Green Workplace
The Green Workplace Program engages UVA employees in actions that conserve natural resources, save money and advance sustainability.
The Office for Sustainability offers a set of recommended actions, guiding individuals through implementation of those actions and providing incentives for sustainability progress, even after certification.
Getting started
- Consider colleagues who might be willing to join you on a “green team.”
- Request an info meeting to learn more by emailing [email protected].
- Implement at least 20 sustainable actions from the list of 30 recommendations and document your progress.
- Host a final review and walkthrough and show us what you’ve accomplished.
- Celebrate Green Workplace certification with snacks and a plaque from the Office for Sustainability!
- Why participate in UVA’s Green Workplace Program?
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It aligns with the University’s 2020-2030 Sustainability Plan. With your help, we can reach these goals and commitments. Individual actions matter, and everything adds up considering the 17,000+ academic employees and 12,000+ Health System employees at UVA.
Additionally, many of the green actions in the program are win-win – they not only help the environment, but in many cases also streamline processes, save money and contribute to the personal and professional development of employees across our University.
- What defines a workplace?
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We specifically picked the word “workplace” as opposed to department, school or office in recognition that UVA workplaces are diverse. Green Workplace Program participants get to choose the scope of their workplace, which you might define as a certain building / floor / office suite, or your workplace might include people who are physically spread out but tied together organizationally (a department or other sub-unit).
Some UVA Green Workplaces are six people, while others include over 100 full-time employees, so you can participate at whatever scope you would like.
- What is a Green Team?
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No one should do this important work alone, so we recommend finding some allies if you’d like to work toward certification. A Green Team is an informal group of sustainability-interested UVA employees in the same workplace who work together to implement Green Workplace actions. The teams can be just a few people or a big group, but, if possible, it is nice to have passionate people with diverse interests and work functions.
Why are there just 30 actions in the newest version of the Green Workplace Program?
The current program is designed to focus on 30 actions that are all fairly easy, no-cost actions that are relevant in many types of workplaces. We think of these as the “low-hanging fruit” green actions that, once completed, build a foundation for deeper improvements that the Office for Sustainability also supports.
- What should I do if an action is not applicable or not possible in my workplace?
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If any of the 30 actions are not relevant or possible in your space, simply prioritize other actions in the checklist. You only need to do 20 of the 30 actions to earn certification, so there should be plenty of other improvements that would make sense for you. If, after reviewing the actions, you feel like more than 10 of them would not be applicable, please email [email protected] for advice on how to proceed.
- How long does the certification last?
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UVA’s Green Workplace Certification does not technically expire, but we encourage workplaces to remain active by either re-certifying every three years or earning at least one badge each year. We also recommend re-certifying if a workplace moves to a new physical area or undergoes significant restructuring of staff.
Green Workplace Resources
- "Future of Work" Green Tips
- Certified Green Workplaces
- New employee on-boarding resource
- Reminder signage tip sheet
- Signage for e-waste collection area
- Signage for ROSE collection area
- Sustainability "swag" tips
- Fall and Winter power-down checklist (with printable posters)
- Plant-based food pledge card
- Plastic free worksheet