U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 

Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan 

Section 1: Agency Policy and Strategy 

I. Agency Policy Statement 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is committed to protecting public health and 

safety by conducting our operations and activities in an environmentally responsible and 

sustainable manner. We recognize that reducing and, where possible, eliminating the 

environmental impacts of our activities is an important part of our mission as stewards of public 

health and safety. We view sustainability as a long-term approach to business planning and 

decision-making that balances our economic, environmental, and social responsibilities. 

In support of our sustainability initiative, the NRC will: 

• Meet or exceed all applicable local, state, and federal environmental laws and 

regulations; 

• Continually enhance our business practices and services to minimize our environmental 

impact; 

• Effectively manage the agency’s ecological footprint by reducing the use of natural 

resources through source reduction and pollution prevention; and 

• Protect and support the health and safety of our employees and the surrounding 

communities and ecosystems. 

II. Sustainability and the Agency Mission 

"The mission of the NRC is to license and regulate the Nation's civilian use of byproduct, 

source, and special nuclear materials to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety, 

promotes the common defense and security, and protect the environment." 

Sustainability is inherent in the NRC's mission. The agency recognizes that the Earth's natural 

resources are not limitless, and we must do our part to preserve these resources for future 

generations. We must act today to maximize the many economic, environmental, and societal 

benefits that conservation, waste prevention, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reductions, 

recycling, and the purchase of environmentally preferable products can provide. At the NRC, 

we view sustainability as a long-term business planning and decision-making objective that 

encompasses our economic, environmental, and social responsibilities.
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Provide a summary that describes the agency’s size and scope of operations to include (as 

applicable to the individual agency): 

Total # Employees 2752 

Total Acres Land Managed 5.2 

Total # Facilities Owned 0 

Total # Facilities Leased (GSA lease) 2 

Total # Facilities Leased (Non-GSA) 0 

Total Facility Gross Square Feet (GSF) 998000 

Operates in # of Locations throughout U.S. 6 

Operates in # of Locations outside of U.S. 0 

Total # Fleet Vehicles Owned 0 

Total # Fleet Vehicles Leased 27 

Total # Exempted-Fleet Vehicles (Tactical, Emergency, Etc.) 0 

Total Operating Budget FY 2010 ($MIL) $1.066 

Total # Contracts Awarded FY 2010 2,805 

Total Amount Contracts Awarded FY 2010 ($MIL) $228.65 

Total Amount Spent on Energy Consumption FY 2010 ($MIL) 3.14 

Total MBTU Consumed per GSF 89.94 

Total Gallons of Water Consumed per GSF 25.42 

Total Scope 1 and 2 GHG Emissions (Comprehensive) FY 2008 Baseline MMTCO2e 13800.4 

Total Scope 1 and 2 GHG Emissions (Subject to Agency Scope 1 and 2 Reduction 

Target) FY 2008 Baseline MMTCO2e 

13800.4 

Total Scope 3 GHG Emissions (Comprehensive) FY 2008 Baseline MMTCO2e 21552.7 

Total Scope 3 GHG Emissions (Subject to Agency Scope 3 Reduction Target) FY 2008 

Baseline MMTCO2e 

21552.7 

III. Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals 

Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13514, on January 4, 2010, the NRC submitted its GHG reduction 

targets for Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The NRC has committed to a reduction target of 4.4 percent 

by fiscal year (FY) 2020 and a Scope 3 reduction goal of 5 percent by FY 2020. 

The FY 2020 target reduction is based on NRC's plan to consolidate a number of leased facilities 

that are not part of our current headquarters complex to a new 358,440 square foot Leadership in 

Energy and Environmental Design certified office building. The energy efficiency of the new building, 

aggressive energy reduction efforts in the existing headquarters facilities, and some changes in how 

we do business will help the NRC meet its FY 2020 reduction targets. 

IV. Plan Implementation 

The NRC created a sustainability cross-functional team with members from each of the agency's 

administrative service providers to coordinate implementation of the agency's Strategic Sustainability 

Performance Plan. This team represents all functions that have the authority to affect the 

procurement or use of outside services such as contracting and procurement, utility services, human 

resources, information technology (IT) service equipment, transportation services, and recycling and 

waste handling. Team meetings are held monthly to evaluate new project initiatives, strategic plans, 

and the performance of ongoing projects to ensure that our path for meeting the NRC's GHG 
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reduction targets is appropriate. Team plans and findings are reported to management for 

evaluation, approval, and budget considerations. 

