This week, the Office of Electrical and Computer Engineering was awarded a gold level certification within the Sustainable Office Program. They are the 27th office to be certified since the program was created in Spring 2015.
The Sustainable Office Program is a voluntary, self-guided program designed for staff and faculty to take the lead on promoting environmental practices in the workplace. To earn their gold certification, Electrical and Computer Engineering completed 92 actions in categories including ‘Participation & Engagement,’ Climate & Energy,’ Food & Dining,’ ‘Purchasing,’ Community Building & Social Equity,’ ‘Transportation,’ ‘Waste,’ ‘Water,’ and ‘Events & Meetings.’ Many of these actions are ongoing, and the office will continue habits that reduce its environmental footprint and contribute toward Lehigh’s sustainability goals.
The Sustainable Office Representative for Electrical and Computer Engineering is Jessica Berton. When asked why she wanted her office to be certified in the Sustainable Office Program, Jessica said, “We decided to join the Sustainable Office Program because every little bit matters. We have the ability here to make a direct change in our office when it comes to reducing waste, purchasing environmentally friendly office supplies and conserving energy. It was a great opportunity to really look at our actions and practices in our office and to see where we can make significant changes. I think the Sustainable Office Program is so important and that all offices should join. Together we can make a difference and improve our environment on campus!”
As we congratulate Electrical and Computer Engineering on achieving gold certification, we encourage them to share the news with their colleagues and encourage other offices to join the program. We look forward to seeing other offices and departments get certified. If your office is interested in participating in the program, please fill out a registration form. A Sustainable Office team member will further discuss the program with your office before beginning.