Dallas College is committed to purchasing sustainable goods and services that are good for equity, the economy, and the environment.
Dallas College is committed to sustainable purchasing
- We comply with local, state and federal environmental laws and regulations
- We actively promote and participate in conservation and pollution prevention activities
- We continuously integrate process improvements in our operations
- We purchase environmentally responsible goods and services
- We educate other Dallas College departments on how to make sustainable purchases
Sustainability is a shared responsibility
Our partnerships with contractors, vendors, consultants directly affect Dallas College’s sustainability performance and our ability to:
- improve equity
- enhance the economy
- protect the environment and
- comply with environmental laws and regulations
The contractors, vendors or consultants we select are responsible for knowing and complying with the environmental protection laws, ordinances and regulations which apply to the work you do for Dallas College.
We prefer to purchase healthy, environmentally preferable products
Environmentally preferable products and services have a lesser or reduced negative effect on human health and the environment when compared to competing products or services that serve the same purpose.
Dallas College uses the following six criteria to identify environmentally preferable products and services.
(Your product or service will be counted as an environmentally preferable product if you meet at least one of the criteria.)
- Does your business or product have an environmental equity or sustainability certification? If yes, what is the certification?
- Will the business service or product reduce energy and/or water user of the college?
- Will the business service or product reduce or eliminate pollution and/or emissions?
- Will the business service or product offer recycled content or recycling options?
- Is your business and/or product options located within 500 miles of Dallas College campuses and locations?
- Does your business purchase or generate renewable energy?
We rely on industry standards and the non-profit organizations that develop them to help us identify environmentally preferable products.
| Letter | Products |
|---|
| A | - Architectural and Engineering Services (Preferred experience with USGBC-LEED)
- ASTM Standards for Environmental and Green Products
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| B | - Bio-based Materials (75% minimum content, ASTM D 6866)
- Building Systems and Components (ASHRAE High Performance Building and Sustainability Standards 189.1, and/or Energy Star)
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| C | - Carpet and Flooring (50% Recycled Content, Cradle to Cradle Certified or NSF 140 SCE Certified)
- Chemical Products and Cleaning Products (85% VOC Limit, Green Seal GS-42 for Cleaning Products)
- Construction of New Buildings (International Green Construction Standards 2015)
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| E | - Electronics, Computers, Printers, and Related Equipment (E-PEAT and/or Energy Star certified)
- Energy Efficiency Equipment and Systems (International Energy Conservation Code 2015, Energy Star certified and/or UL Environment certified)
- Electricity Purchasing (Preferred Green-e certified RECs)
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| F | - Food Service and Catering (Recycling and/or Zero Waste options, Local, Organic and/or Dietary options, Sustainable and/or Fair Trade options)
- Furniture (Green Guard, Cradle to Cradle Certified or NSF 336 Certified)
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| H | - HVAC (Indoor Air Quality Management Plan required for all new construction)
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| L | - Lighting, LED lighting or CFL lighting is preferred (UL 1993, UL 8750)
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| P | - Paints and Architectural Coatings (85% VOC Limit, Green Seal certified)
- Paper and Paper Products (Forest Stewardship Council Mix or higher)
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| R | - Roofing (PVC with minimum R-value of R-25 and Energy Star certified)
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| W | - Wood and Wood Products (SFI and/or FSC certified)
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If your company offers environmentally preferred products or services not listed, please refer to the industry product certifications listed in the
EPA Sustainable Marketplace Environmental Preferred Purchasing resources, Eco-Labels and Environmental Specifications Guide.
For more information about sustainable purchasing at Dallas College, contact:
Dallas College Sustainable Procurement Advisory Council (SPAC)
Dallas College launched a new advisory group of college leaders and staff called the Sustainable Procurement Advisory Council (SPAC). The SPAC is led by leaders and staff from:
The SPAC meets quarterly to discuss learning and resources need to help inform departments about opportunities for environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP).