Chicago’s Green Office Challenge Expanding Across the U.S.

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) is one of the properties participating in the
Chicago Green Office Challenge. Photo credit: anneh632 via Flickr Creative Commons.

The Green Office Challenge, a program created by City of Chicago and ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA, is being adopted by four new local governments: City of Charleston, SC; Nashville, TN; City of San Diego/Port of San Diego, CA; and Arlington County, VA.

ICLEI selected these pilot communities to develop the Challenge, a program that engages property managers and office tenants in a friendly competition to save money and reduce energy use in their buildings, as well as reduce waste, save water, and reach other environmental goals.

Due to its innovative model and its success in Chicago (where it was launched in 2009), many local governments have expressed interest in the Green Office Challenge. ICLEI is working to make the program replicable for local governments across the country; a first step is to develop the program in these four pilot communities, which will receive guidance and technical support from ICLEI. Added Amy Malick, Program Manager for ICLEI USA:

We are delighted to expand the program beyond Chicago to help these four communities build on the impressive initiatives they already have in place to grow a green economy and promote sustainability. The Green Office Challenge will help them meet their existing long-term goals to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change, and at the same time empower businesses to save money and reduce energy use.\

We selected Charleston, San Diego, Nashville, and Arlington County because each local government demonstrated that they are already leaders on local climate, energy, and sustainability issues. They already have the staff expertise, resources, commitment, and political will from elected officials necessary to achieve success and maintain the program over the long term.

Competition + Recognition = Success

What differentiates the Green Office Challenge from other local programs to green business operations? Competition and recognition, its two keys to success. Office tenants and property managers are more likely to participate in a fun and friendly competition that requires keeping score. They are further motivated to win and receive an award from the city and recognition in the media—branding themselves as environmental leaders.

The four pilot communities will launch the Green Office Challenge to their business communities in fall 2010. Each local government has elicited strong support for the Challenge from local businesses; other organizations will play roles in the programs’ development and promotion, including chambers of commerce, trade associations, local environmental committees, and utility companies.

Since many other local governments beyond the four pilots seek to start their own program (Westchester County, NY, Houston, TX, and the St. Louis, MO area have already launched theirs) ICLEI is developing an implementation guidebook and creating a Green Office Challenge network for local government staff to share ideas, questions, and challenges through monthly conference calls. If you'd like to be part of the network, contact Amy Malick.

• To learn more about how the Challenge works, why ICLEI and City of Chicago created it, and which business have participated in the existing Chicago program, download ICLEI’s Green Office Challenge FAQ
• Or, visit the Chicago Green Office Challenge website, or ICLEI USA’s Green Office Challenge webpage.