Offices across 91亚色 are turning green.
The is a new initiative that is designed to help offices at 91亚色 incorporate a variety of sustainable practices into day-to-day operations and recognize those offices already doing so.
鈥淚 am proud that offices at 91亚色 are adopting the Green Office Program,鈥 says 91亚色 President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri.聽 鈥淭his commitment will help us maintain our high standard as responsible stewards of the environment for future generations.鈥
The program focuses on dozens of actions in key areas such as waste, energy, transportation, purchasing and "change", and provides guidance on how to make sustainable choices that contribute to achieving 91亚色鈥檚 overall sustainability goals. The checklist also allows offices to gauge how they are doing on sustainability, and to determine what areas they can improve upon.
鈥淭he Green Office Program is a natural extension of sustainability programs like ZeroWaste,鈥 said Helen Psathas, 91亚色's senior manager of environmental design and sustainability.聽 鈥淭here are many ways for the community to contribute to sustainability at 91亚色 by doing simple things each and every day, and we hope that many offices participate in this program to help us meet our sustainability targets.鈥
Office tri-bins are used to separate items that can be recycled from garbage
The interactive checklist includes many links with tips and resources on energy conservation, instructions on recycling and composting, green purchasing suggestions and a wide variety of other information that will enable faculty, staff and students to learn more about how they can contribute to 91亚色鈥檚 success as a leader on sustainability in Canada.
Participating in the Green Office Program is easy. Simply visit the website and click on the Green Office button to download a copy of the checklist. Complete the checklist with other members of your office and submit for review. All offices that receive a minimum score will be certified and recognized as a Green Office.
鈥淲hat we like about the Green Office Program is that many resources on sustainability can be found in one place,鈥 said Glenn Craney, executive director, Office of Institutional Research & Analysis, and one of the first offices to sign up for the program.聽 鈥淪ustainability can be a complex issue, and it can also seem like someone else鈥檚 responsibility. We appreciate the way that this program makes it easier for us to do our part.鈥
For more information on the Green Office Program and other sustainability initiatives at 91亚色, visit the website, or contact Andrew Plunkett, sustainability project coordinator, at aplunket@yorku.ca, or Pavel Graymason, sustainability engagement coordinator, at pavel@york.ca.