April 16, 2012
Duke University seeks to attain and maintain a place of leadership in all that we do. This includes leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainability on our campus, in our medical institutions, and in the larger community of which we are a part. In addition to offering new courses for students, staff and professional certificates, Duke University has increased its commitment to Sustainable education and activities.*
The Green Workplace Certification recognizes work areas that formally assess how they are reducing their environmental footprint. Duke's Office of Sustainability administers the process, and participants are rated on a checklist of sustainable practices ranging from double-sided printing to using eco-friendly dishwashing soap in a break room. A work area that can demonstrate it follows a majority of the checklist's required items can apply for certification and permission to post the Duke Green Workplace seal in its office and on materials.
Bethany Day, Assistant Director to the Center for Metamaterials is a member of the Pratt School of Engineering’s “Green Team, Greeningering”. Green Teams start by considering the environmental effects of everyday workplace operations and behavior. As Assistant Director, Day has implemented several practices including the disbursement of an electronic newsletter, compost bins and trash sorting at high profile events and every day meetings and encouraging the use of Duke’s alternative transportation to and around campus for all visitors and staff.
According to Casey Roe, Outreach Coordinator for Sustainable Duke, interest in workplace sustainability has grown quickly at Duke. Day, who attended the "Leading for Environmental Sustainability" is among hundreds who have attended the workshop at the University and have demonstrated committment to creating a more Sustainable work and home environment. "Duke is committed to being carbon neutral by 2024, but a lot of the change will have to come from students, faculty and staff," Roe said. "The Green Workplace Certification helps us recognize those efforts."
For More information on Duke’s Sustainable efforts please visit; http://sustainability.duke.edu
For a full list of departments on campus that have completed Duke's Green workplace certification; http://sustainability.duke.edu/action/greenworkplace/certified.html
Bethany Day, Assistant Director also participated in the "Smackdown Challenge" through Sustainable Duke where her team the Pratt Greengineers prevailed! Placing number one out of 63 teams created by Duke students and staff, the challenge encouraged participants to take weekly quizzes, complete challenges and earn points for "grenn" actions. Read more at "Pratt Team Wins First Green Devil Smackdown".
Remember “Bleed Blue, Live Green”
*Sustainable Duke