The Green Office Program The Office of Sustainability

Overview Introduction to the Programs and Goals Key Components How to Certify The Checklist Office Resources Re-Certification Recognition

What is The Green Office Program? The Green Office Program is a framework and set of resources meant to empower offices to reduce their environmental impact on campus through a self- assessment checklist that helps offices evaluate their practices, set goals, and be recognized for their sustainable practices. This program is meant to empower office teams to reduce their impact and costs through a self- assessment checklist with 7 categories that offices use to evaluate their current practices, set goals, and be recognized for their sustainable practices It aims to encourage offices across all WashU’s campuses to be champions of our university’s sustainability ethic

Program Goals Major impact through cumulative effort Green Office Participants 120 Major impact through cumulative effort Engagement on all WUSTL campuses Bring Sustainability Strategic Plan to life Build a sustainable community Over 113 offices are currently certified 100 80 60 The Green Office Program aims to encourage offices across WashU’s campus to be champions of our university’s sustainability ethic We have proudly certified over 113 offices In 2017, we exceeded our goal of certifying over 100 offices! Now in the process of certifying and re-certifying offices for 2018 40 20 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Bronze Silver Gold Platinum

Key Components SELF- ASSESSMENT PROVIDES RESOURCES GOAL- SETTING The checklist allows offices to evaluate their current practices, learn more about other sustainable practices, and set new goals. Self- assessment: The checklist serves as a self- assessment to help offices gage where they stand in their own sustainable practices. There is no auditing, checklist is to help offices self-evaluate. Provides resources: The checklist provides resources for each checklist category for information about topics as well as links to guides, instructions and specific policies. More resources can also be found on the Sustainability website and newsletter. Goal- setting: The checklist ends with a goal worksheet to encourage ways for office improve for next certification. The worksheet encourages offices to fill out their goals and action plan and allows green office associates to provide recommendations. SELF- ASSESSMENT PROVIDES RESOURCES GOAL- SETTING

Certification Levels Bronze Silver Gold Platinum 50-64% 65-79% 80-89% Certification broken down into 4 levels of recognition depending on grand total percentage that has been automatically calculated after completion of the checklist As offices reach certain milestones, they become a “certified green office” at Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels After completing checklist, the OOS will confirm your certification level and which can always be resubmitted to achieve a higher level of certification Bronze Silver Gold Platinum 50-64% 65-79% 80-89% 90%+

Certification Steps Define your office space (group of people sharing common resources) Elect a green office liaison (your office representative) Meet with a Green Office Associate (optional) Survey office members Complete Checklist Set goals using worksheet Submit completed checklist to the Green Office webpage. - *Flexibility in defining office space- 1 to any number. Some offices divide by staff and not faculty for example. It’s up to each office to decide

Collecting Information - Survey Look for survey icon in questions Offices with 25+ people must take survey 75% response Benefits: Easy way to collect information Increases accuracy of information (especially larger offices) Increases participation Smaller offices are not required to use the survey; you can gather information however works for your office There are two types of questions on the checklist: Some require collecting information about individuals (ex. Number of office members who use public transit in their commute), while some require collecting information about the office as a whole (ex. Purchasing Energy Star printers). All questions with the survey icon will require offices to survey individual office members Offices of 25+ people will be sent a customized Google survey and be asked to collect responses from at least 75% of office members Completing the survey is beneficial for offices and for the Office of Sustainability. As an easy way to collect information, it helps provide more accurate data (especially for larger offices) and increases participation among office members

Checklist Format - Overview Survey Points: Automatically calculated for each category The checklist is formatted in an easy to to use excel file that automatically calculates total points When an office earns enough points to meet a certain threshold, it will achieve a Green Office Certification of bronze, silver, gold or platinum Offices first should fill out the User Registration area which consists of the contact name, office location and members Tabs for each category are located at the bottom of the checklist After all questions under each tab are completed, the total points and certification percentage will be automatically calculated Offices of 25+ required to collect responses from at least 75% of office members in a customized Google survey Resources are linked to certain questions in the checklist to provide further information in the form of guidelines, instructions and policies. User Registration: Contact info, office description and referrals Certification Percentage: Automatically calculated based on points Tabs: Contain questions for each category Certification Level

