Environmental Management Policy Statement
NREL is committed to sound environmental management that serves as an example to others and supports the Laboratory's mission to protect natural resources through research, development, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. To this end, NREL is committed to:
Pollution Prevention. Incorporating pollution prevention practices in research and support activities.
Continuous Improvement. Continuously improving the effectiveness of NREL's environmental management system (EMS).
Campus. Managing the impact on the environment caused by the placement and general design of NREL structures; maintaining, protecting, and restoring natural and landscaped environments to sustain natural and native ecological systems, both on and adjacent to NREL campuses.
Water. Reducing water consumption and managing water discharges from the site.
Electricity/Natural Gas. Reducing energy use in building designs and operations; within available funds, using cost effective renewable energy sources for remaining energy needs; and purchasing power generated by renewable energy sources.
Transportation. Reducing the impact of local NREL travel on the environment; reducing the use of fossil-based gasoline/diesel fuel for NREL onsite and local operations through the use of alternative fuel vehicles or hybrids; and increasing the use of video and teleconferencing to reduce the environmental impacts of air travel.
Materials. Reducing the use of materials and the creation of waste by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials needed for Laboratory operations; increasing the purchase and use of environmentally sensitive products and products with recycled content.
Environmental Management. Providing an environment that promotes efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability, and encourages the creativity and personal motivation required for excellence in scientific, engineering, technology development, and support functions.
Education/Communication. Informing and providing outreach to workers about sustainability activities, including a method for interaction and feedback; educating workers about participating and contributing to sustainable activities. Informing workers and the public about NREL's environmental performance, including a method for interaction and feedback.
Compliance with Requirements. Complying with applicable federal, state, and other environmental requirements and exceeding those requirements, when feasible, by implementing environmental best management practices.
