The Green Office Survey

Welcome! The Green Office Recognition Program acknowledges offices and departments at Princeton University that have taken voluntary steps to integrate sustainability principles into their everyday practices, ranging from resource conservation to community-building activities. All participants will be recognized for contributing to the collective impact of Princeton’s sustainability efforts through the Office of Sustainability’s communications channels.

New participants may join the program on a rolling basis, and recognition will be valid for two academic years.

The Green Office Survey

The following survey should be completed by an office or department representative based on practices within the past 12 months.

Office or department: Click here to enter text.

Date completed:Click here to enter a date.

Representative: Click here to enter text.

Campus email: Click here to enter text.

Campus phone: Click here to enter text.

Campus Address: Click here to enter text.

Number of FTEs in the office or department (Please note: Survey answers should only apply to the office or department’s FTEs): Click here to enter text.

How Scoring Works:

· Points are assigned in three categories: (1) standard; (2) community-building; and (3) innovation bonus. Point values range from 1-4, depending on ease of implementation.

· Offices/Departments may earn up to 5 additional points from the innovation bonus category. Each earned bonus point increases the overall score by 1 point. Innovation points are subject to approval by the Office of Sustainability.

· Answers that are not applicable (N/A) will not count against the total score.

· Scores are intended to help offices/departments gauge areas for improvement.

ENERGY

1. Lights that are not on motion sensors are turned off when rooms are unoccupied.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

2. Appropriate electronics are turned off or are unplugged when they are not in use. See a list of electronics that continue to draw energy even when they are turned off. Note: A power strip can be used to turn off multiple electronics at once.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

3. Task lighting is outfitted with light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

4. Occupied spaces* are heated to 68 in the winter and cooled to 78 in the summer in accordance with University guidelines. *except in research labs and other locations which require specific temperature ranges.

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

Maximum possible points: Standard = 10

TRANSPORTATION

1. How does your office commute to work for all or the majority of the time?

(Scoring: 0-25% of the department/office: 1 point; 25-50%: 2 points; 50-75%: 3 points; 75-100%: 4 points)

-Total # of FTEs in the office or department Click here to enter text.

-Total # of regular bikers/walkers Click here to enter text.

-Total # of people that regularly use public transportation Click here to enter text.

-Total # of people that regularly carpool to work Click here to enter text.

-Total # of people that regularly drive a high fuel efficiency (above 45 mpg) or electric vehicle Click here to enter text.

2. Information on carpooling, mass transit and other Transportation Demand Management (TDM) programs and incentives are clearly communicated to all staff members.

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points)

If Yes, how is this information communicated? Click here to enter text.

3. Office or Department or staff member(s) has Enterprise CarShare membership to allow employees to take public transportation to work and have a car available for appointments during the day.

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points)

4. Telecommuting isused as asubstitutefor meetings thatrequire travel.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

Maximum possible points: Standard = 10

FOOD

1. Food purchased for all or the majority of meetings is primarily local, sustainable and/or organic. View our Green Your Event page for more information.

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

2. Food purchased for all or the majority of meetings or events is vegetarian and/or vegan.

☐ Yes (2 points) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

3. Drink Local filtered water station(s) or other tap water sources are used rather than bottled water. Note: filtered tall spouts are available upon request for certain types of fountains and sinks. Please contact us at for details.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

4. Fresh leftover food is distributed rather than thrown away (e.g. in the building or through the Free Food listserv).
☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

5. Eco-friendly dining products and utensils are requested from caterers (e.g. biodegradable or recycled-content).

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

6. Pitchers of water rather than bottled water are used at events/meetings.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

7. Reusable dining materials (e.g. plates, mugs, water bottles, etc.) are used by a majority of staff.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

8. All or the majority of staff have meals together (e.g. in the office, at the Princeton Farmers’ Market, etc.)

☐ Always (4 points, 1 Community-Building Point) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

If applicable, what is your favorite gathering spot? Click here to enter text.

Maximum possible points: Standard = 27 points; Community-Building = 1 point

INDOOR ENVIRONMENT

1. Department or office has live plants that can help to filter indoor air pollutants. View list of common houseplants that have been found to be effective in helping to clean indoor air.

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points)

2. No- or low-odor white board markers are used.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

3. Environmentally-preferable cleaners and/or air fresheners are used.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

Maximum possible points: Standard = 9 points

PURCHASING

1. Furniture and/or equipment is obtained from University Surplus rather than purchased new whenever possible.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

2. Environmentally-preferable office supplies are selected when choosing between products on the Marketplace system.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

3. When reused furniture is not an option from University Surplus, environmentally-preferable items are chosen (e.g. furniture made with recycled and nontoxic materials).
☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

Maximum possible points: Standard = 12 points

WASTE REDUCTION

(For questions relevant to food-related waste reduction, see “FOOD”)

1. Staff members print double-sided documents either manually or through default printer settings.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

2. Used office supplies (e.g. hanging files, folders, binders, etc.) are reused or shared with other offices.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

☐ N/A

3. Acceptable items are donated to University Surplus. Note: OIT picks up, reuses and recycles large electronic waste (e.g. computers, laptops, printers, fax machines, office phones, etc.).