Checklist Categories ENERGY WASTE DOCUMENTS PURCHASING TRANSPORTATION - The checklist is divided into the 7 categories of energy, waste, documents, purchasing, transportation, awareness and innovation TRANSPORTATION AWARENESS INNOVATION

Checklist Format - Response and Resources Located in right column with links to guides and websites Points are automatically calculated as users select responses from the drop down tabs If N/A is selected, offices can explain in the comments at the bottom Resources are linked to certain questions in the checklist to provide further information in the form of guidelines, instructions and policies. Response: Drop down tabs automatically calculate points

Office Resources Green Office Website Green Office Newsletter Print and Post Waste Signage Request Signage and Resources Green Office Presentations In addition to the resources linked in the checklist, The Office of Sustainability provides more resources on our website and newsletter Further resources and signage can also be requested through the google form The Office of Sustainability is available to support your certification process by providing this initial presentation, recommendations and facilitating goal setting. Green Office Associates are also available to answer any questions you may have!

Re-Certification Annual certification Opportunity to boost certification level Meet with a Green Office Associate to develop a work plan Complete Goals worksheet Offices may recertify annually but have the option of resubmitting the checklist after 3 months to allow recognition for improvements Recertification allows the opportunity to boost certification levels and Green Office Associates are available to help develop a work plan as well as complete a goals worksheet for further improvements that can be made in the office Certification for an office lapses after 2 years without re-certification example goals in notes are a couple easy ones to do

Recognition Green Office Plaque Icon for department website List on Office of Sustainability website Green Carpet Awards Ceremony Additional: Raffles and incentives for early certification/ re-certification Deadlines: May 1, August 15, November 15 Referral Incentives Offices that reach certification will receive a Green Office Plaque with the certification level that can be hung up in the office The Office of Sustainability will recognize certified green offices by providing an icon that offices can display on their websites as well as adding the office’s names to the Office of Sustainability’s “Green Office” list on our website Offices will also be recognized at the Green Carpet Awards Ceremony by University leadership In addition incentives for early certification and re-certification are available for those who submit their checklist by the following deadlines: May 1, August 15, and November 15 Offices will be entered into raffles for prizes that include: an office bike A green celebration for the office: a gift card of up to $100 to a Green Dining Alliance- certified restaurant Outfit your office: An upgrade for an energy efficient appliance, switch to LED bulbs, reusable dishware, or a year’s worth of recycled-content copy paper (up to $100 value) Choose your own reward: We are open to suggestions to support your office’s green growth. Let us know your ideas! Referral Incentives Individuals who make at least 4 referrals will receive a bamboo cutlery set or a sustainability t-shirt The person who recruits the most offices to complete checklists will be recognized at the Green Carpet Awards Offices will receive 1 point on their checklist for recruiting 1 or more offices

Green Carpet Awards The Green Carpet are held annually to recognize newly certified and recertified offices At the 2017 Green Carpet Awards we recognize over 100 green offices, surpassing our goal! Offices are presented with their green office plaque and can have their picture taken with the Chancellor Exceptional offices are also presented with Sustainability Leadership Awards

Sustainability Leadership Awards Recognizes excellence in sustainability leadership Recognizing individuals or groups Applicable to multiple areas in sustainability Visit the Office of Sustainability website for nomination form Nominate someone here! Deadline: Dec. 10 The Sustainability Leadership Awards recognize individuals or groups who display excellence in sustainability leadership by demonstrating the university’s sustainability goals in areas such as reducing waste and conserving energy Individuals and groups can be nominated by others and will be recognized at the Green Carpet Awards through the nomination form Nomination categories include: - Students - Individuals or Groups - Faculty & Staff - Individuals or Teams - Projects, Initiatives, Research - Priority areas include multiple areas in sustainability: - General - Waste Minimization and Diversion - Energy Conservation and Green House Gas Emission - Social and Environmental Justice - Alternative Transportation - Biodiversity

Questions? Contact: sustainability@wustl.edu Thank you!