Building energy managers, IT specialists, contracting officers, human relations specialists, and 

members of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer and the Office of Administration are tasked with 

implementing approved procedures, policies, and projects. The Office of Administration is 

responsible for staff notification, follow-up on implementation, measurement of progress, 

documentation, and reporting the results. Reports are evaluated by the team to ensure the desired 

results are met, and if not, recommend additional actions to be taken. 

Table 1: Critical Planning Coordination

Originating Report / Plan 

Scope 1 & 2 GHG Reduction 

Scope 3 GHG Reduction 

Develop and Maintain 

Agency Comprehensive 

GHG Inventory 

High-Performance 

Sustainable Design / Green 

Buildings 

Regional and Local Planning 

Water Use Efficiency and 

Management 

Pollution Prevention and 

Waste Elimination 

Sustainable Acquisition 

Electronic Stewardship and 

Data Centers 

Agency Specific Innovation 

“Sample Plan” Yes n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Yes No 

GPRA Strategic Plan No No No No N/A N/A N/A Yes No No 

Agency Capital Plan No No No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A No N/A 

A-11 300s No No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Annual GHG Inventory and Energy Data 

Report Yes Yes N/A Yes N/A Yes N/A N/A N/A Yes 

EISA Section 432 Facility 

Evaluations/Project 

Reporting/Benchmarking 

Yes N/A No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Budget Yes No No No N/A Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 

Asset Management Plan/3 Year 

Timeline No No No No N/A No No N/A No No 

Circular A-11 Exhibit 53s Yes No No No N/A N/A N/A No No No 

OMB Scorecards No No No No No No No No No No 

DOE's Annual Federal Fleet Report to 

Congress and the President Yes Yes Yes N/A No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Data Center Consolidation Plan Yes Yes No Yes N/A N/A N/A Yes Yes Yes 

Environmental Management System Yes Yes No N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 

Instructions for Implementing Climate 

Change Adaptation Planning Yes Yes Yes No No N/A N/A Yes Yes N/A 

Other (reports, policies, plans, etc.) 

V. Evaluating Return on Investment 

The NRC uses a simplified cost to savings formula with a maximum payback of 15 years for building 

energy savings projects. New procedures, initiatives, and strategic plans are evaluated differently. 

Initially we look at the desired results and determine if the effort will meet that goal, and compare the 

cost of the effort to the expected outcome. Then we determine how the procedure, initiative, or plan 
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will affect our staff's ability to perform their work and if it has any negative impacts, such as an effect 

on the quality of employee work life or the surrounding community. All of these issues are reviewed 

with our management and employee union prior to calculating a return on investment (ROI). 

VI. Transparency 

The NRC has a public and internal web page which will be used to communicate the agency's 

commitment, goals and progress toward meeting our energy and GHG reduction targets. Internal 

bulletins and notices are also used to inform staff of new policies, projects, and procedures. 

Section 2: Performance Review and Annual Update 

I. Summary of Accomplishments 

During FY 2010, the agency implemented and continued a number of energy reduction projects. A 

new building automation system was installed along with variable frequency drive motor control 

systems in the Two White Flint North (TWFN) building. This system will reduce overall heating and 

cooling costs by greater than 10 percent, while improving comfort levels in the building. Also, 

individual HVAC system components are being replaced due to failure or end of lifecycle with new 

high efficiency units. Power strips with motion sensors are provided to all employees for their 

workspace to allow lights and monitors to turn off when employees are not at their workstation. In 

addition, the agency continues to expand the telework program to allow employees more 

opportunities to work at home, thereby reducing Scope 3 GHG due to commuting and waste water 

treatment. Currently, the agency is upgrading its restrooms with water saving toilets and faucets. 

When completed, the estimated water savings will be in the range of 10 to 15 percent. 

II. Goal Performance Review 

Goal 1: Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas Reduction 

Buildings: 

Goal description: Reduce energy and water usage at the facility. The agency expects to reduce 

facility energy intensity by 6 percent in 2020. The NRC is working towards reducing energy usage 

through new space management policies. 

Agency lead for goal – Kathryn O. Greene, Senior Sustainability Officer 

Implementation methods – NRC continues to upgrade existing equipment control systems. The 

agency’s new energy management system continues to be installed on equipment within the 

building. The installation of additional variable frequency drives also continues in the TWFN building 

and will be completed in 2011. Also, the agency is evaluating an electrical conditioning (Electra 

Flow) product that will save 3.5 percent of our total electrical usage or 1,000,000 kW annually, with a 

ROI of 4 years. These projects together will save the agency an estimated 1,500,000 kW per year. 

NRC has investigated the installation of renewable energy production equipment and has found that 

the agencies surface area where equipment could be installed would not produce sufficient power to 

give a reasonable ROI, making this project not worthwhile doing with the current technology. 
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The NRC has reduced petroleum use in its fleet vehicles by 100% by replacing them with flex-fuel or 

E85 vehicles as the GSA leases expired. Of the 27 vehicles in place today, two will be eliminated in 

FY 2012, two in FY 2013, and three in FY 2014. 

Because the NRC headquarters is currently dispersed between five different locations, shuttle 

services and leased government vehicles must be used to ensure staff can move between locations 

to accomplish the core missions of the agency. The NRC will reduce its fleet size when its new 

Three White Flint North building is occupied beginning FY 2012. As each of the four outlying interim 

buildings is decommissioned, existing shuttle services (a total of six shuttle buses) will be reduced. 

The shuttle services are also being reviewed to identify opportunities to reduce schedules and/or 

eliminate some of the services beginning in FY 2011. The NRC met with representatives of General 

Services Administration (GSA) and the Department of Health and Human Services early in FY 2011 

to determine if there was opportunity to merge or share existing services. This effort yielded no 

promising results due to the challenges with headquarters staff being dispersed to locations that are 

not near other federal agencies. 

All five vehicles leased for senior executives (the NRC Chairman and four Commissioners) were 

replaced in FY 2010 with low-GHG emitting vehicles. The NRC is awaiting opportunities for suitable 

hybrid vehicles to replace these when their leases expire. 

Positions – Currently a full-time Federal employee is dedicated to managing the NRC fleet of leased 

vehicles and the existing shuttle services. The other duties for Scope 1 and 2 are handled as 

collateral duties.

Agency Status – The NRC had a 1.5 percent increase of CO2 emissions and a 2.2 percent 

increase of electrical usage in 2010 over our 2008 baseline report. We attribute this increase to the 

agency “New Flex” program which allows employees to work between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 

11:00 p.m. This program increased working hours by 50 percent over 2008. The increased working 

hours negated the energy savings expected by the new T5 lighting fixtures installed in the One White 

Flint North (OWFN) building. Also the weather played a significant factor in our increased energy 

use. Between 2008 and 2010, the NRC experienced a 10 percent increase in heating and cooling 

degree days making 2010 energy usage higher than 2008. 

Currently the agency is planning to use embedded funds for the new Electra Flow System. If this 

system is found to meet the savings criteria and funds are verified, the system will be installed prior 

to the end of FY 2011. 

Return on Investment – No agency projects or initiatives included in the submission of the 

previous year’s Sustainability Plan have been deliberately cancelled or suspended due to a 

lower than expected ROI. Likewise, no agency projects or initiatives have been expanded 

due to a higher than expected ROI.

Highlights – The agency is very happy with the results or the new building automation 

system installed in TWFN. The calculations for the first full 4 months are showing a 

980,000 kilowatts decrease in energy usage. 

 
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Planning Table

SCOPE 1 and 2 GHG 

TARGET Unit FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 ... FY 

20 

Buildings Energy Intensity Reduction 

Goals (BTU/SF reduced 

from FY 2003 base year) 

% 15 18 21 24 27 30 ... hold 

Planned Energy Intensity 

Reduction (BTU/SF 

reduced from FY 2003 base 

year) 

% 1 3.5 3.5 .33 .33 .33 ... ? 

Renewable Electricity 

Goals 

(Percent of electricity from 

renewable sources) 

% 5 5 5 7.5 hold hold ... hold 

Planned Renewable 

Electricity Use (Percent of 

electricity from renewable 

sources) 

% 0 0 0 0 0 0 ... ? 

Fleet 

Petroleum Use Reduction 

Targets(Percent reduction 

from FY 2005 base year) 

% 100 100 100 100 100 100 ... hold 

Planned Petroleum Use 

Reduction(Percent 

reduction from FY 2005 

base year) 

% 100 100 100 100 100 100 ... hold 

Alternative Fuel Use in 

Fleet AFV Target (Percent 

increase from FY 2005 

base year) 

% 100 100 100 100 100 100 ... hold 

Planned Alternative Fuel 

Use in Fleet AFV (Percent 

increase from FY 2005 

base year) 

% 100 100 100 100 100 100 

...

hold 

Senior Executive Fleet 

Replaced with Low-GHG, 

High Efficiency Vehicles 

(Percent replaced from FY 

2008 base year) 

% 100 100 100 100 100 100 

...

hold 

Total Scope 1 and 2 GHG 

Emissions 

(Comprehensive) 

MMT 

CO2e 14,007 

...

Total Scope 1&2 GHG 

Emissions (Subject to 

Agency Scope 1 and 2 

GHG Reduction Target) 

MMT 

CO2e 14,007 13,446 12,980 12,391 11,896 11,420 

Overall Agency Scope 1 

and 2 Reduction (reduced 

from 

FY 2008 base year) 

% +1.5 .44 .44 .44 .44 .44 

...

