Environmental Management

NREL's environmental management program focuses primarily on natural and cultural resource protection, pollution prevention, and waste management.

Current activities:

• The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) was accepted into EPA's National Environmental Performance Track program (NEPT) in 2004. The NEPT program recognizes facilities that voluntarily exceed regulatory requirements, implement environmental management systems (which focus on incorporating environmental considerations into normal management processes and improving internal environmental management effectiveness), work closely with their communities, and set three-year goals focusing on measurable results. NREL has completed its three-year commitment in the NEPT, and in lieu of re-applying for another three-year term has elected to participate in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Colorado Environmental Leadership Program (CELP). Information regarding this voluntary program can be found at www.cdphe.state.co.us/el/elp/index.html.
  
  To learn about NREL's energy use, energy efficiency, green purchasing and more, read NREL's 2006 NEPT report.
  
  2006 Performance Track Annual Performance Report (PDF 180 KB) Download Adobe Reader
  
  
• The Laboratory implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS) as required by federal directives. These activities focus on incorporating environmental considerations into normal management processes, as well as improving internal environmental management effectiveness. These activities focus on areas such as natural and cultural resource protection, pollution prevention, waste management, etc. The Laboratory is working to exceed regulatory requirements.
  
  
• NREL prepares an annual environmental management report, summarizing NREL's environmental protection programs and activities. It is organized according to the different environmental media (e.g., air, waste, ground water, etc.), and includes a brief summary of how the program is managed in that area, any permitting or notification efforts that have been completed during the reporting period or are ongoing, and activities that have occurred during the reporting period in that environmental area.