Greening of NIH Facilities

NIH buildings house laboratories, vivarium space, clinical care, offices, utilities, and support services. In order to be compatible with the NIH mission, these facilities must be designed and operated sustainably - in a manner that protects the environment and the health and safety of all occupants.

NIH facilities are designed, built, lit, heated, cooled, maintained, renovated, and demolished with methods that ensure they have the least amount of impact to human health and the environment.  Thus far, NIH has incorporated many green features into its facilities. NIH is constantly examining its operations to identify more ways to "green" any activities.

Green Training USGBC

Federal Sustainability Mandates, Laws, and Orders 

• Energy Policy Act of 2005
  

• Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings Memorandum of Understanding

• Energy Independence and Security Act 2007

• Executive Order 13834: Efficient Federal Operations

NIH and HHS Sustainability Guides and Resources

• HHS Sustainable Buildings Plan

• 2019 NIH Sustainability Plan

• Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High-Performance and Sustainable Buildings 

• NIH Design Requirements Manual

More Information on Sustainability

• Energy Star for New Building Design 
  

• Green Building Initiative; Green Globes 

• Green Guide for Health Care

• Greening Federal Facilities
  

• Labs for the 21st Century

• U. S. Green Building Council: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

Whole Building Design Guide​​