GOING PLATINUM: Members of the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative celebrating the Platinum Sustainable Workplace Certification are (from left) Sharon Edwards, Ellis Valentiner, Ben Strauss, Kafi Laramore-Josey, Joshua Tootoo, Pam Maxson, Brandi Gih, Rebecca Anthopolos (on screen), Claire Osgood, Kaleah Mabin, John Shriver, Ruiyang Li, Nicki Sandberg, Dean Marie Lynn Miranda (and CEHI director) and Todd Ziegler.

The Children’s Environmental Health Initiative (CEHI) has earned the highest certification available under a new University of Michigan program that encourages office teams to create more sustainable work environments.

Housed within the School of Natural Resources & Environment, CEHI is a research, education, and outreach program committed to fostering environments where all people can prosper. It earned points toward Platinum certification by adopting a series of measures, from consolidating supply orders (and thereby using less paper) to adding workplace sustainability as a topic at its orientation and staff meetings. It also earned points for residing in the Dana Building, the first Gold LEED-certified building at U-M.

The designation was issued through the Sustainable Workplace Certification Program, a new effort by the U-M Office of Campus Sustainability (OCS). The program helps offices across campus by providing them an inventory of office sustainability practices, identifying areas of improvement, and offering help on implementing best practices to achieve those improvements. It then awards Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze certification based on the quantity and type of sustainable behaviors adopted.

To participate, offices complete an online self-assessment of existing office conditions and practices. An OCS sustainability representative then visits and provides recommendations and technical assistance to help implement best practices. Offices receiving one of the four certifications receive a Sustainable Workplace digital logo and are highlighted on the Sustainable Workplace web site.

CEHI also garnered points toward its Platinum ranking by placing reminders about conserving power and paper around its offices, installing power strips to make it easier to turn off computers at night, and replacing disposable kitchen items with reusable items.