Green Workplace Assessment is designed to increase Cal Poly Humboldt faculty and staff awareness regarding energy efficiency and conservation policies and practices that can be implemented in offices throughout the campus.
This program aims to create a balance between workplace operations and resource conservation.
GWA focuses on energy improvements and behavior modification, as well as recognizing innovative ways the department reduces its carbon footprint.
The GWA program is designed to raise awareness about energy efficiency and sustainable practices that can be implemented in offices on the Humboldt campus. This program aims to create a balance between the workplace and natural environment through appliance upgrades and new behaviors. We seek to motivate the Humboldt campus community to initiate innovative solutions that reduce our energy consumption. Each category assessed is weighted based on GWA's measurement of office sustainability. The calculator totals the scores in a given category and sums each category for a final certification level. Certification submissions will be evaluated by Humboldt's Green Campus team and Kathleen Koscielak, Humboldt's sustainability analyst. For best results, Green Campus would like to do a pre- and post-consultation with each department. Green Campus hopes to return within 3-6 months after the pre-consultation for the post-consultation, in which we can determine if the GWA survey helped your office implement lasting change. After each consultation, a certification will be awarded based on the final tally of earned points. Your workplace will be acknowledged and recognized for your commitment to sustainability with a framed certificate. Several assessment measure and recommendations will be based upon CSU's Executive Order 987 (EO 987) and the CSU Sustainability Policy. EO 987 addresses energy consumption, sustainable building practices, and physical plant management for the CSU system. The CSU Sustainability Policy aims not only to reduce the university's impact on the environment and educate our students, faculty and staff on sustainability practices, but also to incorporate sustainability principles and climate science in our educational offerings. |
Timeline for a Workplace Assessment & Certification
1. Identify a department interested in participating, and identify an individual Sustainability Champion within that department.
2. The Sustainability Champion fills out the GWA questionnaire as a self-assessment for the department.
3. Green Campus conducts a pre-consultation with a tour of the building.
4. Green Campus provides a detailed report on ways the department can improve and resources to facilitate improvements and encourage behavioral changes. The department is also awarded a baseline sustainability certification.
5. Green Campus conducts a post-consultation 3 months later.
6. Green Campus awards the department their final sustainability certification: platinum, gold, silver, or green.
2. The Sustainability Champion fills out the GWA questionnaire as a self-assessment for the department.
3. Green Campus conducts a pre-consultation with a tour of the building.
4. Green Campus provides a detailed report on ways the department can improve and resources to facilitate improvements and encourage behavioral changes. The department is also awarded a baseline sustainability certification.
5. Green Campus conducts a post-consultation 3 months later.
6. Green Campus awards the department their final sustainability certification: platinum, gold, silver, or green.
Role of Office Sustainability Champion
A Sustainability Champion (SC) is a volunteer from the office that Green Campus is consulting with who helps assess office spaces and identifies opportunities for improvement. They are required to be available for an initial meeting to discuss the GWA program, complete the GWA checklist on behalf of their department, and, later, accompany Green Campus on a walk-through of their department to verify results and identify any additional opportunities for improvement not initially recorded.
The SC plays a vital role in the workplace for several reasons. After the GWA process is completed, Green Campus leaves the office, whereas the SC has a permanent role in the workplace. SC's can help identify behaviors that can be changed and support workplace members in achieving them. Additionally, the SC becomes a resource of information for the workplace and develops a connection with Green Campus for future collaboration.
The SC plays a vital role in the workplace for several reasons. After the GWA process is completed, Green Campus leaves the office, whereas the SC has a permanent role in the workplace. SC's can help identify behaviors that can be changed and support workplace members in achieving them. Additionally, the SC becomes a resource of information for the workplace and develops a connection with Green Campus for future collaboration.
Objectives of Green Workplace Assessment
1. Assess current levels of office-wide use and impact of energy, water, associated cost, and pounds of carbon dioxide.
2. Implement educational tools to increase behavior change in the office.
3. Conduct post-consultation.
4. Improve office-wide savings.
2. Implement educational tools to increase behavior change in the office.
3. Conduct post-consultation.
4. Improve office-wide savings.
History of Green Workplace Assessment
PowerSave Campus started the Green Workplace Assessment Certification Program (GWACP) in fall 2011. GWACP is designed to raise awareness to HSU faculty and staff community regarding energy efficiency and sustainable practices that can be implemented in their offices. This program aims to create a balance between the work and natural environment through energy improvements and behavior modification. It also aims to motivate campus members to initiate innovative, new solutions to reduce our energy consumptions.
"Students Give the Grades with Green Campus Program" on HumboldtNOW, February 2012
Contact Hester Aw at [email protected] with questions or interest!