USU Green Office Program
The Green Office Program is an initiative to foster sustainable office behavior at USU. The program invites collaboration between the Green Office Program Assistant and the Office’s Green Team by completing the certification process. Throughout the certification, areas that need improvement as well as areas where the offices are succeeding are brought to light. From there, the office’s green team and coordinator set goals of how to improve further.
How does my office become certified?
Contact us at the button below to fill out the form and get started with our Green Office Program Assistant. We'll be in touch!
Levels of Certification
| Certification Level | Percent Completed |
|---|---|
| Certified | 50% earned of total points |
| Silver | 65% |
| Gold | 80% |
| Platinum | 95% |
Currently Certified Offices
Platinum Certified Offices
None yet
Gold Certified Offices
- Geosciences Department: Ellen Imler
- History Department: Lawrence Culver, Seth Archer, Chris Conte
- Sustainability Office/CCE: Kate Stephens
- Outdoor Recreation Program: Greg Davis
Silver Certified Offices
- Aggie Blue Bikes: Avery Cronyn
- Facilities Administration and Facilities Customer Service: Kristen Walton
- QCNR Dean's Complex: Janelle Perry, Patsy Palacios
- Quinney Library: Sydney Southers, Patsy Palacios
Green Certified Offices
- Environment & Society: Becky Hirst
- Facilities Planning, Design & Construction: Caitlin McLennan
- Office of Global Engagement: Rachel Bernardo, Nancy Hyde, Kathleen Fretwell, Janis Boettinger
- SNAC Pantry: Erin Lundberg
- Watershed Sciences: Enid Kelley, Patsy Palacios
- Wildland Resources: Marsha Bailey, Patsy Palacios
Frequently Asked Questions
Waste Reduction & Recycling
Battery collection bins are around campus, including in front of the TSC copy center and near the entrance to the library. The recycling center website has a complete list of battery recycling locations or Google “USU battery recycling.”
- If your old electronics are owned by the university, contact USU Surplus before disposing of them.
- If they are not functional, Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) takes campus-generated e-waste. You can schedule a pickup with Environmental Health and Safety or Google “USU EHS Assistant.”
- If your old personal electronics are not functional, Logan Landfill takes personal e-waste for free.
- If your old light bulbs are still functional, contact USU Surplus before disposing of them.
- If your old light bulbs are not functional, the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department takes them. You can schedule a pickup with EHS or Google “USU EHS Assistant.”
- Reducing and reusing saves energy involved in manufacturing all materials and cuts down on waste that cannot be recycled.
- Recycle white and colored office paper that is free of grease or other food waste, including glossy paper, cardstock, and paperboard.
- Recycle clean plastics #1 and #2 only. Other plastics are not recyclable at USU.
- Recycle clean steel and aluminum cans.
*If you have glass, please bring it to the recycling center (or place it in normal trash bins). If placed in campus recycling bins, it can become a cut and safety hazard.
- For campus composting, a drop off bin is located near the Natural Resources building and on the Taggart Student Center Patio.
- For home composting, the City of Logan offers green waste composting during warm months. For food waste, Extension Sustainability provides tips for setting up your own system, or you can hire a local operator to pick-up your compost.
Best Practices
What are some of the most important things I can do to be more sustainable?
- You can make your own cleaner by mixing white vinegar with water (half and half) in a spray bottle and using reusable rags or old t-shirts to wipe down surfaces. When buying cleaning supplies, you can look for supplies that are Green Seal, Ecologo, or EPA DfE certified.
- You can request our Custodial Teams start using Stabilized Acqueous Ozone in your building by contacting your area coordinator.
- Transportation is one of the most carbon-intensive daily activities for many people.
- Opt for webinars or teleconferencing when possible.
- If you need to be somewhere in person, consider the lowest carbon options. Walking or biking on campus, or taking the bus to go longer distances.
- Carpool whenever you can to reduce the amount of single-occupancy vehicles on the road.
- If flying is necessary, try to select non-stop flights (as launch and landing use the most fuel) and offset your carbon emissions by donating to the USU Carbon Offset Fund.
- Heating and cooling use large amounts of energy as well. Personal heaters and cooling devices are particularly inefficient. Follow USU Policy 525.
- Choose Energy Star appliances.
- Discontinue the use of space heaters and personal minifridges.
- Dress for the season and set your thermostat warmer in the summer (over 70°) and cooler in the winter (under 70°) to make your space comfortable.
- Close windows and blinds at night to save significant amounts of energy as windows can let significant amounts of heat in and out.
- Shut fume hoods when they aren’t in use.