Green Office Program

Champion sustainability at your workplace

Sustainability is more than just a buzzword, it is a philosophy that can be integrated into your everyday operations. The promotion of employee health, reduction of waste and resource use will help ensure we can continue to sustain the work we do, day in and day out. As faculty, staff and student employees, you can be the driving force for sustainability in your workplace. 

IUPUI Sustainability is proud to launch a new initiative through which individual office units can pitch in to reduce our collective carbon footprint. The following green office guide is intended to assist faculty, staff, and student workers in employing sustainable practices at their workplace.

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Do you have questions about forming a Green Team or applying for Green Office Certification?

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NEW: Green Office Certification Program

The Green Office Program was created to empower and recognize individual office units for their voluntary adoption of sustainable practices in their everyday operations. By forming a Green Team, your office will be creating a bridge with IUPUI Sustainability, whereby you'll receive updates, resources and support to advance your efforts of workplace sustainability.

You can reach certification in 3 easy steps

  1. Get Support and Commitment
  2. Form a Green Team
  3. Complete and Submit the Application Form

Step 1: Get Support and Commitment

All sustainability initiatives require cooperation. Talk to your leadership and office mates to cultivate interest, support and commitment towards participating in the program. Your office leadership and at least 75% of staff must have expressed support to be eligible for Green Office Certification. 

Step 2: Form a Green Team

A Green Team is a group of faculty, staff and student employees within a particular office unit who work collectively to promote sustainable practices within their workplace.

Staff and faculty in all positions from all levels of management and operations can be a part of the Green Team. The more representation throughout the department, the better! Additionally, having members with a knowledge of building operations, departmental finance, departmental management, or ties to departmental student organizations will help teams in their efforts to achieve realistic and meaningful goals. 

To be an eligible Green Team, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Must be an IUPUI department or an office unit within a department
  • Office must have two or more full-time employees 
  • Green Team must have a minimum of two members
  • Green Team must limit to one student per office
  • Must renew every 2 years to maintian certification

The Green Team Leader serves as a liaison between their department/office and the IUPUI Office of Sustainability. Leaders plan strategically, communicate with the appropriate parties within the office, and mobilize Green Team Members in order to advance sustainable actions in their departments.

The Green Team Members will assist in stategic planning and coordination of sustainability initiatives, communicate plans and progress to office staff, and maintain momentum for sustainable actions in their departments. 

Step 3: Complete and Submit the Application Form

Once you're ready, complete the following form to register your Green Team and apply for Green Office Certification. Based on the sustainable practices you have completed or committed to take on, your workplace will receive one of four Green Office Certifications: Seed, Sprout, Sapling, and Tree.

Submit the Application Form