7000 House Employees Asked to Consider Greener Commutes
Environmental transportation event signals change in workplace culture
Think “going green” is something that happens only in the private sector? Government is getting greener, too – especially at the House of Representatives.
The newly-formed Green the Capitol Office (GTCO) is asking all employees of the House of Representatives to participate in an organization-wide greening initiative by attending the first annual Green Expo on October 25.
Supporting the event’s theme, “green transportation,” organizers have invited an array of exhibitors who will showcase alternative modes of commuter transportation, everything from Segway® personal transporters, to electric and hybrid passenger vehicles, to the latest in super light-weight road bicycles.
The GTCO is currently in the process of implementing the Green the Capitol Initiative, a sweeping series of operational changes aimed at reducing the House’s carbon footprint and energy consumption. The office recently launched its website (http://cao.house.gov/greenthecapitol) and a companion site for its expo, which includes the show’s logistical details (http://cao.house.gov/greenexpo).
“There is a great deal of symbolism to this event,” said Dan Beard, the House’s Chief Administrative Officer, whose office runs the GTCO. “We think the exhibits will be informative and interesting, sure, but beyond that this is the first time we have really asked our employees to collectively participate in this very important dialogue – a discussion about how we as a workforce can start being better environmental citizens.”
The GTCO, which is located near the Longworth House Office Building cafeteria, has begun recruiting “green” volunteers through its website and has started designing a variety of programs to increase employee involvement in the initiative, explained Grant Scherling, the office’s Executive Director.
“We really see ourselves as having two critical roles,” offered Scherling. “Of course, we are tasked with completing all of the operational improvements outlined in the original Green the Capitol Initiative report we submitted to the Speaker. But, we’ve also charged ourselves with creating critical partnerships with all of our employees here at the House.”
The GTCO is also collaborating with businesses and other green organizations that can help advance the “Green the Capitol” mission.
Scherling went on to say that the Green Expo is a “classroom” for House employees to learn how they can begin to get involved with future greening projects. “It’s understood that not everyone who comes to this event is going to run out and buy an electric car,” added Scherling. “The expo will, however, hopefully increase everyone’s awareness level around what we are trying to do and underscore the fact that we don’t intend on going it alone.”