4.4 

 
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GOAL 2: Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Develop and Maintain Agency 

Comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Goal description – Reduce the agency Scope 3 GHG production by 5 percent in 2020. 

Agency lead for goal – Kathryn O. Greene, Senior Sustainability Officer 

Implementation methods – Reductions of Scope 3 GHG will be a challenge to the agency. A 

sizable level of the NRC’s mission requires our employee’s to perform site inspection of nuclear 

power plants which requires a significant amount of air and ground travel. The NRC is looking 

at these requirements as well as other travel performed by the agency to evaluate which types 

of travel may be averted with the use of video teleconferencing and Web-based training. 

Employee commuting is being addressed in two ways. Employees are encouraged to use mass 

transit through the agency transit subsidy program. Also, employees are given incentives to 

car share, van pool, or bike to work. The agency is also expanding its telework program with 

an increase of 5 percent between FY 2009 and FY 2010, and estimating an additional 

5 percent increase in FY 2011. 

NRC has implemented a hybrid approach to GHG inventory verification, consisting of the following 

elements: 

• Inventory Management Plan (IMP) – NRC’s IMP provides the corporate perspective for 

development and management of the GHG inventory, including procedures, roles and 

responsibilities. 

• Data and GHG Inventory Verification – Conducted by a team of independent, PRIZIM staff 

with no role in the development, management or reporting of GHG inventory data. This 

review will confirm the efficacy of the data and will identify and correct significant 

discrepancies before the GHG inventory is submitted. 

• PRIZIM’s Verification Team was responsible for conducting the second party verification of 

data supporting NRC’s baseline FY 2008 and FY 2010 Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG inventories. 

• PRIZIM’s Verification Team walked through each line item on the Federal Energy 

Management Program (FEMP) GHG Tool to ensure all data entered reflects actual NRC 

data, using correct units, significant figures and is realistic for an operation of NRC’s size. 

The Federal Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Reporting Guidance details the procedures for 

Federal agencies to comply with Subsection 2(c), EO 13514. The NRC followed this Guidance for 

Scope 3 GHG emissions. The NRC uses the FEMP Energy and GHG Reporting Tool to collect and 

calculate the agency Scope 3 data. 

Positions - Currently there is no full time person responsible for this activity. These duties are 

handled as collateral duties. 

 
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Planning Table

SCOPE 3 GHG 

TARGET Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 ... FY 20 

Total Scope 3 GHG 

Emissions 

(Comprehensive) 

MMTCO

2e 23.73 23.13 22.55 21.99 21.44 20.90 ... 20.45 

Total Scope 3 GHG 

Emissions(Subject to 

agency Scope 3 GHG 

Reduction Target) 

MMTCO

2e 23.73 23.13 22.55 21.99 21.44 20.90 

...

33.55 

Overall agency Scope 

3 Reduction (reduced 

from FY 2008 base 

year) 

% 

+9.3 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 ... 5 

Agency Status – The NRC has experienced a 9.2 percent increase in total Scope 3 GHG 

production above the FY 2008 baseline. Increases in GHG were found in “air travel” currently at 

19.5 percent, employee commuting currently at 5.5 percent, and waste water treatment currently at 

10.2 percent. The agency did reduce Scope 3 GHG in municipal solid waste by 29.1 percent over 

FY 2008. 

Return on Investment – No agency projects or initiatives included in the submission of the previous 

year’s Sustainability Plan have been deliberately cancelled or suspended due to a lower than 

expected ROI. Likewise, no agency projects or initiatives have been expanded due to a higher than 

expected ROI. 

Highlights – None 

GOAL 3: High-Performance Sustainable Design / Green Buildings, Regional and Local 

Planning 

This goal does not apply to NRC. 

GOAL 4: Water Use Efficiency and Management 

Goal description – Reduce potable water use intensity by at least 26 percent and landscaping, 

water use by at least 20 percent by FY 2020. 

Agency lead for goal – Kathryn O. Greene, Senior Sustainability Officer 

Implementation methods – NRC has begun renovating 53 restrooms in the OWFN building. These 

renovations include the replacement of all water use fixtures. This project will be completed in 

phases with expected completion in FY 2013 pending availability of funds. When completed, the 

estimated water savings will be in the range of 25 to 40 percent for this building with a savings of 15 

percent overall. The agency is currently investigating a project to modernize our landscape irrigation 

system by relocating watering heads, and installing soil moisture and rain sensors. It is estimated 

that this project will reduce landscape water usage by 10 percent. 

