What are they?
Oregon State University's three green certification systems contain simple yet effective ways for the OSU community to further its sustainability efforts and get recognition for its hard work. The certifications aim to encourage lasting behavior and create a more inclusive sustainability community at OSU that can encompass all aspects of what it means to be a sustainable beaver!
Click on the icons for each of the three certifications below to see more details about each certification track.
Questions? Contact us at [email protected]
How it Works
All three certifications utilize online Qualtrics surveys to assess existing office, lab, and Greek life practices in areas such as energy, water, waste management, purchasing, transportation, and outreach.
Each survey can be saved and continued at any time, allowing you to complete it at your own pace. Once you start a survey, you can access it from the same computer on which you started, using the same link. If you need a link that can be shared by multiple computers to edit the same survey, please contact us and we'll create a special link for you.
Within the survey you will find resources and links to aid your certification submission.
Once data entry and analysis are complete, we will send your score and certification level, as well as customized recommendations for improvement to reach the next level! After a three month implementation period, you can resubmit and get a new score.
Recognition Levels
All three certifications follow a similar scoring system. After the Sustainability Office has reviewed your submission and scored it, we will provide a manually calculated report showing your office’s current certification level.
Certification levels:
- Copper 50-59%
- Silver 60-69%
- Gold 70-79%
- Platinum 80+%
Categories
- Education & Engagement
- Energy
- Purchasing
- Transportation
- Waste Management
- Water
Recognition Levels
- Platinum (Pt): 80+%
- Gold (Au): 70-79%
- Silver (Ag): 60-69%
- Copper (Cu): 50-59%
Resources & Tips
Green Lab Certifications: Resources and Tips page
Green Office Certifications: Resources and Tips Page
Green Greek Certifications: Tips Page Coming Soon!
These pages include FAQs, resources relating to the six categories, and other outside sources to provide everything you need to reduce your footprint and fill out the survey!
Why Green Certifications?
Sometimes it’s hard to get started on the journey to being more sustainable. All three certifications offer simple steps to get started, track progress, and make that progress visible. The certifications all have something within reach for just about every type of campus entity and allow all members of the university to be able to participate in sustainability initiatives and be awarded and recognized for their hard work to help drive the university towards our Carbon Commitment.
To get started please contact us for your survey link!
We'll have a unique link for you, typically within 48 hours.
If you have any other questions, please e-mail us!
Green Office Certifications
Although each office is different, the Green Office Certification has many simple and effective ways for most OSU faculty and staff to further their sustainability efforts and get recognition. It is intended to provide easy steps your office can take to reduce its environmental footprint and carbon emissions. It is available for all OSU units to use.
Defining the boundaries of your "office" (your certification scope) is important and we can work with you to determine what operations make sense to include. Typically, whole academic colleges or administrative divisions are too large for certification, while units of 3-5 people are often too small. Certification questions require some engagement of unit personnel. In some cases, smaller offices (10-30 people) may be good places to start, and can encourage others within a larger unit, like a school or department, to become certified.
Certified Offices
| Unit | Certification Date | Score |
|---|---|---|
| OSU-Cascades Office of Student Life | June 8, 2021 | 86% |
| Unit | Certification Date | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Sea Grant at HMSC | June 23, 2022 | 75% |
| The Valley Library | May 11, 2020 | 77% |
| Oregon Climate Change Research Institute | July 14, 2020 | 71% |
| Pacific Marine Energy Center | July 14, 2020 | 71% |
| PacWave | July 14, 2020 | 71% |
| Oak Creek Bee Farm | June 5, 2017 | 70% |
| Unit | Certification Date | Score |
|---|---|---|
| School of Psychological Science | December 13, 2016 | 67% |
| Applied Economics Department | March 1, 2021 | 66% |
| University Events | December 1, 2020 | 62% |
| The Honors College | September 26, 2019 | 60% |
| Unit | Certification Date | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Community, Engagement & Leadership | April 13, 2017 | 57% |
| Department of Recreational Sports | June 5, 2017 | 57% |
| Center for Teaching and Learning | September 12, 2019 | 52% |
| College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences | October 9, 2018 | 50% |
| Office of International Services | January 3, 2019 | 50% |
| Procurement, Contracts and Materials Management | May 3, 2017 | 50% |
| West Dining Center Office | April 18, 2017 | 50% |
Green Lab Certifications
Whether a laboratory contains chemicals, computers or almost anything in between, there is something in the Green Labs Certification for just about everyone! The Certification measures sustainability, provides guidance for improvement and recognizes the hard work of OSU lab managers and workers. Green Labs Certification is open to labs at OSU sites throughout the state.
Fun Facts
- OSU receives more research funding than all other universities in Oregon!
- Lab space is typically the most energy and resource intensive type of space on campus and has a very large carbon footprint.
- One 6' fume hood uses the same amount of energy as a typical home in the US. You can help by closing those fume hood sashes!
- Of the 10 million square feet of building space at OSU, over 4 million is designated lab space. WOW!
Certified Labs
None yet!
| Unit | Certification Date | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Arismendi Lab | January 11, 2022 | 71% |
| Goni Lab | August 25, 2020 | 72% |
None yet!
| Unit | Certification Date | Score |
|---|---|---|
| PMEL Helium Isotope Lab | August 25, 2020 | 57% |
| Geomicrobiology Lab | August 25, 2020 | 57% |
Green Office Certification History
The Green Office Certification was created in 2016 as the first program of its type at OSU. It was created through a partnership between the Sustainability Office, Campus Recycling and Transportation Services.
If you are interested in carbon emissions reduction planning or sustainability strategic planning, please see our Unit Level Carbon Planning page.
For questions or comments about the Green Office Certification, please contact the Sustainability Office.
Green Lab Certification History
The Green Labs Certification started as a senior thesis by Honors College student Sally Albright, Class of 2019. The Sustainability Office then adopted and implemented the certification, and administers it today. Read Sally's thesis here!
Sally also starred in a science podcast explaining the role of the Green Lab Certification in making OSU more sustainable. Check out the podcast below!
At This Point · Ep 3. Making Research Sustainable