SUBSCRIBE                   PREVIOUS ISSUES​

​​​​Take Action                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

​Using Green Building Features​​

​One of the greatest achievements in green buildings in NIH history is the Net-Zero Energy Warehouse. But did you know that, even with all its green infrastructure, the core of its sustainability lies in the behavior of its staff? In an interview with John Yewell of NIEHS Environmental Factor, NIEHS Executive Director Chris Long said the following about the Net-Zero Energy Warehouse:

“Everyone working in this facility has been trained on its features and their role in keeping it net zero, healthy and green. That includes simple things like turning off computers and printers. Our behavior is really the key to our success.”¹

Let’s review some other ‘simple things’ you can do to increase the sustainability within existing buildings and maintain it within newer green ones.

• ​Adventure and explore! – Get up and explore the areas of your building that you’ve never been to, or see if you can set up a tour with your building’s facility manager​! This will help you learn more about your building’s features, capabilities and assets.
  
• Become a hall monitor – If you see a maintenance issue in your office or lab, or even in a hall or common area, report it​ as soon as possible. Issues such as inadequate door sweeps and leaking pipes can lead to significant energy and water loss, if not swiftly and properly addressed.^2​
  
• Turn back the thermostat – A smaller difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures means a smaller amount of energy is used for heating and cooling. Energy Star recommends 70°F or less in the winter and 78°F or more in the summer.^3​ For both summer and winter, consider turning your thermostat back 7-10°F from its normal setting when not in the office.^4​
  
• Power down when not around – Practice good electronic stewardship by turning off your devices when you leave for the day. From lights to laptops to lab equipment, this simple habit can help lower the overall energy demand of a building.^5​
  
• Limit aerosol use – Increased indoor air pollution means increased work from air cleaners and thus increased energy consumption. To sidestep this, avoid overuse of aerosols like sprayed insecticides and perfumes, and use low-VOC adhesives or cleaning products, when possible.^6​
  

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. In the words of NIEHS Director Chris Long, “Our behavior is really the key to our success.”

Featured Article                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

A Look at LEED and the NIH ​Green buildings and the implementation of sustainability principles into building design and operation are a crucial aspect of reducing emissions at the NIH. One of the third-party certifications commonly seen for federal buildings is LEED Silver. But what exactly does this mean for green buildings at the NIH? ​ LEA​RN MORE​​​​

​​Spotlight                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

​NIH Green Buildings with Pete Baxter​ ​ ​​​​​​William “Pete” Baxter is the Head Coordinator for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects at the NIH. He has held certification as a LEED AP (Accredited Professional) since 2008, using his expertise to supervise green construction efforts and renovation projects. LEARN MORE

NEMS Training                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Did you know? ​​The Net-Zero Energy Warehouse sometimes generates more energy than it consumes, thus surpassing even the net-zero energy goal! To learn more about green buildings, please visit the NEMS T​raining webpage to view a short (20 minute) NIH environmental awareness training video.​