 
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Positions – Currently there is no full time person for this activity. These duties are handled as 

collateral duties. 

Agency Status – Currently the agency is working to install new water use conservation fixtures 

throughout the OWFN building. 

Return on Investment – No agency projects or initiatives included in the submission of the 

previous year’s Sustainability Plan have been deliberately cancelled or suspended due to a 

lower than expected ROI. Likewise, no agency projects or initiatives have been expanded due 

to a higher than expected ROI. 

Highlights – The NRC has reduced potable water usage from the base year by 16 percent. 

These savings are attributed to aggressive maintenance of our cooling towers. 

Planning Table

WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND 

MANAGEMENT Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 ... FY 20 

Potable Water Reduction 

Targets (gal/SF reduced from 

FY 2008 base year) % 6 8 10 12 14 16 

...

26 

Planned Potable Water 

Reduction (gal/SF reduced from 

FY08 base year) % -8.3 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 

...

26 

Industrial, Landscaping, and 

Agricultural Water Reduction 

Targets (gal reduced from 

FY 2010 base year) % 0 2 4 6 8 10 

...

20 

Planned Industrial, Landscaping, 

and Agricultural Water 

Reduction (gal reduced from 

FY 2010 base year) % X 2 2 2 2 2 

...

20 

GOAL 5: Pollution Prevention and Waste Reduction 

Goal description – Divert at least 50 percent non-hazardous solid waste by FY 2015, and divert at 

least 50 percent construction and demolition (C&D) materials and debris by FY 2015. 

Agency lead for goal – Kathryn O. Greene, Senior Sustainability Officer 

Implementation methods – The NRC has an effective building recycling program in place. We 

collect office paper, newspapers, metal, plastic and glass. In an effort to increase 

our reduction of waste, the agency is starting a direct office collection program where Grade 1 

paper will be picked up once every 2 weeks. Currently the agency requires all C&D waste to 

be recycled and the documentation to be provided to the NRC. 

The NRC uses only 100 percent recycled content paper, and has a policy to print and copy on 

both sides of a sheet of paper when possible. All hazardous materials used by the NRC are 

recycled in accordance with the Federal, state, and local regulations. 
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Positions – Currently there is no full time person for this activity. These duties are handled as 

collateral duties. 

Agency Status – The NRC is currently exceeding the waste reduction FY 2020 requirements. 

Return on Investment – No agency projects or initiatives included in the submission of the 

previous year’s Sustainability Plan have been deliberately cancelled or suspended due to 

a lower than expected ROI. Likewise, no agency projects or initiatives have been expanded 

due to a higher than expected ROI. 

Highlights – The NRC is currently exceeding the FY 2020 waste diversion requirements. In 

FY 2010 the agency diverted 62 percent of total waste from the landfill. 

Planning Table 

GOAL 6: Sustainable Acquisition 

Goal description – Ensure 95 of all new contracts, including non-exempt contract 

modifications, require products and services that are energy efficient, water efficient, bio-based, 

environmentally preferable, non-ozone depleting, contain recycled content, non-toxic or less 

toxic alternatives.

Agency lead for goal – Kathryn O. Greene, Senior Sustainability Officer 

Implementation methods – In the area of sustainable acquisition, the NRC will provide information 

to its headquarters and regional office staff to ensure compliance with the 95 percent requirement 

and environmental laws and regulations, including EO 13514, EO 13423, and the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture’s BioPreferred Program. Given that the NRC leases its workspace from GSA there are 

few procurement actions associated with sustainable buildings or real property. 

POLLUTION PREVENTION & WASTE 

REDUCTION Units FY10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 ... FY 20 

Non-Hazardous Solid Waste Diversion 

Targets (Non-C&D) % 50 50 50 50 50 50 ... ? 

C&D Material & Debris Diversion Targets % 75 75 75 75 75 75 ... ? 

If agency uses on-site or off-site waste-toenergy, estimated total weight of materials 

managed through waste-to-energy

Tons or 

pounds 0 0 0 0 0 0 

...

? 

Number of sites or facilities with on-site 

composting programs # 0 0 0 0 0 0 ... ? 

Number of sites or facilities recycling through 

off-site composting programs # 0 0 0 0 0 0 ... ? 

If agency has on-site or off-site composting 

programs, estimated total weight of materials 

diverted to composting 

Tons 

or 

pounds 0 0 ? 0 0 0 

...

? 

% of agency-operated offices/sites with a 

recycling program % 100 100 100 100 100 100 ... ? 

If agency offices located in multi-tenant 

buildings, % of those buildings with a 

recycling program % 100 100 100 100 100 100 

...

? 

