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David Sakoff presented a lecture to students on purchasing and procurement regarding Drexel's role in the environment May 8.

Drexel moves toward 'green' buying

By: Josh Kurtz

Posted: 5/9/08

The department of University Procurement talked to students May 8 at a Drexel Green event about purchasing and procurement regarding the University's role in the environment.

During the event, hosted by Joe Campbell, assistant vice president for University Procurement, the department was also able to hear students' ideas for environmentally-sound policies.

"We had a really good conversation during the presentation," Campbell said. "More than anything, we were asking [the students] to help us."

Campbell said one idea University Procurement hopes to implement as a result of the program is a green vendor purchasing fair and workshop.

University Procurement also hopes to receive other green ideas as a result of their presentation, Campbell said.

Kelsey Gibbons, a pre-junior majoring in environmental science as well as co-president of the Drexel Sierra Club and a member of the Drexel Green task force's communications committee, said she is pleased with the effort Drexel Green is making to publicize the University's environmental practices.

"I think Drexel Green is doing a great job of making people aware [of environmental issues]," Gibbons said.

Gibbons said the Sierra Club hopes that Drexel considers increasing their focus on purchases that have a longer rate of return. She said the University could consider setting aside a small portion of their budget as a revolving loan fund for green initiatives; the fund would be used for green projects, with profits from the projects being added back into the fund.

Tufts University currently employs such a fund, according to Gibbons.

Finance and budgeting would play a large role in organizing this type of fund, according to Campbell, who said the University's decentralized purchasing structure makes green purchasing practices a University-wide responsibility.

Specifically, many acquisitions under $2,500 are made at the department level, according to Campbell. Student organizations and other groups are also responsible for University-related purchases.

"If everybody wants to be green, we could be green," Campbell said. "We're all in it together."

University procurement does play a role in the formation of new buildings on campus, according to Campbell, who said there are plans for environmentally sound features in the new structures.

Campbell specifically pointed to the new integrated sciences building that will be located on 33rd and Chestnut streets. The building will be designed to meet the silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating, according to the Drexel Green web site.

Gibbons said she hopes Drexel will look closely at the environmental impact of their new and planned buildings and that they will consider looking into LEED certification for many of the new structures as well.

University Procurement currently has policies in place that deal with conservation. For instance, Drexel is a part of the Philadelphia Area Collegiate Cooperative, according to Campbell. The cooperative consolidates deliveries to member colleges so one delivery vehicle can be used to deliver materials to many schools at once.

PACC has created a green committee to work on furthering green buying practices.

University Procurement has purchased multifunction office machines that can copy, fax, print and scan. They also utilize refurbished, as opposed to new, furniture and cubicles, among other policies, according to Campbell.

In June, the Drexel Green task force will put together a proposal of green initiatives, Gibbons said. The initiatives will be finalized in September.