University of California, Santa Cruz
EN-6: Employee Educators Program

Staff interested in having their offices certified and participating in sustainability trainings volunteer themselves. They are required to have a Green Team of 2-3 individuals who are the sustainability the champions for their office and liaisons between the office and the Green Office Certification program staff during the assessment and training process.

Step 1: Create a Green Team What is a Green Team? The main role of the Green Team is to be the champions for their office and to be liaisons between the office and the GOC staff. The GOC Green Team is a key component in the green office certification process. Here are their roles: Two members is the minimum but we encourage four Green Team members will need to assist GOC staff in scheduling meetings (2) and communicating with Building Managers/Office Manager/Department Head regarding waste assessments, building information, etc. Students are allowed to be a part of the Green Team but limit to one per office and the impetus to participate in the green office certification program must be driven by staff. Step 2: Conduct Office Asssessments The Office Assessment Involves Three Components: Sustainability Office Assessment (Observational and verbal components) Energy Assessment Waste Assessment Step 3: Assessment Results Presentation With guidance from the Green Team, coordinate an office meeting during which a representative from the GOC will report the office’s assessment results. Then a GOC member/s will facilitate a brainstorming session during which the members of your office (with the help of the representative) will put together your Office Sustainability Commitment and Plan based on the results of your Office Assessment. Action items and goals will be set forth with tentative completion dates. The office will get its green office certificate as well as any items that can help the office operate more sustainably. Step 4: Implement your Office Sustainability Commitment and Plan Implement your plan. Begin taking the steps your office brainstormed during the final meeting. A representative from GOC will compile all of the action items produced from the workshop and send you a link to the formal online version of your office's Office Sustainability Commitment and Plan. Both your office and the GOC team will have access to this document. Treat it like a checklist, and indicate which action items that your office completes. Of course, representatives from GOC will always be available at any time to answer questions or help address issues regarding the implementation. Step 5: Continue to work hard in incorporating sustainability in your everyday practices! We will continue to work with your office to incorporate sustainable practices in your daily practices. We re-certify offices after a 3 month check-in so continue working hard! We also offer trainings on specific topics that you'd like to learn more about in order to implement your commitment plan, upon request.

Sustainability Office Program Manager oversees team of students to conduct trainings and assessments