Tips for a Green Workplace

Health & Wellbeing

While workplaces foster innovation and collaboration, they can also be stressful for some. Many workplace sustainability practices have the potential to make us feel more happy and healthy in the office. Explore ways to incorporate some of these sustainable and healthy practices into your workplace to support the well-being of you and your colleagues.

• Wahoo Commute UVA's Parking and Transportation has launched a new commuter incentive program called Wahoo Commute for full and part-time UVA staff and faculty. The program offers cash incentives and various features to make commuting to Grounds via alternative transportation easier and more worthwhile for employees. The supported alternative commute modes are walking, riding a bike, scooter, or bus, or participating in a carpool or vanpool.
• Natural Light  While working on Grounds, remember that using natural light could both save electricity and contribute to a positive mood. If there are windows near your desk, open up the blinds and turn off your overhead light if possible.
• Indoor Plants  If you haven’t already, bring some plants from home to make your workplace feel more comfortable and personal. UVA faculty member Tim Beatley researches and highlights the benefits of working in a “biophilic” spaces, from feeling more connected with nature to maintaining focus on the task at hand.

Paper

Paper usage is a resource-intensive aspect of many offices. Trying new practices to reduce paper waste within workplaces, like electronic and virtual formats, can not only save money but also help progress the University towards our 2030 waste minimization goal.

• Paperless Processes Talk to your team about whether there are opportunities to go paperless. At our office we print a limited number of copies of our annual report, for example, and highly encourage digital access via a QR code.
• Junk Mail  If unwanted mail in your office’s box has been piling up, make it a workplace initiative to unsubscribe and prevent future paper waste. Create an “unsubscribe” pile and designate one person to call the catalog or business to request opting out of direct mail. Additionally, DMA Choice is a non-profit that allows you to remove your personal information from many mailing lists.
• Scrap Paper Close to the printer, create a scrap paper pile for anything that still has one free side. Encourage people to grab scraps for to-do lists and scribbles instead of using post-it notes or other fresh paper. Not only will this reduce your consumption of blank sheets, it can also help you identify sources of excess paper scraps.

Energy

Like our households, workplaces are energy-intensive buildings that have many areas for improvement. By examining energy settings with your team and reminding each other of energy-relevant policies, you can put sustainable energy practices into the workplace - here are some actions to take:

• HVAC Scheduling Many workplaces at UVA have smart thermostat settings that automatically adjust at different times of day or days of the week. Contact Facilities Management to check your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) schedule at the Facilities Management Customer Support Center: (434) 924-1777. Additionally, compare your HVAC schedule to the days/times when your team is in the workplace versus working from elsewhere. 
• IT Settings Double check your computer settings periodically to get the most out of every charge. Follow these Sustainable IT recommendations and do it yourself, or ask your Local Support Partner (LSP) to change energy settings on all the computers in your department.
• Space Heaters Just say no! The use of personal space heaters is actually prohibited at UVA for both environmental and safety reasons. To stay comfortable as the weather cools down, dress for the season and consider keeping a small blanket or microwavable rice bag at your desk.

Purchasing

Did you know that many money saving-practices also double as Earth-saving practices? You and your team can free up purchasing funds by checking out some of the following workplace tips, and if you are interested in more sustainable purchasing tips, consider joining the UVA Green Purchasers Community of Practice.

• Office Supplies  Never buy a binder again! There are hundreds available for FREE at UVA’s Reusable Office Supply Exchange, also known as ROSE. If you are restocking any type of office supply (whether for professional or home use), consider checking ROSE first. And if you’re clearing out your drawers, donate to ROSE before reaching for the trash can. 
• Smart Swag Consider promotional items that are plastic-free, compostable, or consumable. For example, swap single-use plastic water bottles for reusable ones and look into compostable packaging for any food items that you may be handing out. Aim to purchase swag that is both useful and in alignment with your department’s values.
• Catered Food  If you are ordering food for a meeting or event, minimize waste by purchasing hand-held items like sandwiches or pizza. Encourage attendees to bring their own tupperware or provide compostable to-go containers to minimize food waste. If you are purchasing food through the UVA Marketplace, search for “Zero Waste” caterers on the America To Go punchout to ensure that your event is compliant with UVA’s Single-Use Plastics policy.

