College Receives Highest Level of Green Office Certification

We are happy to announce the Office of Sustainability has certified the College of Professional Studies (CPS) with the highest level of certification following the criteria of the Green Office Network at the George Washington University.

CPS is the first college within the University to achieve this distinction. All CPS offices in Foggy Bottom, Arlington, and Alexandria have successfully achieved the Level 4 certification, denoted with four leaves on the certification logo.

The College pledges to promote sustainable office behavior and practices and went through an in-depth application process in order to qualify for certification.

Kristian Maldonado, MPS ’23, a graduate student in CPS’s sustainable urban planning program, led the certification effort across the College while working as an assistant in the CPS Dean’s Office.

The application process included multiple requirements and steps including:

• Assigning a Green Leader for each office;
• Surveying each individual faculty member, staff, or student working in a CPS office, including their transportation metrics;
• Adhering to sustainable office practices, including work commutes, kitchen environment, energy usage and administrative practices.

“Garnering the attention towards sustainability in our time of climate change is becoming more dire, it's important we act on this miniscule level and convince folks that now is the time to do what we can on our level to push a greater sustainability agenda moving forward on a larger scale," said Maldonado.

By encouraging practices like turning off unused electronics and printing double-sided to stocking office kitchens with reusable dishware, the Green Office Network program aims to address wasteful and unsustainable practices in all of GW offices.

Maldonado spearheaded the college-wide coordination, with additional “Green Leaders” designated for each office location. Each of them played a vital role in helping the College become certified and will continue to support the location-specific sustainability efforts. They are:

• Kristian Maldonado: CPS Dean’s Suite, Washington, D.C.
• Sarah Gunel, Chief of Staff, GSPM: GSPM, Washington, D.C.
• Tiana LaGon, Executive Assistant: Arlington Education Center
• Elaine Marini, Executive Assistant: Alexandria Education Center

GW is committed to sustainability, and College of Professional Studies staff, faculty and students are helping to reduce the university's environmental footprint. Visit the GW Office of Sustainability to find out how your GW office can also become Green Office Certified, as well explore other university sustainability initiatives and information.