Just how eco-smart is your Johns Hopkins office?
Are new employees trained on recycling practices? Is the printing paper you use made of recycled content? Are the office lights activated by motion sensors? Do people have reusable mugs for coffee and tea?
Those are just a sampling of the dozens of factors the JHU Office of Sustainability reviews when scoring offices on their green credentials. More than 50 different offices across Johns Hopkins have earned the official green certification. Now, you can see whether your office makes the cut.
If your office isn't on that list, you and your colleagues can take the initiative to start the green certification process yourselves. It starts with filling out this downloadable, comprehensive checklist that gives points based on several areas of environmental sustainability. You'll be taking a hard look at the ins and outs of your office, everything from the labels on your recycling bins to the food you eat at catered events.
The next step is arranging a walk-through with the Office of Sustainability, which will help go over that checklist and rank your office with an official score of 1 to 5. You will celebrate your certification by attending an awards ceremony to receive your plaque and join the ranks of other green-certified offices.
Completed checklists should be sent to sustainability@jhu.edu by Aug. 1 in order to be certified this year. Walk-throughs will take place during August and September.
The sustainability team is on hand to give pointers and guidance on areas to improve. Even for offices that have already achieved certification, there are always steps to take—both large and small—to go even greener. If you have any questions or just want to let us know you are interested in getting certified, send us an email: sustainability@jhu.edu..
For more Eco-Smart tips and news, connect with the Office of Sustainability on Facebook, Instagram, through our monthly eNewsletter, and Green Team listserv.
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