Behavioral Psychiatry and Undergraduate Financial Aid are Green Workplaces

Behavioral Psychiatry and the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid have earned the Duke Green Workplace Certification, bringing the total to 26 certified workplaces and over 400 staff working in certified workplaces at Duke.  The Green Workplace Certification recognizes work areas that formally assess how they are reducing their environmental footprint.

Behavioral Psychiatry completed 46 items out of 58 possible items on a checklist that measures workplace sustainability.  Behavior Psychiatry staff turn off lights when they are not in use and use powerstrips so that they can easily shut down electronics.  The department has reduced the size of printed publications and uses recycled content paper.  They encourage attendees to bring their own cup or mug to events and seek out local, organic and vegetarian food options.  Staff take home shredded paper to use as mulch in their gardens.  

The Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid achieved 40 out of 58 items on the certification checklist.  Staff turn off computers at night and have set energy saving settings on their computers so that they hibernate when not in use.  Computers are set to default double-sided printing and staff communicate electronically rather than printing when possible.  The office has set a goal of becoming paperless, and starting with the Class of 2012, all files are kept with an electronic software. 

Duke's Office of Sustainability administers the Duke Green Workplace Certification, which begins when a representative from a work area attends the free "Leading for Environmental Sustainability" workshop. As part of the workshop, participants receive 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 at least 40 of the checklist's 58 items can apply for certification and permission to post the Duke Green Workplace seal in its office and on materials.

View a complete list of certified offices and the actions they completed to earn certification.