wood and Paper 

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:
- Giving preference to wood products that are certified to be sustainably harvested by a comprehensive, performance-based certification system similar to that of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (FSI), whenever practical, but without reducing quality, safety, and cost effectiveness. - Purchasing locally harvested/extracted and processed wood, whenever practical, but without reducing quality, safety, and cost effectiveness.

Other Commodity Categories 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the published sustainability criteria for other commodity categories:
Recognizing our impact as a significant purchaser of goods and services, Iowa State University's goal is to give preference to environmentally friendly products whose sustainability, function and quality are equal or superior to more traditional products and whose cost is equal or less. This policy will: - Conserve natural resources - Minimize pollution - Reduce the use of water and energy - Reduce or eliminate environmental health hazards on our campus and in our community - Support markets for recycled content products - Reduce materials sent to landfills - Increase the use and availability of environmentally preferable products - Encourage suppliers to reduce environmental impacts within the supply chain - Create a model for successfully purchasing environmentally preferable products while maintaining fiscal responsibility, quality, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations - Support locally produced goods and services Educate ourselves, suppliers, and campus communit

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Living Green_Garments and Linens Criteria 2.pdf

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.