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The Center for Applied Second Language Studies recently earned a Gold certification from the University of Oregon Office of Sustainability's Green Office program. The Green Office framework recognizes offices that adopt best practices in sustainability, commit to reducing impacts, and measure their performance on a scorecard that examines prerequisites such as recycling and proper disposal of hazardous materials, energy use reduction, materials management to minimize consumption, purchasing low-impact and environmentally friendly products, transportation to and from work and for business, event planning, and disaster preparedness. 

Beginning last fall, under the leadership of office specialist Kim Larsen, IT associate Fazil Parappurath, and business and financial development coordinator Linda Ellis, CASLS staff has increased our awareness of what we can do to minimize our negative impact on the environment. 

"It’s great to work in an office with a staff that is on board with sustainable practices, where everybody sees the importance of our environmental impact and is willing to make choices on that basis," says Kim, who initiated and led the process of earning certification. We are proud of our small office's attainment of Gold certification, which is the second-highest of four possible levels. We’ll see what we can do to attain the top level next year!