The NRC: Reducing Our Environmental Footprint With Sustainability Actions

The NRC: Reducing Our Environmental Footprint With Sustainability Actions

Leave a Comment Posted by Moderator on December 9, 2013

Ian Fisher

Sustainability Manager

 

The NRC is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our agency by operating in a more sustainable way. We do this by conserving energy and other resources, and cutting the emission of gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, also known as greenhouse gases. Once again this year, we met or beat our targets for improving our environmental footprint.
We send the White House a report each year outlining our efforts. Our 2013 Sustainability Plan reports our progress over the last fiscal year and our vision for continuing to meet and exceed federal goals.
Our best performance was in improving the footprint of our facilities. We reduced their greenhouse gas emissions in FY2012 by 31 percent over our FY2008 baseline. We can also report a 41.5 percent decrease in energy intensity. Our agency diverted 71 percent of our waste by recycling. And we now include a clause in our contracts to encourage good environmental practices among NRC contractors.
Our agency also cut by 14 percent emissions we do not directly control, such as from commuting and business travel. To improve these emissions going forward, we plan to make employees more aware of the options for using teleconferences, telework, flexible work schedules and transit subsidies. We will also promote the use of mass transit.
To save water, we continue to install low-flow bathroom fixtures in our buildings. We also continually look for ways to reduce water usage associated with our heating and cooling systems and our irrigation system.
We hope you’ll take a minute to review our latest update.