Green Room Program

Oberlin College and Conservatory’s Green Room Program began in Fall 2012 with the intent of providing students with tools and tips for living more sustainably and recognizing them for doing so. The program allows students to certify their rooms as “green” by pledging to at least 21 of 35 criteria. Criteria are essentially guidelines for living sustainably. 

• 21–26 criteria met: Silver Green Room Certified 
• 27–31 criteria met: Gold Green Room Certified
• 32–35 criteria met: Platinum Green Room Certified 

The aim of the program is to give students the tools to empower personal environmentally responsible actions. Since the program is a year-long commitment, the intent is to make these actions into habits and make green living the default. Students can’t always choose which building they live in or how efficient that building is, but they can choose the way they live within that building.

Some commitments may be things students already practice such as turning off lights when leaving a room or turning off the water while brushing teeth. Other actions include taking a sustainability-related course or taking shorter showers. The more criteria that is followed, the higher the ranking. Flexibility is embedded into the program to allow for inclusivity. Since Obies are so creative, there is an “Innovations” category in which students can submit innovative actions that weren’t in the certification form; for example: growing peppers on their windowsill or starting a weekly carpool to shopping areas.

Once certified, students will be given a certificate to hang on the outside door of their room recognizing them for their efforts and indicating their level of certification. Students may be contacted for spotlight articles to highlight unique innovations and those who certify at the gold and platinum levels! 

This program is sponsored by the Office of Energy and Sustainability and is open to anyone living on campus.

Get Certified