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Green RFP Language

"Green Language" for Green Event, Green Venue or Green Building RFPs:

Applicant should describe how they would address the following "green" issues and features during planning, implementation, and takedown of a green event/venue, or the development, construction, operation and de-construction of a green building.  These lists are not exhaustive: thus, those who propose are encouraged to suggest additional desirable "green features."  Preference will be given to applicants with a comprehensive approach to greening events/venues or buildings and with a track record of performing these operations at other events/venues or buildings. 

General

  • Permanent buildings: design and construction qualifies for certification under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction (LEED NC).
  • Events/venues: provide data following event/venue detailing "environmentally-friendly" activities and materials used.
  • Communicate to building or event/venue users the "green" attributes of the products and services provided.
  • Commit to work with city/county/other governmental organizations, and other organizing body as needed to help make the building or event/venue "green".

Building construction and deconstruction

  • Buildings and materials used in construction (including exteriors and interiors) and deconstruction shall:

    Be constructed of recycled content, recyclable, and/or reused (salvaged) materials

    Be recycled and/or reused (preferred) after event;

    Improve indoor air quality during occupancy through use of low VOC materials (composite components, paint, finishes, carpet, furnishings, etc.)

    Reduce transportation emissions and support local economy by using materials that are extracted, processed and/or manufactured locally; and

    Use rapidly renewable materials and FSC certified wood; www.fsc.org.

  • Use of construction techniques that facilitate deconstruction and reuse of components in their original form.
  • Use of construction techniques that minimize on-site waste requiring recycling or disposal.
  • Develop and implement a jobsite construction waste management plan that requires mandatory recycling and reuse of construction and demolition materials.
  • Provide easy access recycling stations and pick-up areas for construction and demolition waste.
  • Develop and implement a construction indoor air quality management plan.

Operations

Transportation

  • Provide easily accessible bicycle racks or storage:

    Saint Paul Transportation Management Organization (TMO) provides a matching program for installing bicycle racks. The City of Saint Paul has agreed to maintain and take responsibility for up to 50 permanent bicycle racks-there are currently 18 and there may be potential to increase the goal.

    For temporary racks, DERO is a local organization/partner: http://www.dero.com/. 

  • Promote use of bicycle, pedestrian and transit options by providing appropriate information on these transportation methods throughout the city/county.

    Share information: www.stpaultmo.org and Planning Economic Development departments may be able to provide maps.

    Provide shared bicycles and helmets for event attendees (if bicycling is to be promoted, we should explore how to increase access to bicycles and helmets, e.g., http://www.nybikeshare.org/explore/#)

    Promote benefits of active transportation-economic, health, environmental, etc.

  • Educate drivers and bicyclists on how to safely drive/ride; http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/.
  • Provide preferable parking to alternate fuel vehicles and car/vanpools-working with Saint Paul TMO through their incentives.
  • Use on-site transportation vehicles powered by alternative fuels or technologies (such as electric power, bio-diesel, or hybrid technology):
    Consider collaboration with the Neighborhood Energy Connection and Hour Car.
  • Power vehicles and equipment used during construction, demolition and transporting materials to the site using alternative fuels or technologies (such as electric power, bio-diesel or hybrid technology).

Event Communications

  • Develop communication advisory team, which will include education and outreach, with representatives from local government, Chambers of Commerce, businesses, mainstream and ethnic media, etc.
  • Create event website and provide space to communicate what a green event is, the event's greening initiatives, video streaming of highlights of how a green event takes place, links to http://www.greenmeetings.info/index.htm and other green meetings best practices.
  • Construct information displays, posters and materials with recycled, recyclable, and reused materials and ensure that materials are recycled and/or reused after event.
  • Promote the use of the web, e-mail and PDA downloads for communications (such as event promotion, electronic registration, etc.) in order to reduce paper usage.
  • Develop electronic event newsletter.
  • Develop communication link with local mainstream and ethnic media to provide ongoing information and highlights of the green event.
  • Provide web banners for media websites, such as St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minneapolis Star Tribune, television stations, etc.

Office Operations

  • Provide only Energy Star-rated office equipment.
  • Paper used for printing and copying should contain a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content.
  • Default printers and copiers to double-sided output.
  • Use high-quality remanufactured toner cartridges (STMC certified or equivalent) and ink-jet cartridges where appropriate; where available, use soy-based ink or toner.
  • Reuse or donate unwanted but usable office supplies and equipment.

Furniture

  • Provision of furniture (such as tables, chairs, workstations, etc.) throughout the building that:
    Is reused;

    Contains recycled content, refurbished, rapidly renewable materials and/or bio-based materials or components or is sourced from secondary (reused) furnishings markets;

    Where applicable, use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood;

    Emit no or low amounts of volatile organic compounds (such as Greenguard certified products) http://www.greenguard.org/; and

    Is delivered using reusable transport packaging, or with the minimum packaging required to assure protection in transit and which can be easily recycled.

  • Furniture will be donated or reused following the event.

Food Operations

  • Use only reusable linens and reusable, recyclable or biodegradable dishware, glasses, cups, utensils and serving platters.
  • Purchase and serve water, beverages, condiments and other food items in pitchers and in bulk.
  • Encourage use of personal reusable mugs; make personal reusable mugs available.
  • Provide food grown in a sustainable manner.
  • Provide vegetarian food options.
  • Require attendees to 'sign-up' for meals (as opposed to estimating number of servings to be provided).
  • Donate used food to a food rescue program, participate in a food-to-animals program, or compost organics.

Energy

  • Include features in structural design and floor plan that reduce the total energy demand.
  • Use programmable thermostats.
  • Use energy efficient lighting products and practices (such as high-efficiency fluorescent lighting, motion-controlled lighting, etc.).
  • Use energy efficient mechanical systems.
  • Reduce electricity consumption, eliminate unnecessary demand and emphasize equipment efficiency and energy efficient control strategies. Provide "green" power on-site (such as alternative energy from fuel cells and/or alternative fuel generations) or off-site (such as through carbon offsets).

Recycling

  • Provide recycling collection that:

Has collection containers adjacent to all trash collection containers, using consistent and clearly differentiated containers for recycling vs. trash;

Includes, at a minimum, paper (office paper, corrugated and boxboard cardboard, newspaper, and mixed paper) and food and beverage containers (metals, glass, and plastics);

Is available for both workers and event/venue/building users;

Has clearly visible and stated signage; and

Ensures that all collected materials will actually be recycled.

  • Provide opportunities for reuse or composting of floral arrangements.

Trash collection

  • Provide trash collection that has a contractual requirement that trash (mixed municipal solid waste) will be delivered to the RRT-Newport, HERC or RRT-Elk River waste processing facilities for processing.

Water use and protection

http://www.toiletology.com/low-flow.shtml; http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/nsfc/Articles/SFQ/SFQ_sp04_PDF/Close_Thought_AltToilet.pdf.

Cleaning

  • Cleaning products shall meet the Greenseal GS-37 standard or California Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC levels: http://www.greenseal.org/certification/standards/gs37.pdf.
  • Disposable janitorial products must meet the minimum requirements of the U.S. EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines:

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/procure/products/tissue.htm.