Helping protect the planet starts with small steps we can all take and at UCSF the first step is to make sure your space is green certified. Did you know that all offices, labs, clinics/units, and events can be green certified?
For a limited time, Office of Sustainability is hosting a table at various UCSF buildings. Come meet the team and learn about the certification process. Confirmed events can be found on calendar.ucsf.edu, and more locations are being added.
“Getting your workspace certified is the best way to get involved with UCSF’s zero waste and decarbonization goals and you’ll be recognized for your efforts,” said UCSF Sustainability Director, Gail Lee. “The certifications are offered year-round, and we recommend workspaces get their certification updated every two years.”
The Green Certification Process is a metric-based tool that helps the UCSF community measure their current involvement with sustainability practices. Sustainability Coordinator Elizabeth Lin said the assessment process helps raise awareness around some of the sustainability challenges staff and faculty may have or are already grappling with. “We can provide the UCSF community with valuable tools and resources to address these issues,” Lin said.
The assessment is broken down into five categories:
- Zero Waste
- Energy Efficiency
- Culture Shift
- Water
- Toxics Reduction
“We want our community to be engaged and involved in our certification program so that we can showcase and celebrate their team’s sustainability efforts,” Lin said. “Sustainability work is really a voluntary effort. There are no sustainability police. It’s an individual’s choice on what to buy – or not to buy – and how to dispose of things. When individuals commit to fostering a culture of improvement, it can make a significant impact. It’s amazing to see some of the extra credit actions that members of the UCSF community have come up with.”
The first step is to fill out the pre-assessment checklist for your lab, office, clinic/unit, or events and send the completed form to Sustainability@Ucsf.edu. If you wish, the pre-assessment walk-through can be done with a member of the sustainability team. Once the form has been reviewed, you will receive recommendations for a range of specific actions to implement to increase your score.
The Sustainability team will then return for a final assessment to confirm what improvements have been made and award points. Certification levels are awarded based on the percentage of the total number of points your group earns. Once the final assessment is complete, the space will be awarded one of four designations:
“There are a number of steps the UCSF community can take to help green their space,” Lee said. “It can be as simple as replacing fume hoods, adding power strips, timers, waste collection bins, participating in composting, or simply talking about different ways to reduce waste during staff meetings.” Those office, lab or clinic/units who schedule their final assessment before May will be presented their certificates at the Annual Sustainability Awards Ceremony with Chancellor Hawgood.
