How To Green Your CT State Agency
Welcome! This is your guide to green your CT State Agency.
From purchasing environmentally preferable products, like non-toxic cleaners to recycling, this is your one-stop guide to finding all the resources you'll need to make your Agency a model for protecting the environment and creating a healthier workplace.
To see how DEEP is greening its headquarters take a virtual tour (2011, some changes have been made since).
NOTE: In 2019, Governor Lamont signed Executive Order 1, a Lead by Example initiative that requires Connecticut state agencies to meet sustainability goals that include reducing GHG emissions, water usage and waste generated. GreenerGov CT is the state's website devoted to this initiative.
"Going Green" at your Agency is easier than you think.
Let's get started!
Buying a Better Way: Choosing "Green" Products from State Contracts - Presentations from June 2014 workshop for state agencies, municipalities and school districts on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP).
Going Green Makes Sen$e Fact sheets, signage, videos and other materials that will help you green you office from a workshop to CT State Agencies
Learn about what DEEP is doing to save energy, reduce waste and more.
Energy - State Government Leading by Example
Purchase Environmentally Preferable Products
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle at Work
Manage Electronics And E-Waste
Make Events and Training Green
Find Out What Other States Are Doing - Innovative programs to green government operations
Buying A Better Way: Choosing Green Products from State Contracts
These materials are from the June 2014 workshop for state agencies, municipalities and school districts, held at DEEP headquarters.
For more information contact DAS purchasing or contact Connie Mendolia at DEEP.
- Why Purchasing Counts: an overview of environmental & health impacts of purchasing. Alicia Culver, Director, Responsible Purchasing Network
- What Must You Buy Green? (It's the law!): items and statutes you must comply with. Connie Mendolia, Mary Sherwin - DEEP
- How Do You Find Green Goods? Sample Contracts, Paint & Food Service ware from DAS EPP webpage, Raul Granillo - DEEP
- Purchase This, Not That!Office Supplies
- Purchase This, Not That! Hardware Supplies
Going Green Makes Sen$e
These materials are from the Going Green Makes Sen$e workshop held at DEEP headquarters on Sept. 28, 2011. This event was sponsored by the DEEP Green Team and featured a presentation and panel discussion outlining the experiences, lessons learned and results of implementing various sustainability measures at our office.
Although the workshop audience was primarily state Agencies and municipal employees, any office can benefit from implementing these solutions. For more information contact Connie Mendolia.
For information about energy efficiency in state buildings, e-mail leadbyexample@ct.gov.
Presentations/Video/Publications (pdfs)
- Going Green Tour Take a video tour of DEEP headquarters to see how we are greening our operations. (Length: 5 minutes)
- Going Green Makes Sen$e, presentation by Mary Sherwin and Connie Mendolia, DEEP Green Team Coordinators
- Know What Types of Waste You Generate, (panel discussion), Judy Belaval, DEEP
- Tales From The Trash Can A humorous video reminding DEEP staff to recycle at their main office. (Length: 3-1/2 minutes)
- "Government Agencies Stop and Re-Think", P2 View, Winter 2012
New, Created 2016!
Office Sustainability Checklists:
- How to Recycle at Your Agency
- Green Purchasing - Use Environmentally Preferable Products at Your Agency
- How to Start a Resupply Center at Your Agency
- How To Start A Green Team At Your Office - Updated Draft, Oct 2019
Fact Sheets created for 2011 event: All fact sheets in one document (All documents are pdfs.)
- How To Reduce, Reuse And Recycle At Your Office
- Consider Including Food Scraps In Your Office Recycling Program
- Getting Started With Buying Green (Environmentally Preferable Purchasing)
- How To Start A STAR (Sort Trash And Recyclables) Program At Your Office
- How To Start A Resupply Center For Reusing Office Supplies
- How To Promote A Greener Way To Commute To Work
- How To Start Reducing Energy Use In Your Office
- Additional Resources
Remind your employees in a friendly way to reduce, reuse, recycle and conserve with colorful signs. Our "Re-Think" and "Re-Cycle" signs are posted throughout our building - in our lunch rooms, near trash, recycling and composting containers and elevators. They are "branded" using our original design and Green Team logo, which reinforce the environmental message.
Use them "as is" (our logo has been removed) or create your own using our Microsoft Word template. All signs are in color, 8.5" by 11". We laminated our signs for durability.
- Single Stream Recycling
- Recycle Bottles, Cans, Plastic
- Recycle Corrugated Cardboard
- Recycle White Paper
- Recycle Other Paper
- Please Close the Refrigerator Door
- Don't Forget To Turn The Water Off
- Take the Stairs
- ReSupply Center
- Trash Only
Related Materials
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Tools for Office Buildings developed by the CT Department of Public Health, provides fact sheets on indoor air quality in the workplace. A program to assess the indoor environmental quality in office buildings is available on CD .
- Recycling Works Tool kit created by the Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity was designed to address waste reduction in the workplace and website also contains sample fact sheets and posters; See also Recycling Tool kit presentation
- Hartford Green Capitols Project brochure provides information about the efforts of the DEEP, EPA, MDC and State Capitol Facilities to demonstrate green infrastructures such as rain gardens, permeable pavers and concrete to limit stormwater runoff.
