Back
search_icon
Pitt Green Offices
Pitt Green Labs

Pitt Green Offices

Help advance the University of Pittsburgh’s culture of sustainability in your office, department, or division by becoming a Pitt Green Office!  There are 4 Pitt Green Office designation levels to pursue that help us advance the Pitt Sustainability Plan:

Seed
1–24%
of possible points
Sprout
25–49%
of possible points
Sapling
50–74%
of possible points
Sustainable Oak
75%+
of possible points

As you work to achieve the highest point level possible, the Pitt Green Office designation also provides an opportunity for every Pitt office to become more sustainable with their activities, purchases, decisions, and events!

Is Your Office Going Green?

How does my office participate?

Offices earn points by auditing their current practices and spaces — and reporting which sustainable actions and activities they are taking. Each sustainable practice is assigned a point value based on its impact, ease, and implementation effort.

To become a Pitt Green Office, your office must complete a Self-Assessment Survey that will evaluate your office across 9 different areas:

  • Energy
  • Transportation
  • Purchasing
  • Waste
  • Printing
  • Food
  • Engagement
  • Equity
  • Healthy & Wellbeing

After completing the self-assessment, your office will earn a Pitt Green Office designation to celebrate your determination to helping make Pitt a more sustainable place inside and out!

What do we get if we participate?

Participating offices receive:

  • A door/window deal recognizing you as a Pitt Green Office for the designated year.
  • A plaque/certificate recognizing you as a Pitt Green Office for the designated year.
  • Recognition on the Pitt Sustainability website
  • Recognition at a Pitt Green recognition event

What comprises an “Office”?

For the purposes of the Pitt Green Office program, your office can be your entire office/department/division OR a number of people who share a common space or resources.

Examples: 1) Shared kitchen or a copy room; 2) Co-workers who purchase items together, plan events together, etc. If you have a large department, but your shared work area only consists of 5 people, you can define your area as a Pitt Green Office with OR without the rest of your department as long as your “office” consists of a minimum of 3 people.

If you have questions about which type of office you work in, please email us for assistance.

Ready to Get Started?

Get your “office” together! Determine how many members of your office plan to participate in the Pitt Green Office program.
Review the guide below to familiarize yourself with the action items in the Self-Assessment, and resources available to help you. Use the workbook to track items you've accomplished, and what you'd like to do in the future!
Grow Your Green Office
As an office, review and complete the Pitt Green Office Self-Assessment. This serves as your registration and to calculate your designation level.
Self Assessment
Be sure to enter the name of your University department in the survey, along with the names and emails of the office mates assisting with your self-assessment.
Honestly answer all questions about actions your office is currently undertaking; then, hit submit!
The Pitt Sustainability team will verify your Self-Assessment, reach out with follow-up questions, and let you know what Pitt Green Office level you’ve attained (and what steps you might consider taking next).
To retain and improve your Pitt Green Office status, please plan on re-submitting Self-Assessments once every 2 years. Surveys will be reviewed as received, but will be accepted through December 15 of each calendar year.
Questions?
Email

Not an office, but want to participate?

Learn more about how other Pitt Green programs and how to participate below:

Pitt Green Labs

Help advance the University of Pittsburgh’s culture of sustainability by becoming a Pitt Green Laboratory!  There are 4 Pitt Green Lab designation levels you can pursue that help advance the Pitt Sustainability Plan:

Pitt Green Lab logo
Seed
1–24%
of possible points
Sprout
25–49%
of possible points
Sapling
50–74%
of possible points
Sustainable Oak
75%+
of possible points

The goal is to achieve the highest point level possible while providing an opportunity for every laboratory on campus to become more sustainable with their activities, purchases, and decisions!  Scores will be normalized to take into consideration items that do not apply to your particular laboratory.

Is Your Lab Going Green?

How does my lab participate?

Laboratories earn points by auditing their current practices and spaces — and reporting which sustainable actions and activities they are taking. Each sustainable practice is assigned a point value based on its impact, ease, and implementation cost.

To become a Pitt Green Lab, your laboratory must complete a Self-Assessment Survey with the assistance of your PI that evaluates your office across 7 different areas:

  • Chemicals & Safety
  • Culture of Sustainability
  • Energy Consumption & Equipment Maintenance
  • Innovation Actions
  • Lab Recycling
  • Purchasing
  • Water Conservation

After completing the self-assessment, your laboratory will earn 1 of 4 Pitt Green Laboratory designations to celebrate your determination to helping make our campus a more sustainable place inside and out!

What do we get if we participate?

Participating labs will receive:

  • A door/window deal recognizing you as a Pitt Green Lab for the designated year.
  • A plaque recognizing you as a Pitt Green Lab for the designated year.
  • Recognition on the Pitt Sustainability website.
  • Recognition at the Pitt Green recognition event.

What comprises a “lab”?

For the purposes of the Pitt Green Labs program, a lab is a room or space equipped for scientific experiments, research, and/or teaching.

If you have questions about whether or not you are eligible for the Pitt Green Labs program, please email us.

Ready to Get Started?

Create a group consisting of your PI and other lab members that want to participate in the Pitt Green Labs program.
Review the Pitt Green Lab Resources Guide alongside the Pitt Green Labs Self-Assessment Overview to better understand what item means and their importance!
Resource Guide
As a group, review and complete the Pitt Green Lab Self-Assessment. Make sure to mark which items in each category DO NOT apply to your lab due to the nature of your research (monetary restrictions do not justify a "does not apply" response).
Self Assessment
The Pitt Sustainability team will verify your Self-Assessment, reach out with any follow-up questions, and let you know which Pitt Green Lab level you’ve attained (and what steps you might consider taking next).
To retain and improve your Pitt Green Lab status, please plan on re-submitting every 2 years. Surveys will be reviewed as received.
Questions? Email the Office of Sustainability
Email

Check out a number of lab sustainability efforts on campus:

 

Not an laboratory, but want to participate?

Learn more about other Pitt Green programs and how to participate below: