What is a Green Steward?

A steward can be any office member with a particular interest in or knowledge of sustainable habits within the workplace. Taking on the role of Green Steward is not difficult, but does require open communication with the Program Coordinators. Stewards are charged with the task of completing the program checklist, consulting with the Green Offices Team, and recognizing the actions that need to be taken in order to boost their office to the next certification level.

 

Although we require the designation of at least one Green Steward, larger offices may choose to designate members to the Green Team to ease the efficiency of implementation.

 

At the end of each certification period, members of the Green Team will be invited to a ceremony to recognize their efforts and those of other participating offices. We welcome any current or prospective participants of Green Offices to accompany the stewards.

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What is an office? 

An office should have two or more people working in the same department. Offices are encouraged to get their department involved, keep them informed and encourage all office members to participate

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What's the time commitment for participating in Green Offices?

An office's designated Green Steward(s) is expected to complete the initial and final Certification Checklist, including gathering necessary information from participating members. Offices may choose to distribute these tasks between participating members or use an electronic data-gathering software such as Google Forms. 

 

How can my office get a point for inspiring another office?

You can earn this point by recruiting another office to participate in the Green Offices program.

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What is the correct way to record points for categories asking number of office members that participate in a certain activity?

Please enter the number of full-time and part-time members that perform the task. The Excel Certification Checklist automatically calculates the difference between full- and part-time employees.

 

What if my office can't get a certain point because of our department or dean's office's rules?

The checklist features a "Not Applicable" choice for points that are unattainable for some offices. Choosing this option will subtract those points from the total possible score so it doesn't count against your certification. 

How can I get an innovation point?

We can award these points to anything sustainable your office has done that is not already on the list. Please specify what you've done on the checklist. 

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How and when does my office recertify?

​Go through the prerequisites, and once completed, fill out the checklist. The checklist is updated each semester based on feedback from offices and changes at UT. If an in office consultation is desired, we would love to meet with you again.

Certification lasts for a year, but an office can recertify each semester. 

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Can my office get more recycling bins? 

Yes, they can be purchased through Central Stores.

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How can I make my event zero waste?

​Resources are available at https://facilitiesservices.utexas.edu/divisions/support/zero-waste.php. In addition, please feel free to reach out at utgreenoffices@austin.utexas.edu so that we can discuss a specific event to ensure a smooth execution.