Single-Use Plastics

Did you know that UVA is tackling plastics in a big way? The University is committed to reducing single-use plastics on Grounds and in alignment with UVA policy, certain single-use plastics shall not be purchased, sold, or distributed when alternatives are available.  Great partners like UVA Dine, UVA Health, UVA Athletics, the Procurement Office, and area caterers are helping us transition to reusable and compostable items.

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  Tackle Plastics  If you are in a position to buy or distribute items like cups, plates, utensils at UVA, then your cooperation is critical. Swap out plastics for reusable or compostable food service ware. If you are not a purchaser, you can still set a good example and avoid using single-use plastics on Grounds. 
• Bring Reusables Many UVA employees and students are already demonstrating sustainable norms with their reusable water bottles. Consider expanding the reusables you keep with you. A set of metal utensils at your desk and a spork or some chopsticks in your bag could help you do without disposables at lunch or events.
• Seek Out Composting As many plastics are replaced with compostable items at UVA, a number of partners are also working to expand composting options on Grounds. Today, you can find compost bins in many UVA Dine locations, some workplaces, and at many events. If you are an event host, fill out the Zero Waste Event form to request compost bins for your next gathering! The Sustainability team offers Zero Waste Event trainings and consultations for those who are interested in learning more.

Community Engagement

Remember that a sustainable society is one that’s good for both people and the planet. Engage in the people-side of sustainability by contributing in the community. During any time of the year there are a number of ways you can support a thriving, sustainable culture in our area.

• VOTE Every election matters. Double-check your polling place and view a sample ballot for upcoming elections. The UVA Center for Politics has many resources for ensuring access to voting, regardless of whether you are from Virginia or not - see more here. If candidates’ stances on sustainability issues are important to you, do some research to find out where they stand.
• Donate through UVA’s Give Where You Live campaign If you are a UVA employee, the UVA Give Where You Live campaign makes it easy for you to donate to local charities through lists of local non-profits. See the complete list of area charities, and consider supporting sustainability-oriented organizations here.
• Use Your Volunteer Days  Remember that UVA employees have 8-16 hours of paid volunteer leave to use each year. You could volunteer on the water with the Rivanna Conservation Alliance (RCA), alongside students at the Morven Kitchen Garden (MKG), or connect with another area “green group.” Visit the CvilleVolunteer website to explore opportunities in alignment with your interests, skills, and schedule. 

Staying Connected

The UVA Office for Sustainability strives to share meaningful opportunities for you to make a difference both on Grounds and beyond. Stay in touch by subscribing to our newsletter and following us at sustainableuva on social media. Keep looking for that next step you can take - here are some ways to stay plugged in:

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  Communications  The best way to receive updates and suggested actions throughout the year is through the bi-weekly newsletter, which you can subscribe to using this form. We are also very active on Instagram and Facebook,  @SustainableUVA - If you are already a subscriber and/or follower, consider forwarding to a friend or colleague
• Events  Sustainability is such a multi-faceted topic that there is always more to learn. Email [email protected] to join the “Sustainability Partners” listserv, where we share event and lunch-and-learn invites. If you are already a Sustainability Partner or event attendee, bring a friend or colleague next time.
• Action  If you want to keep doing more, but you could use some guidance, email [email protected] and we can send you things like our 30 recommended actions for a Green Workplace or trainings relevant to your unique role at UVA. Keep up the great work!

 

And as always, you can email us at [email protected] to share your ideas, ask questions, or get connected with other resources.  Let’s keep making a difference together!