Green Office Certification Program

Transcription

1 Green Office Certification Program The program is designed to engage the campus community in taking action on sustainability. Through a series of suggested activities and initiatives individuals can take an active role in sustainability by incorporating simple things into everyday office operations. It is hoped that this infusion will lead to an elevated understanding and appreciation of sustainability. Furthermore, the program will recognize and celebrate the efforts of participating offices. How to Participate 1. Your office/department contacts the Sustainability Office to indicate interest in participating in the program. queensu.ca/sustainability 2. The Sustainability Office will next arrange a time to present the program to your office, outline participation expectations and field questions. 3. If your office decides to participate, you would then complete the program checklist to identify activities you are already doing to determine your current score. 4. Completed checklists are signed by your office Director and returned to the Sustainability Office. 5. The Sustainability Office will next assess the checklist, assign a certification level and publish your successful results. 6. After 6 months, your office would examine the checklist for additional activities you could commit to and then reassess your score. Then repeat steps 4 and 5. Scoring 1. For most activities, the score is based on whether your office is, or is not completing an action and allotted either the full points or not. 2. For activities that involve full staff participation, you are scored out of 2. Your office will receive the full 2 points if everyone is participating, 1 point if a few are participating and 0 points if none are participating. 3. Each section provides an opportunity for innovation bonus points. If an office is engaged in a related sustainability activity not identified in the list then they can apply for bonus points. These points will range from 2 to 5, based on the impact of the activity. Some follow up may be required to assess these activities.

2 Summary Activity Themes Score Points Sustainability Ambassador 0 / 20 Energy 0 / 22 Waste Diversion & Reduction 0 / 28 Transportation 0 / 17 Purchasing 0 / 13 Total Score 0 100

3 Sustainability Ambassador The office sustainability ambassador should be nominated by the office/department. In the role, the ambassador will take a lead on ensuring the unit is following through on the certification commitments. In addition, this person will be the main contact for all sustainability related activities. It is hoped that this person will liaise with the Queen s Sustainability Office, help promote other activities and initiatives on campus and generally be a resource and champion within their unit. *Please note that during the first time scoring, the activities below can also be read, "Our office." This will allow for some points if an office is completing an activity without neccessarily having the Sustainability Ambassador in place. Our office has at least one Sustainability Ambassador 3 Our office includes office sustainability as a regular item on staff meeting agendas 1 Our office reviews office sustainability performance at least annually at an office meeting 1 Our sustainability ambassador circulates/posts notices and reminders on energy saving tips in common areas (i.e. above light switches, in kitchens and break rooms) 2 Our sustainability ambassador ensures that staff have received reminder s containing energy-saving tips before long weekends, holidays and study break periods 1 Our sustainability ambassador checks to ensure that shared equipment (copiers, coffee makers etc.) are turned off and/or unplugged before weekends, holidays and study break periods 1 Our sustainability ambassador posts recycling and composting information in common areas 2 Our sustainability ambassador periodically reviews proper recycling sorting with staff 1 Our sustainability ambassador forwards communication materials to the office from the Queen's Sustainability Office 2 Our sustainability ambassador periodically reviews our office's compliance with the Green Office Certification Program 3 Our sustainability ambassador submits the Green Office Certification Program's checklist annually to the Sustainability Office to maintain active status in the program 3 Available Ambassador Points 20 Total Ambassador Score 0

4 Energy Our staff use energy management controls to set computers and monitors to enter 'sleep mode' after 10 minutes of inactivity 2 Our staff set monitors to standby rather than using screen savers to reduce the computer's power draw 2 Our office uses energy mangement controls to set printers/copiers to enter 'sleep mode' after 30 minutes of inactivity 1 At the end of the day our staff power-down offices by turning-off lights, computers, monitors, printers, scanners, radios and other equipment 2 Our office makes use of power bars to shut off electronic equipment or standby power that is consumed even when the equipment is turned off 1 Our office unplug coffeemakers, microwaves and ovens when closing for the holidays 1 Our staff turn-off lights in unoccupied areas like meeting rooms, classrooms, washrooms, utility rooms and offices of gone for more than 5 minutes 2 Our office requests that incandescent task lights be replaced with compact fluorescent or LED lamps 2 Our office opens window coverings to make use of natural light to cut down on the need for electric lighting 1 Our office maintains thermostats no higher than 20 C in the winter and no lower than 25 C in the summer 3 Staff are encouraged to dress for the weather and adjust layers before adjusting the thermostat 1 Our office notifies Fixit for heating/cooling concerns and avoids using space heaters or opening windows while the AC/Heating systems are running 3 Our office shares/networks items like printers and copiers 1 Available Energy Points 22 Total Energy Score 0

5 Waste Diversion & Reduction Our staff lounge and other primary public areas are equipped with recycling stations (waste, cans/glass/plastic, mixed fibre 1 Our office participates in the Office Organics program 3 Staff members make every effort to sort their waste into the appropriate recycling streams 2 Our office always disposes of electronics via online Ewaste pick-up request form. 1 Our office is equipped with containers to properly recycle used batteries and printer cartridges 1 File folders, binders and cardboard boxes are kept for resuse 1 Our office donates unwanted office supplies (pens, envelopes, paper clips, binders, staples etc.) in the Room of Requirement in the JDUC for others to use 1 Our office posts unwanted office furniture/supplies in the Freecycle@queensu.ca database so items can be reused by other campus departments 3 Staff avoid using single-use items like throwaway bags, plastic wrap, foil, single use cartons or cans and plastic utensils for meals 2 Our office is equipped with non-disposable cutlery, dishes, glasses and mugs in the staff lounge and our staff use them 1 Our staff use a travel mug instead of disposable cups. As an added bonus, all coffee shops on campus offer a reusable-mug discount 2 Our office has a scrap paper tray for paper to be collected and reused for rough notes or draft single-sided copies 1 Staff make use of notepads made out of scrap paper 2 Our office s, posts or circulates memos instead of producing copies for everyone 1 Our office has set printer defaults to double-sided printing and copying 1 Our office uses a data projector to display meeting materials instead of printing individual copies 1 Our office has turned down the contrast when of our printers to save toner 1 Our office has a centralized electronic filing system that allows office users to share information 1 Our staff supports the bottled-water ban by bringing refillable water bottles to work 2 Available Waste Points 28 Total Waste Score 0

6 Transportation Our staff participate in the Queen s Carpool program 2 Our staff have joined the VRTUCAR car sharing program 2 Our staff use public transit to commute to work 2 Our staff walk or cycles to work 2 Our office purchases carbon offsets for all business flights 3 Our office routinely organizes conference calls, virtual meetings and webinars instead of travelling to meetings 3 Our office participates in Active Commute to Work Week and the Commuter Challenge (in June) 3 Available Transportation Points 17 Total Transportation Score 0 Innovation Bonus Points (2 to 5) Score

7 Purchasing Our office purchases Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified printer paper 1 Our office purchases Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certified printer paper with at least 50% post-consumer recycled content 3 Our office purchases common items, such as pens, pencils, staplers, note pads, post-it notes, kitchen supplies etc.) that are recyclable, compostable/biodegradable and with high postconsumer content (when available) 1 Our office purchases Fair-Trade and organic coffees and teas 1 Our office purchases recycled toner cartridges 1 Our office assesses energy efficiency when purchasing equipment 1 Our office only uses Energy Star (or equivalent) equipment 1 Our office uses materials from the Room of Requirement 1 Our office uses the Queen's furniture reuse program (Freecycle@work) rather than purchasing new 3 Available Purchasing Points 13 Total Purchasing Score 0 Innovation Bonus Points (2 to 5) Score