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Green Holiday
As the holiday season approaches and more leave is taken, it’s important to keep sustainability in mind both at home and at work. In this article, we’ll review a few things you can do to maintain a sustainable outlook regardless of which setting you’re in.
On campus:
- Take the NIH Climate and Sustainability Training: The newest sustainability training is currently available as an LMS module (NIHORFDEP_CAP; 00278095). Your completed training can now be tracked for administrative purposes!
- Participate in the Green Labs Program: The Green Labs Program is an annual self-assessment tool that labs can use to increase their sustainability awareness. Submit your application before the December 15 deadline!
- Power down when not around: Make sure lights and surge protectors are turned off before leaving for the day. Turn off all lab and office equipment as well when it isn’t in use, and reach out to us for a starter pack of ‘power down’ stickers to help remind your workspace.
At home:
- Minimize food waste: While eating locally-sourced food lowers greenhouse gas emissions, reducing food waste also improves water efficiency, land efficiency, food security and resource conservation.1 Make room for leftovers!
- Use sustainable packaging: When gifting, use minimal wrapping, and use materials that can be easily recycled. Check your local municipality or NIH campus for unique recycling opportunities. Also, consider reusing wrapping materials, like a bag that can be used multiple times!
- Maximize your car trips: Instead of traveling in separate vehicles to events, carpool with family and friends to make the most out of each trip. Try to get all your gifts and food supplies in as few outings as possible to minimize the emissions from your driving. The same concept can be used for online purchasing and consolidating items into as few shipments as possible.
Are you able to Take Action this month? We want to see! Send us a picture of you carrying out one of these ideas and we might feature it in a future article. Stay safe and we will see you again next year!
Featured Article
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The Grand Green Gift!
This holiday season, the NIH Federal Credit Union (NIHFCU) decided to present NIEHS employees with a sustainable gift they aren’t likely to forget. Staff at the Research Triangle Park (RTP) Campus were delighted to discover that they can now charge their electric vehicles at no cost, courtesy of NIHFCU.
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Spotlight
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The 2024 GREEN Bingo Board Competition is now complete. Let’s get the scoop from our winners!
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NEMS Training
Did you know? There is a new Sustainability training on LMS (NIHORFDEP_CAP; 00278095)! Receive credit for this training today! To learn more about sustainability at the NIH, please visit the NEMS Training webpage to view a short (20 minute) NIH environmental awareness training video.
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The NIH Green Zone Newsletter is a publication intended to inform NIH staff about the Division of Environmental Protection and NIH Green Teams projects and initiatives. The text contained in this newsletter is not copyrighted and can be reprinted without permission. If you use portions of this newsletter in your own publication, we ask that you please credit the source. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Thank you.
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Division of Environmental Protection | Office of Research Facilities | Office of Management
National Institutes of Health | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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