Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

How 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

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.

Presentations

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)

 

Office Sustainability Checklists - created in 2016, minor updates in 2023

Older Fact Sheets created for 2011 event (some information may be outdated): 

All fact sheets in one document (All documents are pdfs)

Signage

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.

Related Materials

  • 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 -  See section at top of page.
  • 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.
  • Learn about purchasing laptops and personal computers for CT state and local government, higher education and K-12 education, including requirements that products be EPEAT and Energy Star certified.  
  • Useful resources and information about the procurement of EPPs, including federal programs.
  • Visit The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) for information on products that do not contain the “hazardous handful” chemicals: flame retardants, fluorinated stain treatments, antimicrobials, PVC and formaldehyde. 
  • Healthy Green Purchasing for Asthma Prevention guidebook

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle at Work 

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

Take Action on Climate Change

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 vendor identifies all computers and related equipment and keeps a paper trail of the recycling and disposal of components.  
  • 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).  

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

Content last updated July 2023