Western Washington University
PAE-15: Employee Sustainability Educators Program

10x12 Program employee educators (Department Conservation Coordinators or "DCCs" are selected through volunteering themselves. Often the Office of Sustainability comes to know about potential DCCs through information from local Deans or Department Chairs. DCCs must demonstrate: -A commitment to conservation concepts and actions -A strong interest in reducing utilities costs and working toward zero waste in their departments -The ability to complete two to four hours per month release time for 10x12 activities, including a quarterly 10x12 training and networking breakfast meeting.

DCCs go through an initial meeting with the 10x12 Program Manager and then conduct a department walk through with the Program Manager to identify areas for improvement. DCCs also attend quarterly training and information meetings.

Six academic departments and one college are participating in the 10x12 pilot program, located in four buildings: Parks Hall, Arntzen Hall, the Biology Building, and the Chemistry Building. The pilot program is funded with a $76,000 allocation, administered through the Office of Sustainability. Funding in 2011 provided staff, operating expenses and potential rebate awards to departments successful in reducing utilities consumption during the pilot year. One or more faculty and staff from each department served as department Conservation Coordinators. These volunteers participated in assessments for energy consumption, implementation of departmental initiatives encouraging energy conservation and waste reduction varied between the pilot buildings. At the request of the campus, timed “power down” email messaging was distributed to departments and offices throughout the campus, rather than limited to offices in the pilot buildings. In the first five months of the one-year pilot, January to May 2011, electricity consumption in three buildings was reduced to a level below the baseline average.

• Sustainable Office Certification Created through momentum gained in the 10x12 program, the SOC program was launched in 2012 to identify, encourage, recognize, and reward staff for efforts that measure, increase, and maintain best practices in University operations. The SOC program includes over 60 online-accessible actions in the areas of energy, transportation, purchasing, waste, and more. Library Circulation, Environmental Health and Safety, University Advancement, Financial Aid, and the Provost’s Office have been certified at the Silver or Gold levels, engaging 120 staff. An additional six departments are in process. The SOC program is using the campus as a living laboratory for learning sustainability.

No formal training is administered. Of the certified offices the participants include: 86 full time staff 29 part time staff 99 student employees

The Office of Sustainability and Transportation offer support to the SOC program by administering information for the certification process and officially scoring and recognizing such offices. To be certified the participating office must participate in an inter office collaborative, sustainability geared meeting.