Santa Clara University

Process for obtaining the Sustainable Office Award:

• Certification Levels

  Certified Sustainable Office - Highest level. A "Certified Sustainable" Office Award indicates that the office or department has received over 85% of the available points from the Assessment.
  
  Beyond Green Office - Middle level. A "Beyond Green" Office Award indicates that the office or department has received over 75% of the available points from the Assessment.
  Going Green Office - Beginning level. A "Going Green" Office Award indicates that the office or department has received over 50% of the available points from the Assessment.

• Step 1: Contact the Office of Sustainability

  To initiate the process, please contact the Office of Sustainability with your intentions for pursuing an Office Award. If you would like help from a representative from the Office of Sustainability, please email sustainabilityintern@scu.edu.

• Step 2: Conduct a Sustainable Office Assessment

  To begin download the SOAP Calculator Assessment. The SOAP Calculator is used to determine an appropriate starting point and reachable goals for your office. It has been designed to calculate your office or departments performance as it is being filled out. Performing this assessment should be relatively straightforward however if you have any questions or would like help completing the assessment a representative from the Office of Sustainability will gladly be available to help or answer any questions you may have. Please email sustainabilityintern@scu.edu for assistance.

• Step 3: Submit the Sustainable Office Assessment

  Once your office or department has completed the SOAP Calculator Assessment please email the completed assessment to sustainabilityintern@scu.edu. A representative from the Office of Sustainability will communicate with the department or office’s Sustainability Champion about the assessment and possible SOAP certification award.

  Depending on the current efforts and initiative in your office, you may already qualify for an Office Award. If this is the case, you have the option of accepting your current Award, or hosting a workshop to develop a plan for earning a higher Award.

• Step 4: Host a SOAP Kick Off Workshop

  Arrange an office/department meeting during which a representative from the Office of Sustainability will visit and discuss the next steps for receiving the Office Award. This will include a brainstorming session and workshop during which the members of your office (with the help of the representative) will put together a “Sustainability Plan” based on the results of your Office Assessment. Action, items, and goals will be set forth with tentative completion dates.

• Step 5: Implement Your Plan

  Implement your plan. Begin taking the steps your office/department brainstormed during the workshop. A representative from the Office of Sustainability will compile all of the action items produced from the workshop, send you a formal version of your office's/department's Sustainability Plan, and check in with your office/department after a predetermined period of time to evaluate progress. Of course, representatives from the Office of Sustainability will always be available at any time to answer questions or help address issues regarding Sustainability Plan implementation.

• Step 6: Receive Your Award!

  After your office/department has completed the Sustainability Assessment and implemented the initiatives outlined in the Sustainability Plan, the Office of Sustainability will deliver your Office Award for you to post proudly.

• Documents & Communications

  If you have any questions please contact: sustainabilityintern@scu.edu

  SOAP Calculator Assessment