Written by Office of Sustainability Green Office associate, Sofia Martinez, Class of 2026
WashU’s environment includes numerous offices and labs. When considering the university’s environmental impact, these spaces are important to consider, as they consume energy, use materials, and generate waste. By certifying with the Green Office Program, employees across the university can make a measurable difference in reducing their office’s impact, all while supporting the university’s broader sustainability goals.
Coordinated by the Office of Sustainability and endorsed by Resource Management, the Green Office Program is designed to help offices across WashU’s campuses become leaders in sustainability. Whether you’re looking to reduce waste, conserve energy, or improve your office’s environmental practices, the program offers the tools and guidance to make it easy. The Green Labs Program follows a similar structure that is applied to offices, but is tailored to the space and environmental impact present within labs.
Participation in the Green Office Program is open to all offices at WashU. Start by completing the self-assessment checklist and discover the small changes that can lead to big results. You can find more information on the Green Office Program here and reach out to Office of Sustainability to get involved!
Our colleagues across the university are finding ways to bring the sustainability ethos into the work that they do. The spotlight below showcases the journey of one Green Office Liaison who coordinated the certification of two workspaces within his sphere of influence.
Green Office Spotlight
This year, the Green Office Program celebrated the remarkable achievements of dozens of offices across the university, including certifying the Student Technology Services and Tech Den offices at the Platinum level for the 2023 certification cycle. This outstanding accomplishment is largely due to dedicated office teams under the leadership of Mark Wilensky, who revitalized his office’s engagement with the program and guided the Tech Den to its first-ever certification. We had the opportunity to speak with Mark about his experience with the Green Office Program and his approach to integrating sustainability into both his professional and personal life. Mark views participation in the program as a meaningful way to align his environmental values with tangible actions in the workplace. As part of the Green Office certification and under Mark’s guidance, the offices set ambitious sustainability goals, including transitioning to Fair Trade coffee and adopting ENERGY STAR-approved appliances.
Mark saw the Green Office Program as an opportunity to easily incorporate his care for the environment into his own workplace. Mark believed that the detailed steps to certification facilitate a smooth process that led to his office being more environmentally aware on a day-to-day basis. The success of Student Technology Services and the Tech Den illustrates how offices can contribute to a more sustainable future.
More resources on bringing sustainability into your work space: