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Green Pastor

On a recent afternoon in the Rayburn House Office Building, Laura Campos had a revelation of sorts.

Campos, an executive assistant to Rep. Ed Pastor of Arizona, was in the midst of an educational visit from Green the Capitol's program manager Allison Rogers and specially trained greening consultants Stephanie Kennedy of the House's customer service center First Call and Gordon Alexander with the House's technology call center.

Kennedy and Rogers had just shown Campos a custom web-based tracking tool that outlines greening actions and allows House offices to track their progress in categories such as energy savings and waste reduction.

"Wow," Campos said. "I like that."

The internal website, called My Green Office, has been a central element of Green the Capitol's office greening program since it launched in the spring of 2009. It recommends actions ranging from printing on both sides of paper to purchasing green office supplies. Designated staff such as Campos monitor and enter into the system any greening actions taken in their office.

Through consultations and workshops, office greening teams such as Rogers, Kennedy and Alexander help staff understand the importance and benefits of taking resource conservation actions in their offices. These consultants keep in touch with every office they visit, and tally House-wide progress.

After touring Rep. Pastor's office, Kennedy immediately had a few suggestions for greening actions. Among other ideas, she suggested using smaller landfill waste bins to encourage recycling. Campos was intrigued by the idea. "The Congressman is very committed to recycling."

Alexander stepped forward to explain why Campos and her colleagues should use computer power settings and energy efficient power strips that shut down appliances when not in use.

Campos is not the only one at the House looking for greening guidance. So far, office greening teams have met with approximately 200 Member, Committee and Leadership offices representing Republicans and Democrats from nearly all 50 states and various territories. The program is expected to reach all 7,000 DC-based House employees by the end of 2010.