The University of California, Merced prides itself on trying to activate every member of the community in the quest to become a completely sustainable campus. To programs that have been created to enlist faculty and staff are, The Green Labs Program and The Green Offices Program.
New employee orientation presents employees with their first glimpses into how committed this campus is to sustainability.
Orientation is held the first Friday of every month and includes a 20-minute presentation on the importance of sustainability. That introduction provides the basic foundations of campus sustainability initiatives and explains how they are important to ongoing UC Merced management.
In addition, new employees learn how they can play indispensable rolse in reaching campus sustainability goals. During the presentation, we introduce the Sustainability Strategic Plan as UC Merced's roadmap to incorporating and exapnding sustainability practices throughout the campus. Campus leaders encourage all employees to embrace the many opportunities to collaborate across campus and support UC Merced's green goals.
Green Lab Program
Created by My Green Lab, the Green Lab program works with individual laboratories and researchers to inform, collect best practices, and assess areas of improvement in research efficiency, including engagement, and targeted initiatives around efficiency in natural resources and other environmental issues. This is part of the University of California Green Lab Action Plan. Labs who want to participate in the Green Lab initiative will be asked to take an online assessment to identify which best practices they are already doing that help reduce the environmental impact of their work. Once the assessment is completed, the Office of Sustainability will provide the lab with simple recommendations for ways the lab can be more sustainable. ONce these recommendations are implemented and completed, the lab will be presented a certification of Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. To date, we have five labs certified. One certified platinum, two certified gold, and two certified silver.
If you're interested in taking the assessment, please follow the link to complete the assessment. Note that the assessment may be accessed up multiple times from the same computer. All sections are saved by clicking 'next' at the bottom of the page. The assessment cannot be changed or accessed again once you click 'submit'. A sample assessment is available here. For more information please contact Mark Maxwell at mmaxwell@ucmerced.edu or contact me by phone at (209)675-8356
James Whalen (Biology Instructional Labs) - Certified Platinum
Mike Dawson - Certified Gold
Benjamin Stokes (The Stokes Lab) - Certified Gold
Katrina Hoyer - Certified Silver
Rebecca Ryals - Certified Silver
Green Office Program
The Green Office Program at Uc Merced recognizes departments, units, and offices that have integrated sustainability practices into their work space. Through an initial self-assessment questionnaire completed by the participant(s) which is then submitted to the Department of Sustainability, applicants will be notified of the state of their department, including existing sustainability practices and opportunities for improvement. Applicants will be informed on the most sustainable practices that can be integrated into their work space, creating a community that reflects environmental stewardship. Once the self assessment questionnaire has been completed, and feedback provided by the Department of Sustainability, and evaluation walk-through will be scheduled to certify the office space.
The program is poin-based and provides and opportunity for departments to evaluate their current practices, set goals, and receive recognition for their sustainable practices. The program evaluates the following areasL energy and climate, waste and recycling, transporation, purchasing, outreach and events. Qualifying departments will be certified under one of the following certification levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. Certification levels will be determined based on the total evaluation walk-through score.
If your office is interested in participating in the Green Offices Program, please contact Carline Coleman at ccoleman8@ucmerced.edu for more information. For an example assessment, please click here.
We would like to congratualte the following offices f or completing the Green Offices certifiation:
Chancellor's Office - Certified Platinum
School of Engineering Dean's Office - Certified Platinum
Associated Students of UC Merced Office - Certified Gold
Math Center Office - Certified Gold
Peter Arroyo, Housing Department Manager - Certified Bronze
