1. The Green Office Program
The Office of Sustainability

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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%+

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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!

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Questions?
Contact:
Thank you!