University of Virginia
EN-7: Employee Educators Program

The Green Workplace Program engages UVA employees and workplaces in actions that conserve energy, save money, and advance sustainability. The program includes 60 actions workplaces can implement to be more sustainable. Credits range between one and five points, based on the anticipated level of effort required to implement each credit. Participants report their actions and earn a Green Workplace certification based on the total points achieved. The certification levels are bronze, silver, and gold for achieving 25+, 50+, and 75+ points respectively.

Green Workplace Leaders may be selected by workplace managers or may nominate themselves as leaders in the program. Green Team members are volunteers that are organized based on their workplace team and usually recruited by a Green Team Leader. The GWP is available to all Academic employees, except for those who work in labs.

Green Workplace Teams get started with an information session run by the Green Workplace Program coordinator. The coordinator shares an office certification checklist with 60 sustainable actions. They are also given access to the full program guide with credit-by-credit tips & a folder of ready-made resources for sharing with their colleagues. The leaders are walked through the steps in the certification process, including specific needs for documentation of the credits. Green Team members are also encouraged to attend bi-monthly lunch-and-learns on sustainability topics to stay up-to-date on new initiatives and recommendations.

A staff member from the Office for Sustainability coordinates the program, delivers formal training to Green Teams, and serves as a consultant by request to walk teams through the entire certification process. This person also hosts the bi-monthly lunch-and-learn events. There is a budget of $5000 per year to continue offering more resources to Green Teams, from signage & other communication materials to physical resources like new desk-side recycling bins or compost bins in break rooms.

"The mission of Sustainability Partners is to actively engage UVA employees in cultivating a community that embraces sustainable stewardship and practices. Sustainability Partners advocate and promote initiatives that reduce energy and water use, minimize waste, promote community, and enhance well-being. When they convene for bi-monthly lunch-and-learn events, the Sustainability Partners group provides opportunities for members to: 1) Learn from experts and local sustainability heroes, 2) Share ideas for implementing and maintaining Green Workplace Program actions, 3) Receive updates and discuss current events in Sustainability at UVA, and 4) Build community with like-minded colleagues. https://sustainability.virginia.edu/programs/partners.html"

Any UVA employee can opt themselves in to receive Sustainability Partners lunch-and-learn invites and sustainability updates throughout the year. The Office for Sustainability spreads the word about Sustainability Partners throughout workplaces certified in the Green Workplace Program, at new employee orientation, and at employee-focused events like the health & benefits fair and employee appreciation picnics and other meals.

During Sustainability Partners meetings, we try to give specific recommendations for outreach tactics. We will share physical copies of green tips & event posters they can take and hang in their workplace, and we share email templates for electronic communications. As for taking on their own style of peer-to-peer education, we work with individuals to brainstorm the best solutions and tactics for their unique space.

A staff member from the Office for Sustainability coordinates the program, hosts the bi-monthly lunch-and-learn events, and pays for food for ~40 people at each event.

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL: Convenes monthly with representatives of the various departments within Facilities to educate and inspire sustainable actions & advance sustainability within operations and practices. The group has a consistent presence at major events with Facilities staff members & a monthly column in the FM newsletter. The group advocates on behalf of over 1,2000 FM staff members. Council members are appointed by the Chief Facilities Officer, and the Office for Sustainability staff provides staff support and guidance for any new initiative being undertaken by a member of the group. MEDICAL CENTER SUSTAINABILITY WORK GROUP: sponsors events to provide information on sustainability and conservation & brings the Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE) program to Health System employees. They offer sustainability resources for both employees work lives and home lives, and have recently begun more wide-ranging communication efforts, like making videos about how the hospital is going green & how those practices can can through to people's homes. There are 7,621 full time employees who are targeted by the work group. Members join by reaching out to the coordinator, a fellow Health System employee. Members educate each other and learn from visitors to the educational events. GREEN LABS PROGRAM: Research labs are an important aspect of UVA’s mission, but are energy, water, and material intensive. At UVA, labs account for over 30% of the University’s energy use despite accounting for only approximately 16% of the square footage. Because of the immense opportunity to reduce energy, water, and waste, the Green Labs Working Group and the Office for Sustainability have developed a Green Labs program to focus on: 1) Outreach and Action - a Green Lab certification program and associated resources, and 2) Programs and Resources - specialized lab recycling, freezer and other energy efficiency programs, events, and training. There are an incredible number of UVA employees from full time staff to faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate interns that are served by the program. Labs can connect with the Green Labs Specialist, who is employed in the Office for Sustainability, to become leaders among their peers. The program has a significant budget for lab infrastructure improvements and support for outreach, education, and behavior change programs. https://sustainability.virginia.edu/programs/greenlabs.html