PARK PLACE GREEN TEAM
GREEN OPERATIONS OFFICE AUDIT
The Goal
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To gain baseline information on current activities.
To identify opportunities for improved performance.
To recognize areas of excellence in the Region’s
sustainability.
To engage employees in sustainable practices.
Ultimately, to reduce the environmental impact of Region 10’s
operations.
Methods
Green Operations Office Audit:
 Distributed to EPA Region 10 offices through office directors and unit managers
 Questions asked whether units carried out certain sustainable practices
 The checklist consisted of answer options of “Yes”, “No”, or “Partially”
 The questions were organized into the following sections: Energy, Water, Green
Meetings, Paper and Printing, Purchasing, Recycling and Waste Prevention, and
Transportation.
Analysis:
 Each answer was given points of completion out of how many possible activities
could be performed for each category.
“Yes” = 1 point
“No” = 0 points
“Partially” = ½ point
 We could then calculate the percentage of activities performed in each office
Results
Regional Average per Category
100.0%
Activity Participation
80.0%
60.0%
40.0%
20.0%
0.0%
Energy
Water
Green Meetings
Paper/Printing
Purchasing
Recycling/Waste
Prevention
Transportation
Responses
72% of units filled out and returned the audit
checklist
Participant Comments:
Lack of knowledge/information on office practices
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More communication within units about sustainable
practices
Survey should be distributed to individuals rather than
units
Areas for Improvement
Prioritize categories which Region 10 scored below
60% participation:
 Energy 49.9%
 Water 51.3%
 Paper and Printing 55.8%
 Recycling and Waste Prevention 56%
Energy
The region participates in 49.9% of possible energy conserving
activities listed in the survey
Opportunities for improvement (common questions with “No” responses):
 “We switch off our monitors when we are not using the computer for
longer than 15 minutes.”
 “Our office has conducted an appliance audit and eliminated any
unnecessary personal refrigerators, coffee makers and other
appliances.”
Messages:
 Are you leaving the office? Is your computer still on?
 When focusing on tasks which do not require the use of your
computer, turn off your monitor until you need to use it again.
Water
The region participates in 51.3% of possible water saving
activities listed in the survey
Improvement opportunities:
 “Signs in bathrooms, locker rooms, and kitchens promote
water-wise behavior such as turning off taps and taking
short showers.”
Messages:
 Signs could be a useful reminder for us to conserve water
Paper/Printing
The region participates in 55.8% of possible activities to
reduce paper and printing usage listed in the survey
Improvement opportunities:
 “We track the amount of paper we use in the office
and share that information with staff”
 “We have an office-wide commitment to only print
when necessary.”
Messages:
Recycling/Waste Prevention
The region participates in 56% of possible recycling and other waste
prevention activities listed in the survey.
Improvement opportunities:
 “Approved compostable service-ware items are available for
staff use instead of non-compostable service-ware items, for
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times when reusable alternatives are not appropriate.”
“Our office promotes use of reusable/durable food containers
and discourages the use of foil, plastic wrap, and other
disposable food packaging through information porters and
signage.”
Messages: