National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Sustainable NREL

Through our Sustainable NREL program, we are committed to "walking the talk" by minimizing our use of resources (energy, materials, and water) while receiving the maximum value from resources used — along with balancing environmental, economic, and human impacts.

The goal of our Sustainable NREL Program is to institutionalize sustainability at the laboratory and make NREL a global model for sustainability. As a sustainable organization, NREL manages:

• Economic viability — efficient operations, prudent investments, and maximum value
• Environmental stewardship — minimal resource use, minimal waste/pollution, natural processes, renewable resources, and restoration
• Public responsibility — good neighbor, safe working environment, and education.

Examples of NREL's Sustainability Efforts

NREL recently launched several new on-site renewable energy projects, all using innovative private-sector financing. The following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.

• The Renewable Fuel Heating Plant (PDF 345 KB)
• The Mesa Top Photovoltaic (PV) Project (PDF 410 KB)
• A 1.16 MW ground mount system at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC).
• A 382 kW ground mount system near the Field Test Laboratory Building.
• A 118 kW roof mount system on the Science and Technology Facility.

In addition to implementing on-site renewable energy projects, NREL's progress toward institutionalizing sustainability in all its operations includes:

• Meeting and exceeding greenhouse gas emission goals
• Reducing energy and water use
• Building laboratory facilities that win awards for sustainability and energy efficiency
• Maintaining an environmental management program that fully integrates sustainability, green purchasing and a recycling program
• Using alternative-fueled NREL vehicles
• Purchasing renewable energy certificates that offset the laboratory's environmental footprint.

View NREL's policies on sustainability (PDF 34 KB) and recycling (PDF 214 KB).