Fuqua Dean's Office is a Green Workplace

The Dean's Office of the Fuqua School of Business has achieved the Duke Green Workplace Certification, bringing the total to 49 certified workplaces and over 1,100 staff working in certified workplaces at Duke.  The Green Workplace Certification recognizes work areas that formally assess how they are reducing their environmental footprint.

The Fuqua Dean's Office earned certification for 11 staff by completing 44 out of 58 items on the certification checklist.  Staff are careful to save energy by turning off lights and electronics, as well as using energy saving modes on their computers.  The department aggregates purchases to order in bulk and purchases recycled content products when possible. Meetings organized by the Dean's Office staff are made more sustainable by using reusable mugs, bottles, silverware and dishware, as well as reducing packaging for food items.

Staff in the Dean's Office get creative with their sustainability efforts.  They eliminated paper holiday cards, instead sending electronic greetings to alumni, advisory board members, donors and others.

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.