Green Purchasing
For more information on Green Purchasing contact:
Donna Turner
Purchasing Manager
(252) 246-1240
(252) 243-8294 Fax
daturner@wilsoncc.edu
For more information on Sustainability contact:
Rob Holsten
Dean of Continuing Education & Sustainability
(252) 246-1254
rholsten@wilsoncc.edu
Additional Information
In 2003, our campus became passionate about environmental issues and determined to “make” Wilson Community College a “Green” Campus.
In the years since our College has committed to “Going Green”, we have seen the commitment move from being almost insurmountable to being what “everyone” is considering.
“Going Green” or “Green Purchasing” were the first terms we encountered, more recently you hear it referred to as “Sustainability”.
Merriam-webster.com defines sustainability as: of, relating to, or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged.
It is the ability to meet our needs without our compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
Helpful Links
On this Web site we have the Growing Green section which contains articles related to sustainability, an environmental glossary, and links to our Student Center LEED Project. The site is growing daily.
Our College Mission and Vision Statements were rewritten in 2006 to address our commitment to Sustainability.
Mission
“…The College embraces and is committed to the values of lifelong learning; community; sustainability; leadership; scholarship; accessibility and affordability; diversity and inclusiveness; research, assessment, and collaboration; and technology.” http://www.wilsoncc.edu/acrobat/Mission.pdf
Vision
“… Sustainability awareness is promoted through the efforts of students, employees, and community leaders. The College studies economic and environmental issues that impact operations and engages in activities that are economically and environmentally sound. The College encourages the use of energy conservation, recycling, and the use of sustainable practices in the construction of facilities and maintenance of buildings and grounds. The College seeks to have sustainability as a factor in planning and decisions at all levels.” http://www.wilsoncc.edu/acrobat/Vision.pdf
Purchasing Procedures Manual
We also expanded the process and function of purchasing in our Purchasing Procedures Manual to include:
“Research and purchase the most sustainable products available within approved state guidelines.”
State Mandates Require Sustainability in Purchasing
Executive Order No. 156
State Government Environmental Sustainability, Reduction of Solid Waste, and Procurement of Environmentally Preferable Products. (Signed July 20, 1999 by Governor James B. Hunt Jr.) http://www.p2pays.org/ref%5C03/02221.pdf
“…the State can demonstrate leadership by incorporating environmentally sustainable practices into its operations that preserve natural resources, conserve energy, eliminate waste and emissions, and lessen overall environmental impact; ……”
Senate Bill 668
“An act to promote the conservation of energy and water use in State, University, and Community College Buildings” http://ftp.legislature.state.nc.us/Sessions/2007/Bills/Senate/PDF/S668v3.pdf
State purchasing practices improve efficiency regarding energy, water, and other utility use and take the cost of the product over the economic life of the product into consideration.