% of agency-operated residential housing 

with recycling programs % N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A ... ? 
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Action Item # 1: FY 2011 Milestone – The NRC will create a new local contract clause that 

addresses the 95 percent green requirement to be included in all solicitations and 

contracts. 

Action Item #2: FY 2011 and FY 2012 Milestones – By July 30, 2012, the NRC will provide or 

facilitate annual green purchasing training for agency acquisition professionals. 

Action Item #3: FY 2011 and FY 2012 Milestones – Periodic file reviews will be conducted to 

encourage and compel compliance with environmental laws and regulations. 

Positions – The development and implementation of this plan is supported by one employee. The 

actual implementation of this green requirement goal is undertaken by Contracting Officers and 

Contract Specialists working in collaboration with the lead in meeting requirements as established by 

EO 13423 and EO 13514. 

 Planning Table 

SUSTAINABLE ACQUISITION Units FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 

New Contract Actions Meeting 

Sustainable Acquisition 

Requirements 

% * 95 

hold hold hold hold 

Energy Efficient Products (Energy 

Star, FEMP-designated, and low 

standby power devices) 

% 

* 95 95 95 95 95 

Water Efficient Products % * 95 95 95 95 95 

Biobased Products % * 95 95 95 95 95 

Recycled Content Products % * 95 95 95 95 95 

Environmentally Preferable 

Products/Services (excluding 

EPEAT – EPEAT is included in 

Goal 7) 

% 

* 95 95 95 95 95 

SNAP/non-ozone depleting 

substances % * 95 95 95 95 95 

* No data was available for FY 2010 

 
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Planning Table 

SUSTAINABLE 

ACQUISITION CONTRACT 

REVIEW 

1st QTR 

FY 11 

(10/1/10 – 

12/31/10) 

2nd QTR 

FY 11 

(1/1/11 – 

3/31/11) 

3rd QTR 

FY 11 

(Planned) 

4th QTR 

FY 11 

(Planned) 

Total Number Agency 

Contracts 

17 20 46 30 

Total Number Contracts 

Eligible for Review 

8 6 TBD TBD 

Total Contracts Eligible 

Contract Reviewed (i.e., 5% 

or more eligible based on 

previous OMB guidance)* 

2 2 --- --- 

Number of Compliant 

Contracts 

1 1 --- --- 

 

Discuss how contracts identified in the table above were selected for review. 

The agency generated reports from the Automated Acquisition Management System (AAMS) to 

identify contracts awarded in the first and second quarters of FY 2011 as well as reports for planned 

actions included in the annual procurement plan for the third and fourth quarters of FY 2011. The 

contracts were then reviewed by NRC staff to determine which were applicable (eligible) for green 

mandates (e.g., energy efficient products, water efficient products, bio-based products, recycled 

content products, environmentally preferable products/services, and SNAP/non-ozone depleting 

substances). Of the narrowed list of eligible contracts, NRC staff conducted a brief file review of two 

files for each quarter to assess compliance. Of the four contract files reviewed, two contracts 

included environmental requirements in the statements of work (SOW). While the two remaining 

contracts were listed as eligible contracts, the work did not seem subject to any of the green 

mandates. 

It is hopeful that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in response to concerns raised by 

the Federal Sustainable Acquisition and Materials Management Practices Workgroup, will issue 

guidance (including examples) to agencies so that it is more apparent whether or not a requirement 

would be eligible or ineligible for consideration. 

Agency Status – In FY 2010, the NRC received a block of environmental training from Ms. Dana 

Arnold, Director, Program Analysis Division, FAS Office of Acquisition Management, GSA. In 

keeping with past practice, the NRC has invited Ms. Arnold to assist NRC with its green training for 

FY 2011. Ms. Arnold recommended that we register NRC’s acquisition workforce and project 

officers to take the 1-hour GSA green purchasing on-line training entitled, “Green Purchasing for the 

Federal Acquisition Workforce,” to increase awareness and understanding of applicable 

environmental laws and regulations. 

Return on Investment – None 

Highlights – A contract that we would like to highlight involves construction services at the new 

Three White Flint North (3WFN) building in Rockville, Maryland where the use of energy efficient, 

bio-based, and other environmentally preferable materials is required and where conservation is a 

key requirement and integral to the SOW. 
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GOAL 7: Electronic Stewardship and Data Centers 

Goal Description – All equipment in the NRC Production Data Center is used in an environmentally 

friendly and responsible way, both in keeping with executive orders as well as OMB Federal Data 

Center Consolidation Initiative guidelines. As a general rule, Data Centers consume large amounts 

of energy to both power the equipment as well as maintain the temperature and humidity at optimal 

levels. The NRC will continue to work towards improved monitoring of power consumption as well as 

reducing energy usage in the Data Center through both the use of more energy efficient equipment 

as well as using new technologies such as server virtualization. 

Agency lead for goal – Kathryn O. Greene, Senior Sustainability Officer 

Implementation Methods – The NRC is improving Data Center sustainability through: 

1. Improvements in what equipment is being monitored; 

2. Replacement of older, less energy efficient equipment with equipment which is much more 

efficient; and 

3. The use of server virtualization technology. 

Positions – Currently, the NRC has a full-time Federal employee dedicated to managing the 

NRC Data Center; however, power utilization is a minor component of their duties. 

Agency Status – Currently, the NRC is continuing to expand the use of server virtualization. The 

NRC will continue to replace the oldest, least power efficient servers with servers that will be able to 

support the continued expansion of virtualized servers. Due to the lag between equipment purchase 

and the arrival at the Data Center, purchases made in FY 2011 will likely be placed into service late 

in FY 2011 and throughout FY 2012. 

Return on Investment – No agency projects or initiatives included in the submission of the 

previous year’s Sustainability Plan have been deliberately cancelled or suspended due to a 

lower than expected ROI. Likewise, no agency projects or initiatives have been expanded due to a 

higher than expected ROI. 

Highlights – In FY 2010, NRC purchased Data Center environmental monitoring hardware and 

software which is now being installed in two NRC headquarters Data Centers. This will 

allow power and temperature monitoring at the computer rack level. In addition, as part of the 

planning for a new Data Center in the 3WFN building now under construction includes a more 

sophisticated power and environmental management system for all mechanical devices (Chiller 

Tower on/off status, water pressure, water temperature (inlet, outlet), CRAC’s, UPS, PDU’s, leak 

detection, smoke/fire detection) which may affect the performance of the Data Center. 

Since FY 2009, the Office of Information Services has replaced approximately 25 percent of the 

older computer servers with 

Energy Star® qualified equipment. These servers are the most energy efficient servers available in 

the industry. Beginning in FY 2011 and forward, requisitions will also seek EPEAT and FEMP 
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designated electronic products for the Data Centers whenever possible. Equipment which has 

exceeded its useful life is returned to the NRC Warehouse for disposition. 

Also in FY 2010, in keeping with greening initiatives mandated by OMB and the Whitehouse, NRC 

began virtualizing servers. In an effort which began when the first virtualized server was deployed in 

production in April 2010 through September 30, 2010, a total of 39 servers, or 15 percent of the 

servers had been virtualized, well on the way to meeting the target of 50 virtualized servers in 12 

months. As part of that effort, NRC retired 19 power-inefficient servers. 

In addition, NRC is enhancing greening initiatives by implementing the following steps: 

1. Replacing old computer racks without sides or doors, with new racks with sides, and installing 

blanking panels to improve airflow. 

2. Removing excess cabling and removing and retiring unused equipment and performing proper 

cable management to increase airflow. 

3. Reducing foot traffic in the data center by supporting enhanced remote access capabilities in 

order to reduce the demand for cooling. 

Planning Table

 ELECTRONIC STEWARDSHIP & DATA CENTERS Unit FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 

Percentage of electronic product acquisition covered by 

current Energy Star specifications that must be energystar qualified % 100 100 100 100 100 100 

Percentage of covered electronic product acquisitions 

that are EPEAT- registered % 85 85 85 85 85 85 

Percentage of covered electronic product acquisitions 

that are FEMP- designated % 20 40 60 70 75 75 

Percentage of agency, eligible PC, Laptops, and 

Monitors with power management actively implemented 

and in use 

% 55 65 75 80 80 80 

Percentage of agency, eligible electronic printing 

products with duplexing features in use % 10 75 80 85 90 95 

Percentage of electronic assets covered by sound 

disposition practices % 100 100 100 100 100 100 

Percentage of agency data centers independently 

metered, advanced metered, or sub-metered to 

determine monthly (or more frequently) Power Utilization 

Effectiveness (PUE). 

% 0 0 66 66 100 100 

Reduction in the number of agency data centers # 0 0 0 0 1 1 

Percentage of agency data centers operating with an 

average CPU utilization greater than 65 percent % 5 25 40 55 55 55 

Maximum annual weighted average Power Utilization 

Effectiveness (PUE) for agency # 3.0 2.9 2.5 2.5 1.8 1.6 
-15- 

Section 3: Agency Self-Evaluation 

 

Does your Sustainability Plan incorporate and align sustainability goals, GHG targets 

and overarching objectives for sustainability with the Agency Strategic Plan? Y 

Does it provide annual targets, strategies and approaches for achieving the 2015 and 

2020 goals? Y 

Is the Sustainability Plan consistent with the FY 2012 President’s Budget? Y

Does the Sustainability Plan integrate all statutory and Executive Order requirements 

into a single implementation framework for advancing sustainability goals along with 

existing mission and management goals, making the best use of existing and available 

resources? 

