Procurement
ENERGY STAR Participant
Dalhousie is an ENERGY STAR Participant. The ENERGY STAR symbol helps consumers identify major appliances and other energy-using equipment that save energy. ENERGY STAR identifies products as the top high efficiency performer in their category. As an Energy Star Partner Dalhousie will promote the energy star program and products on campus.
Dalhousie's Procurement Policies
The Office of Sustainability is working with the Dalhousie purchasing department and other partners such as InterUniversity Services Inc (ISI - a cooperative that purchases key commodities for Atlantic Universities and Colleges) on future education, programs, and policies. ISI passed a Sustainability Policy in 2010. Dalhousie University sustainability policy is being revised to include more sustainability language. Individual RFP and tenders are being written to include sustainability factors.
Examples of Dalhousie's Sustainable Purchasing
- Fair trade and organic products such as coffee are offered across campus.
- Dalhousie University switched to using only green cleaners on campus. Read this case study [PDF - 320 kB] for more details.
- The Dalhousie Print Centre purchases exclusively 30 per cent post-consumer paper for print jobs and university copy stock. 100 per cent recycled paper choices are also available and some departments have switched over completely.
- The University Bookstore has a section where more sustainable products are available. The Bookstore is also implementing a book re-use program. Re-using books can save students money while reducing product use.
- Dalhousie sources 100 % recycled, non-bleached and single ply toilet paper and paper towels for the whole University. Paper towels are manufactured by Kruger and toilet tissue by Baywest.
Sustainable procurement education and resources
The Office of Sustainability offers 1 – 3 hour sessions on sustainable procurement to employees and students. Check the Dalhousie Employee organizational development site for the next course or request a session by emailing rethink@dal.ca.
Check out the resource section for tipsheets, posters, purchasing guides, and calculators. Please also visit the following websites for further support and assistance:
