Green Office programs are cultural change programs that attempt to promote more sustainable behaviour amongst campus staff and students. Typically, a green office program is run by a coordinator who engages local area representatives (otherwise referred to as Green Champs, Green Office Reps, Environmental Change Agents) to facilitate change in their places of work, by providing the necessary support and resources. Addressing the cultural change component of greening an organisation is an important step within the context of any organisation, small or large. While an Environmental Management System may provide the necessary environmental management processes, and environmental programs might provide the necessary infrastructure, it is individual behaviour that will, in the end, determine the success of a sustainability initiative.
Green Office programs can produce a number of benefits including cost savings, improving staff morale and reducing the environmental impact of the campus. While there are a number of Green Office program models, it is important to develop a program that is suited to the culture of your institution. A good start is to look at other campuses that have implemented green office programs.
