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Sustainable Procurement
Sustainability
What is Sustainability?
 
Oregon Revised statute 184.421(4) defines sustainability as “using, developing and protecting resources in a manner that enables people to meet current needs and provides that future generations also can meet future needs, from the joint perspective of environmental, economic and community objectives.”
 
In January of 2006, then Governor Kulongoski signed an executive order that outlines severel key areas that Oregon agencies are using and will continue to use in order to promote sustainablility.  
  1. Oregon extablished a "green" building policy that requires all new state buildings to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" program
  2. State Procurement practices are including life cycle costs and sustainability considerations when making contracting and purchasing decisions
  3. Oregon Dept of Transportation is incorporating sustainability measures by establishing environmental baseline assessments before designing begins for each bridge repair project.
  4. Oregon dedicated L.L. Stub Stewart State Park as the first Oregon state park that was developed with sustainability as the main objective.
 
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LL Stub Stewart Welcome Center

Sustainable Oregon Agencies
iStock photo
Implementing Sustainability in Oregon State Agencies
 
Executive Order 00-07 was issued on May 17, 2000. The purpose was to develop and promote policies and programs to meet a goal of sustainability within one generation - by 2025.  Initially, the focus was on centrally coordinated functions such as building construction and procurement, and promoting a range of efforts to enhance sustainable practices and products in Oregon's economy.
 
The Sustainability Act was passed by the House June 30, 2001 and the Senate July 3, 2001.
 
Since that time, several projects have been undertaken to start meeting the goal of sustainability in state office buildings by 2025. 
 
One noted example was a pilot solar project that DAS recently completed at the Pendleton State Office Building, where old windows were replaced and a new rooftop solar collector was created.  So far, the office has been able to offset about 15% of it's annual electrical needs. 

Sustaining the Environment
 
Environmentally sustainable choices conserve natural resources, protect biodiversity, stabilize atmospheric composition and global climate, and otherwise protect the stability and productivity of earth's bio systems.       
 
Sustaining the Environment

General Guiding Principles
Getting Started with Green Purchasing
  • Find a leader 
    • You will need a point person for green initiatives
  • Build a team 
    • Engage end users and stakeholders
  • Research the market
    • Identify what works and what doesn't
  • Start Small
    • Target basic products that perform well and save money
    • Your successes will give you confidence to improve
  • Track green purchases
    • Determine impacts - positive and negative - to help make (and justify) your decisions
 
Get Involved!  Attend conferences, read newsletters and consumer reports, visit websites, network with other groups that are concerned about the future.

Resource Information
 
Sustainable Purchasing Resources
 
Green Procurement Resource Links
 
 
Oregon Sustainability Board