Innovation Credits

When it comes to climate change, innovation is essential for driving forward positive progress. Staff and faculty can play an important role in implementing innovative solutions within their workspaces to help save water, reduce waste, educate others on the impacts of their actions, and build a culture of sustainability. These creative efforts can count towards a workspace’s Green Workspace certification checklist. While not required to earn Green Workspace certification, the Office of Sustainability highly encourages units, offices, and departments to consider how they can adopt innovative practices or procedures as part of their Green Workspace experience.

The Office of Sustainability (OS) is available to discuss and support your interests in implementing innovative sustainability projects within your workspace. Please email us at sustainability@umd.edu to connect with an OS staff member. Below is a list of examples of innovative projects implemented by UMD staff and faculty as part of the Green Workspace program.

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Lunch box with fruit, vegetables, and animal toys

Trash-Free Tuesdays

The Center for Young Children is working on implementing Trash-Free Tuesdays in its classrooms. On Trash-Free Tuesdays, families are encouraged to prepare a low- or zero-waste lunch for their children. The goal is to teach preschool and kindergarten-aged children and their families about waste and using sustainable materials.

Students paint flowers, turtle, and blue sky on wall in Terrapin Trader

Sustainability-Themed Art

Sarah Humud, along with her team and students within Honors Humanities, partnered with Terrapin Trader to paint a terrapin mural in the Terrapin Trader warehouse. The art piece is part of “Arts and Humanities in Practice”, a course being redesigned to connect with local organizations that promote environmentalism and environmental justice. Sarah said, “We hope letting people know about the mural can help promote some of the great work they're doing at Terrapin Trader!”

Battery Recycling

The Office of Environmental Affairs (OEA) implemented a new strategy for battery recycling. They now work directly with one of the largest battery recyclers in the US to collect UMD's used batteries and process them for recycling of the raw materials. OEA secured a Sustainability Fund grant to cover the cost of recycling. Instead of sending several thousand pounds of alkaline batteries to the landfill every year, these materials can now be used again.

Staff (Reuven) holding framed Green Workspace certificate

Conscious Waste Management

The Clarice Scene Shop created a system to donate used materials to groups like a high school's Destination Imagination team and to ensure as much production materials are recycled as possible. By working with UMD Facilities Management to request a special materials dumpster, the Scene Shop is helping to recycle and properly dispose of various waste materials from production.

Innovation Credit Funding Opportunities

Interested in implementing an innovative sustainability project in your workspace? All students, staff, and faculty are eligible to apply to the University Sustainability Fund and the Sustainability Mini-Grant to help bring your ideas to life. Visit our grants website to learn more.

Special Awards

To recognize and celebrate workspaces that implement novel, innovative actions and/or practices that exceed baseline sustainability efforts, the Office of Sustainability offers two special awards: Innovation Award and Leadership Award. These awards are administered based on submissions through the Green Workspace program final certification form. Those selected for an award will be recognized at the annual Green Workspace Appreciation Lunch hosted in May of each year. Please contact sustainability@umd.edu with any questions.

Innovation Award

Through the Innovation Award, we acknowledge the numerous creative ways workspaces implement actions to consume mindfully, purchase thoughtfully, commute smart, conserve energy, and create community. We also recognize that environmental sustainability extends beyond these categories and that different workspaces have unique opportunities to create individualized programs/projects that are a better fit for their team.

Leadership Award

The Leadership Award aims to recognize the Green Workspace Leaders who go above and beyond the requirements of the Green Workplace program and beyond their normal day-to-day activities to truly embed sustainability into their office, team, and workflow. Those earning the Leadership Awards are also individuals who were highly engaged with the Green Workplace program and their cohort.

Previous Award Winners

Innovation Award

Sarah Humud, Honors Humanities

Leadership Award

Jason Baer, Office of Environmental Affairs
Reuven Goren, The Clarice Scene Shop