University of Colorado Boulder
EN-6: Employee Educators Program

The educational program integrates many of CU’s campus sustainability initiatives, including transportation, recycling, and energy. The program also has large environmental and financial impacts with very little time commitment. The faculty/ staff campus sustainability program is coordinated by the CU Environmental Center and has two components: Department Eco-Leaders (Individuals) and the Green Office Certification (Departments). Green Office ecoleaders and departments are recruited via CU-Today Community Notes/ Buff Bulletins. There is a quick link to an interest form and the green office coordinator follows up to inquiries. Green Office coordinator maintains a master list of all campus departments and building proctors. Offices and departments who are not active are contacted each year with encouragement to participate.

The Environmental Center coordinates a formal faculty and staff Environmental Liaison Program. Over 75 active staff eco-leaders consist of building proctors, office managers, and department heads. Ecoleaders attend brown bag lunches on conservation topics tailored toward office practices, attended Eco-Leader orientation training sessions, and receive a monthly e-newsletter. The duties of the Eco-Leader include: Attend one one-hour orientation training session, Utilize and maintain an Eco-Leader Manual of resources and guides for office environmental practices. The manual is provided by the Environmental Center. Receive a monthly e-newsletter and disseminate relevant information to their departmental colleagues. Conduct a self-assessment of office practices. If a department chooses to pursue Green Office Certification, the Eco-Leader will facilitate this process by scheduling the training programs for their department. It is suggested that these programs be incorporated into existing departmental meetings in order to increase participation. The trainings are conducted by Environmental Center staff. Eco-Leaders receive a Reference Manual.

This program is funded as part of the Environmental Center's Operations Budget,. One student staff coordinator position at the EC is budgeted at $3K/yr.

CU Green Labs program has trained 125 eco-leaders who are active in 125 of the campus' 400 research labs. Lab eco-leaders must work in a research lab. Half of the lab eco-leaders are lab staff members (post-docs, PI's, or professional research assistants).

Green Labs eco-leaders have quarterly meetings. Lab Eco-Leaders responsibilities include: -helps CU Green Labs assess resource consumption in the lab -helps identify possibilities for using resources (energy, water, and material goods) more efficiently in the laboratory especially among the greatest consumers -discusses changes with the Principal Investigator (PI) before changes are implemented -helps implement efficiency measures in the laboratory -educates other lab members on efficient practices and ensures follow through by lab members -solicits ideas/feedback from other laboratory members -encourages laboratory members to consider energy or water use before purchasing new equipment and whether existing equipment already in use in the laboratory or nearby laboratories can be utilized to meet need instead

CU Green Labs is funded by Environmental Center and Facilities Management. Environmental Health and Safety also supports the program with its network of laboratory contacts.

CU Recycling outreach staff are hired via CU Environmental Center annually.

Recycling outreach staff are trained on recycling acceptable materials, contaminants, and signage criteria. Deskside compost containers for 6 buildings are delivered to each building occupant. Building occupants (faculty and staff) receive procedural information on how to participate in the compost collection pilot program.

Recycling outreach staff are paid student hourly staff.

Green Labs faculty and staff # served is underestimated.