Energy
Lead By Example: Energy Efficiency for State and Local Government
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s "Lead-By-Example" program (LBE) was created to educe energy use in Connecticut’s State and local government buildings and operations. One of LBE's goals was to reduce energy use in State buildings by 10% by 2013 and an additional 10% by 2018. This initiative has been revamped and is part of Connecticut's GreenerGov CT initiative. Visit the webisite at www.ct.gov/deep/leadbyexample or contact leadbyexample@ct.gov.
Purchasing Environmentally Preferable Products (EPPs)
- CT DEEP's Green Purchasing Policy can be used as an example of what state agencies can develop and adopt.
- Presentations from June 2014 Buying A Better Way: Choosing Green Products from State Contracts.
- These State procurement regulation and policies promote environmentally preferable purchasing in Connecticut State Agencies.
- Find out about the State's EPP program and watch a video which introduces the program, describes the benefits of EPP, provides tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle and more.
- The Bureau of Enterprise System Technology (BEST) contracts for purchasing laptops and personal computers for CT state and local government, higher education and K-12 education. BEST is working to include specific requirements into these contracts, including requirements that products be EPEAT and Energy Star certified. For more information, contact Leo Boulanger, BEST Desktop Services, (860) 622-2476.
- Find your DAS agency contacts.
- Useful resources for information about the procurement of EPPs, including federal programs.
- The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) has created a new Healthier Furniture Product Guide to help purchasers find products that do not contain the “hazardous handful” chemicals: flame retardants, fluorinated stain treatments, antimicrobials, PVC and formaldehyde.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle at Work
- Use the How to Recycle at your State Agency Checklist to start or improve recycling.
- CT State Agencies, just like everyone in CT, are required to recycle the mandatory items.
- Find out how to practice the 3R's at work.
- The State of CT has a State Solid Waste Management Plan. A goal of the Plan is to increase the State's recycling rate to 58% by 2024. State Agencies need to show leadership and do their part to achieve that goal.
Start a Food Waste Collection Program
Reduce your waste and disposal costs. Find out how you can begin a organics recycling program at work. For more information about food waste composting and other options, contact Jennifer Weymouth.
Choose Organic Land Care
- There is a law banning pesticides from the grounds of day care, elementary and middle schools (grades 8 and lower) effective July 1, 2010.
- The DEEP's Office of Pollution Prevention has produced a 7-½ minute video about what it takes to "go organic" with land care.
- Do you have facilities with grounds or lawns that need to be maintained? Learn about the benefits of grasscycling.
Take Action on Climate Change
- The State's Climate Change Action Plan outlines 55 actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn how State Agencies can do their part.
- Learn about the relationship between the waste we generate and climate change.
- Hold a lighting fair at work. Employees can purchase low-cost compact fluorescent bulbs and energy-saving lighting for home use. Contact TechniArt, Adam Tardif, 860-693-2450.
Manage Electronics and E-waste
State and local governments purchase more than $35 billion in technology equipment annually. There is a great opportunity to show leadership in the environmentally sound and cost-effective disposal and management of electronic assets.
- Learn about Connecticut's e-waste recycling law.
- The State contract for Environmentally Preferred Disposal of Electronic Office Equipment. The current vendor for the State is Arrow -Intechra LLC (contract expires 2/28/2012). The vendor identifies all computers and related equipment and keeps a paper trail of the recycling and disposal of components. Contact Lynn Peccerillo-Hills, CT Department of Administrative Services, 860-713-5255.
- Consider joining the State Electronics Challenge (SEC). The SEC is a voluntary program that encourages state, regional, and local governments, including schools, to purchase greener products, reduce the impacts of electronic products during use, and manage obsolete electronics in an environmentally safe way. SEC is a program of the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC). DEEP is a member and is featured on the SEC website.
Make Events & Training Green
Training and meetings you host are opportunities to save money and have less impact on the environment. Learn some easy ways you can set an example at your next event.
Encourage Clean Commuting
- Encourage your employees to carpool, vanpool or take public transportation, including the new Fastrak busway, bike or walk and telecommuting. They can even earn rewards for their "clean commute" by signing up with CTRides.
- Contact CTrides to have them set up a transportation fair so your employees can learn about their commuting options.
- Bike Walk CT is the organization working statewide to make Connecticut bike and pedestrian friendly; They sponsor a statewide Bike to Work campaign and have resources including a list of bike buddies to ride with.
- The Department has hybrid gas-electric vehicles in it's fleet of state vehicles for employee use. These vehicles use much less fuel and are less polluting.
Maintain State Vehicles
- Does your Agency maintain a fleet? Read the Pit Stops Guidebook for information on how to prevent pollution and comply with DEEP regulations.
Find out what Other States are Doing
- New York State Green Procurement and Agency Sustainability Program
- City of Portland Oregon Green Office Guide
- State of Massachusetts "Leading by Example" Program
- State of Illinois 2010 "Green IT Challenge"
- State of Indiana "Greening the Government" Implementation Guide
- State of Maryland "Smart, Green & Growing" Initiative
- Indiana Government Center "Green Meeting Tips"
- Greening Florida Government
- Greening Correctional Facilities, Dept of Justice
- State of New Jersey Green Purchasing Guide for Local Governments & Communities
- Portland, OR: case studies for purchasing many items from antifreeze to waterless urinals.
Content last updated January 2020