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

4. When University Surplus is not an option, acceptable items are donated to local charities/thrift stores.

☐ Yes (2 points) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

5. Documents related to daily within-office activities are emailed or shared electronically rather than printed.

☐ Always (4 points) ☐ Often (3 points) ☐ Sometimes (2 points) ☐ Rarely (1 point) ☐ Never (0 points)

6. Scrap paper is made available for writing and printing as appropriate in the office.

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

7. Information on what is recyclable is clearly communicated to all staff members.

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points)

If Yes, how is this information communicated? Click here to enter text.

8. Recycling bins are used properly the majority of the time. Note: typically sorting facilities can accept around 10 percent “contamination.”

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points)

9. Ink/toner cartridges are recycled. Note: A recycling bin can be requested by contacting the University’s WB Mason representative, Jim Robertson at or 609-783-7481.

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

10. Office or department has a centralized printing station(s) rather than individual printers.

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

11. Waste reduction stickers are displayed on paper towel dispensers in restrooms utilized by office or department. Contact for stickers.

☐ Yes (2 point) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

Maximum possible points: Standard = 22 points

WATER

(For questions relevant to drinking water, see “FOOD”)

Note: Low-flow sink and toilet fixtures are installed throughout campus. If you know of a restroom without (or malfunctioning) low-flow fixtures, please contact Customer Service at 8-8000.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

1. All or the majority of staff members participate in a University-sponsored civic engagement (community service) activity at least one time per year (e.g. Community and Regional Affairs’ Annual Business Clothing Drive, etc.).

☐ Yes (2 points; 1 Community-Building point) ☐ No (0 points)

If Yes, please list the activity: Click here to enter text.

2. Office or Department organizes its own civic engagement (community service) activity at least one time per year. (e.g. campus Garden Project work day, local stream clean-up, etc.)

☐ Yes (2 points; 1 Community-Building point) ☐ No (0 points)

If Yes, please list the activity: Click here to enter text.

3. Office or Department partners with student group(s) or outside organization(s) on sustainability related activity at least one time per year. (e.g. campus Garden Project work day, local stream clean-up, clothing drive, etc.)

☐ Yes (2 points; 1 Community-Building point) ☐ No (0 points)

If Yes, please list the activity: Click here to enter text.

Maximum possible points: Standard = 6 points; Community-Building = 3 points

COMMUNICATIONS

1. Information on the University’s Sustainability Goals and Progress is clearly communicated to all staff members.

☐ Yes (2 points) ☐ No (0 points)

If Yes, how is this information communicated? Click here to enter text.

2. Office or Department has a Sustainability Ambassador.

☐ Yes (2 points) ☐ No (0 points)

3. Office or Department shares information with its staff members on its sustainability efforts at least annually (e.g. at “lunch and learn” or similar sessions).

☐ Yes (2 points) ☐ No (0 points)

If Yes, how is this information communicated? Click here to enter text.

4. Office or Department website references sustainability and/or links to Sustainability website.

☐ Yes (2 points) ☐ No (0 points) ☐ N/A

5. All or the majority staff members have taken a campus Green Tour.

☐ Yes (2 points) ☐ No (0 points)

6. All or the majority of staff members have visited the GreenSpace kiosk in Frist Campus Center

☐ Yes (2 points) ☐ No (0 points)

7. Information on how to stay connected with Princeton’s sustainability efforts online is clearly communicated to all staff members. Communication channels include:

· Sustainability E-Newsletter

· Office of Sustainability Facebook page

· Office of Sustainability Twitter @tigersgogreen

· Office of Sustainability Instagram @tigersgogreen

☐ Yes (1 point) ☐ No (0 points)

If Yes, how is this information communicated? Click here to enter text.

8. Staff members subscribe to and/or follow one or more of the following:

Sustainability E-Newsletter

Office of Sustainability Facebook page

Office of Sustainability Twitter (@tigersgogreen)

Office of Sustainability Instagram (@tigersgogreen)

☐ 0 staff members (0 points) ☐ 0-25% of staff members (1 point)

☐ 25-50% of staff members (2 points) ☐ 50-75% of staff members (3 points)

☐ 75-100% of staff members (4 points)

Maximum possible points: Standard = 17 points

INNOVATION: BONUS POINTS

Offices and Departments can earn up to 5 additional bonus points for sustainability initiatives not listed above, subject to approval. Here are some examples:

· Facilities Department staff collects coffee grounds as part of a “Grounds for Gardens” initiative in which individual staff takes the grounds home to their home compost piles and gardens on a regular basis.

· A McGraw Center staff member collects food scraps from the office to take home for composting.

· The Marquand Library placed small labels on its computer monitors to alert users to turn off monitors when not in use, with noticeable increased participation.

Please describe your innovation below:

Click here to enter text. (1 point)

Maximum possible points: Innovation Bonus = 5 points

Thank you for your participation in the Green Office Recognition Program!

Please submit your completed survey to Lisa Nicolaison ().

Your scores and feedback will be shared within 14 days of submission.

To be completed by the Office of Sustainability:

Total Standard Points Click here to enter text. / 113 Maximum

Total Community-Building Points Click here to enter text. / 4 Maximum

Total Innovation Bonus Points Click here to enter text. / 5 Maximum

Total Combined Score Click here to enter text. / 122 Combined

Feedback: Click here to enter text.

Calculated by Click here to enter text.

Date Click here to enter a date.