Olivia Kirkland, PROPS Program Coordinator

The Sustainability Office collaborates with students, staff, and faculty to implement projects

which work to institutionalize sustainability and bring UCSC closer to reaching the goals

outlined in the Campus Sustainability Plan.

The UCSC Sustainability Office works to foster a culture

of sustainability across the UCSC campus. 

Funding Sources for PROPS

• Student Fee measures:– UCSC Carbon Fund– UCSC Campus Sustainability Council (CSC)

PROPS OverviewThe Sustainability Office's Green Office Certification Program, PROPS, works with UCSC's faculty and staff to implement sustainable practices into the workplace. This is accomplished through: • Creating a Green Team• Office Energy, Waste, and Sustainable Behavior

Assessments• Educational Workshops and Commitment Plans• Certification based upon Assessment Results

Step 1: Create a Green Team• Consists of 2-4 staff from the office

 • Their main responsibility is to act

as a liaison between the office and PROPS staff.

*The Green Team should be comprised of staff whom have a genuine interest in both encouraging their peers to make the move towards sustainability and in

setting a prime example of how a sustainable staff should manage

oneself.* 

Step 2: Conduct Office Assessments3-5 Week Process

• The Sustainable Office Assessment defines appropriate starting points for each office.

• Assessments look at office behaviors regarding: • Purchasing • Recycling/Waste• Paper/Printing• Computers• Energy • Lighting• Travel and Transportation• Kitchen and Shared Areas• Innovation

Step 2: Office Assessments Continued General Behavior Assessment

• Using a predetermined score sheet, office practices are assessed by PROPS team members. 

• Behavioral survey helps PROPS to understand individual behaviors

Step 2: Office Assessments ContinuedEnergy Assessment

• Use energy audit tools such as: • Lux meter• Kill-o-watt meter• Discriminator

• Calculate phantom loads and other energy conservation or efficiency measures.

Step 2: Office Assessments ContinuedWaste Assessment

 • Characterize employee

behavior regarding trash and recycling.

• Office’s waste stream is evaluated and weighed.

 

Step 3: Sustainability Workshop• Before the workshop we meet with the

office Green Team to report back assessment results and recommendations.

• During the Sustainability Workshop we:o Present results of assessments to all

office staffo Facilitate a brainstorming session

where staff can identify their three commitments to sustainability

o Present their Green Office Certification based upon current level if they so choose.

 Step 4: Commitment Plan Implementation

• PROPS provides offices with appropriate next steps toward gaining a higher certification level or simply to advance sustainable practices. 

• After the office's workshop, PROPS aids them in implementing their commitments.

Step 5: Office Certification• Based on office sustainability practices and commitment

plan implementation, offices receive a Green Office Certification.

• This certification has four tiers based on point levels:o 1. Seedo 2. Sprouto 3. Saplingo 4. Tree

Follow Up • After 3 months follow-up meetings are had with

office Green Teams to address concerns, feedback, and further improvements.

• PROPS provides offices a resource guide to aid them in understanding campus sustainability initiatives and ways in which they can utilize services.

PROPS4Slugs• Provides students with the

opportunity to institutionalize sustainability!

• The Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP) allows students to learn of sustainable office practices and gain hands-on experience through participation in office assessments.

Why this model works

• Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM)

• Student led

• Catering to individual office’s specific needs

Obstacles

• Accountability

• Campus policies

• Unsupportive staff

Contact Info

Questions?  

Olivia Kirkland, Outreach and Education Internokirklan@ucsc.edu