Green Certifications
GREEN OFFICE CERTIFICATION
The Office of Sustainability has partnered with students in the Honors Service Learning course within the Virginia Tech Honors College to host the Green Office Certification program. The program gives faculty, staff, and students the tools they need to work in more sustainable office areas.
By participating, you will help work towards the Climate Action Commitment and contribute towards the university’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) rating while saving money and resources for your office. You will also lead by example and inspire sustainable behavior change in your colleagues’ everyday lives. As a Green Office Representative, you will be added to a growing network of campus sustainability champions.
Each office will identify a Green Representative who will complete a training session through the Office of Sustainability. In this training, they will gain the skills and knowledge to create a greener workplace. Once the Green Representative completes the training, they will unlock the Green Office Certification tool and work with colleagues to complete sustainability criteria over the course of the semester. Offices are scored in the following categories: Events and Meetings, Energy, Recycling and Waste Reduction, Purchasing, Transportation, and Innovation.
- Once you've worked through the certification tool, your office will receive:
- A digital certificate outlining your certification status (bronze, silver, gold, or platinum) to print and hang in a common area
- Acknowledgement of your certification level on this webpage
- Ongoing support to maintain and advance your Green Office status
- Access to network of Green Representatives from across the university
Anyone who has an office on campus may participate, including student worker office spaces. Generally, groups of individuals who share common spaces (kitchens, break rooms, mail rooms, or printing rooms) are considered an “office.” It may include just one or all of the offices within a unit or division. You may have an office of 6 people or 60 people — all sizes are welcome to participate. Note that this certification is only appropriate for office spaces, not for lab space, residential spaces, or performance venues. There is a separate certification for lab spaces through Environmental Health and Safety.
If you are interested in becoming your office’s Green Representative, you will need to complete a short training session. To learn more, contact sustainability@vt.edu. If you are working remotely, but would still like to participate, please let us know. The Office of Sustainability can support you in greening your home office too.
Alternative Transportation Department - Gold Certification
Women's Center at Virginia Tech - Silver Certification
Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health (Roanoke Office) - Gold Certification
Student Affairs Project Management Department - Silver Certification
Services for Students with Disabilities - Gold Certification
Department of Religion and Culture - Gold Certification
Lab Support and Sterilization Services at the Center for One Health Research - Gold Certification
Lab Support and Sterilization Services at the Integrated Life Sciences Building - Gold Certification
Lab Support and Sterilization Services at Phase II - Gold Certification
Procurement - Bronze Certification
Office of Sustainability - Platinum Certification
Department of Management - Gold Certification
Office of the University Bursar - Bronze Certification
Dining Services, Owens 200 - Platinum Certification
Congratulations and thank you for your commitment to making sustainable work spaces.
GREEN LAB CERTIFICATION
The Green Lab Certification program empowers laboratory staff and students to contribute directly to the university's sustainability goals. By participating, labs can reduce their environmental impact while aligning with Virginia Tech's Climate Action Commitment.
The goal of this program is to help employees and students working in labs to reduce their footprint and environmental impact on campus. Virginia Tech's Climate Action Commitment outlines goals surrounding energy efficiency, waste minimization, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The Green Lab Certification categories align with Virginia Tech's Climate Action Commitment goals to allow participants to play a direct role in its implementation.
If you work in a laboratory space and are interested in getting your Green Lab Certification, contact Environmental Health and Safety.
THE FREEZER CHALLENGE
Virginia Tech is participating in the Freezer Challenge from January 1, 2025, to July 1, 2025. Let's engage in some friendly competition!
The Freezer Challenge is a global opportunity for labs with cold storage to improve their sustainability and energy efficiency by cleaning out their freezers, adjusting temperature setpoints, and educating lab participants. The 2025 Freezer Challenge is being supported by the Office of Sustainability’s Energy Team Interns.
The Freezer Challenge is part of an international initiative. Participants in the 2023 Freezer Challenge saved acombined 20.7 million kWh/year as a result oftheir actions — equal to avoiding 14,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Get your laboratory engaged with doing science in more sustainable ways! The Freezer Challenge benefits your research and the planet.
Interest form: https://forms.office.com/r/pf8SjhknLD
Official registration for the Freezer Challenge opens on January 1st, 2025. Fill out the interest form to receive updates. Follow our Instagram @vtsustainable to keep up with us! If you have any questions, email sustainability@vt.edu.