North Seattle College
OP-11: Sustainable Procurement

Green Purchasing The Seattle Colleges have a strong commitment to the environment and seek environmentally preferable products and services. The Purchasing Department may seek, specify or favorably score products that are recycled, certified, or provide innovative and environmentally preferable solutions.

Since 1975, the State of Washington has required that an Energy Life Cycle Cost Analysis (ELCCA) be performed during the design of all publicly owned or leased facilities, both new construction and major renovations, including all construction activities where public funds are used.   The ELCCA is a decision-making tool that compares the owning and operating costs for energy using systems: heating, cooling, lighting, building envelope, and domestic hot water. The analysis accounts for the initial cost of construction or renovating a facility, as well as the cost of owning and operating a facility over its useful life. These costs make up the total cost of ownership for a building. https://des.wa.gov/services/facilities-leasing/energy-program/energy-life-cycle-cost-analysis

All State buildings must be built to LEED Silver standards. http://mrsc.org/Home/Explore-Topics/Public-Works/Construction/Green-Communities-and-Building-Design.aspx Seattle Energy Code also provides strict criteria for construction: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/codesrules/codes/energy/forms/default.htm

Student leadership voted to require EPEAT Gold for all new computer and monitor purchases starting July 2010, to which student fees pay for yearly. The language reads: "All equipment purchased with Universal Technology Fee dollars must be certified with the Gold EPEAT standard. Exceptions include: 1. Technologies not covered by EPEAT.* 2. Required functionality not present in the EPEAT approved alternative.** 3. Major price differences that would cause the program involved substantial operational difficulties.** *Preferential treatment should be given still be given to other environmental standards if the technology is not covered under EPEAT (energy star, European standards, etc). **UTF requests which apply for an exemption under articles 2 or 3 must factor in environmental consequences in their request, i.e. additional energy costs, consequences of heavy metal pollution, etc.

The Seattle Colleges have set guidelines for a Supplier Diversity Program. The Seattle Colleges are committed to supplier diversity by maintaining purchasing practices that promote and expand contracting opportunities for diverse suppliers, and is dedicated to fair and equal opportunities for all. The Purchasing Department strongly encourages the participation of minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses, socially and economically disadvantaged business enterprises, and small businesses in its purchasing and contracting activities. The participation may be through direct contracting or sub-contracting or a business partnership. The Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) certifies firms that are a minority or women-owned business.

per Washington State House Bill 2287: Washington state agencies must consider purchasing low carbon fuel vehicles or converting vehicles to use low carbon fuels when financially comparable over the vehicle's useful life. Low carbon fuels include hydrogen, biomethane, electricity, or natural gas blends of at least 90%. State agencies must achieve an average fuel economy of 36 miles per gallon for passenger vehicle fleets in motor pools and leased conventional vehicles. State agencies must also purchase low carbon fuel vehicles or, when purchasing new conventional vehicles, achieve an average fuel economy of 40 miles per gallon (mpg) for light-duty passenger vehicles and 27 mpg for light-duty vans and sport utility vehicles. All state agencies must, to the extent practicable, use 100% biofuels or electricity to operate all publicly owned vehicles. Agencies may substitute natural gas or propane for electricity or biofuel if the Washington State Department of Commerce (Department) determines that electricity and biofuel are not reasonably available. In addition, effective June 1, 2018, all local government agencies must, to the extent practicable, use 100% biofuels or electricity to operate all publicly owned vehicles. All state agencies with jurisdiction over renewable fuel infrastructure, specifically storage, blending, and dispensing equipment, are required to expedite related application and permitting processes. https://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/all?state=WA

Facilities Operations purchases 100% recycled paper for use on the campus. This follows a WA State law which requires all public institutions to use 100% recycled paper.