Y 

Does your plan include methods for obtaining data needed to measure progress, 

evaluate results, and improve performance? Y 

Other Key Questions for FY 2011: 

1. Did your agency meet the December 30, 2010, due date and/or is it now able to 

demonstrate comprehensive implementation of the E.O. 13423 “Electronic Stewardship” 

goals? 

• Acquire at least 95 percent EPEAT-registered electronics 

All of the agency systems leased from the current NRC seat management contract are 100 

percent Energy Star® compliant and meet EPEAT standards today. The NRC has GFE 

equipment that is not currently registered with EPEAT. Because of this aspect, the NRC is 

currently 85 percent compliant. 

• Enable energy star or power management features on 100 percent of eligible personal 

computers 

Power management functions have been enabled on the seat managed monitors; however, 

due to difficulty with conflicts in the NRC operating system patching process, certain power 

management functionality has not been implemented. 

• Extends the life and/or uses sound disposition practices for its excess or surplus 

electronics. 

All leased equipment is returned to the lessor when no longer needed. NRC owned 

equipment is placed into surplus and/or donated in accordance with GSA guidelines. 

2. Is your agency tracking and monitoring all of its contract awards for inclusion of 

requirements for mandatory federally-designated green products in 95 percent of relevant 

acquisitions? 

The NRC does not currently have a formal method for tracking compliance with the 95 percent green 

requirement. Currently, the NRC is soliciting offers for a new acquisition software system which 

could be used to assist in tracking such information, but implementation of a new system may not 

occur until 2-3 years in the future. In the interim, the NRC will conduct periodic environmental desk 
-16- 

reviews to monitor compliance, investigate adding data fields into NRC’s acquisition system, AAMS, 

to track green purchases, and provide for increased green information/awareness training for NRC 

staff to achieve greater understanding of and compliance with the 95 percent requirement. 

3. Has your agency completed energy evaluations on at least 75 percent of its facilities? 

The NRC has completed energy evaluations on 100 percent of our facilities.

4. Will your agency meet the deadline of October 1, 2012 (EPACT’05 Sec 103) for 

 metering of energy use? 

The NRC has met the EPACT’05 Sec 103 for metering of energy and 100 percent of NRC managed 

facilities are metered. 

5. If your agency reports in the FRPP, will it be able to report by December 2011, that at least 

7 percent of its inventory meets the High Performance Sustainable Guiding Principles? 

The NRC does not report in the Federal Real Property Report system. The NRC buildings are 

reported through GSA.
-16 -

environmental desk reviews to monitor compliance, investigate adding data fields into NRC’s 

acquisition system, AAMS, to track green purchases, and provide for increased green 

information/awareness training for NRC staff to achieve greater understanding of and 

compliance with the 95 percent requirement. 

3. Has your agency completed energy evaluations on at least 75 percent of its facilities? 

The NRC has completed energy evaluations on 100 percent of our facilities.

4. Will your agency meet the deadline of October 1, 2012 (EPACT’05 Sec 103) for 

 metering of energy use? 

The NRC has met the EPACT’05 Sec 103 for metering of energy and 100 percent of NRC 

managed facilities are metered. 

5. If your agency reports in the FRPP, will it be able to report by December 2011 that at 

least 7 percent of its inventory meets the High Performance Sustainable Guiding 

Principles? 

The NRC does not report in the Federal Real Property Report system. The NRC buildings are 

reported through GSA. 

DISTRIBUTION: W201000009/EDATS: SECY-2010-0324/ADM 10-0188/ADM 11-0066 

Public SGriffin, ADM BRowhani, ADM APretzello, ADM 

MRossLee, ADM RidsEdoMailCenter RidsSecyMailCenter RidsOgcMailCenter 

RidsAdmMailCenter VHuth, ADM ASanchez, ADM DMeyer, ADM 

SSchoenmann, ADM KParadiso, OIS TRich, OIS 

 

ADAMS Accession No.: ML102310572 *E-mail concurrence 

OFFICE ADM/DFS ADM/DFS/DD ADM/DFS/D ADM/DAS* 

NAME BRowhani APretzello MJRoss-Lee SSchoenmann for 

DMeyer 

DATE 05/20/2011 05/20/2011 05/24/2011 06/01/2011 

OFFICE ADM/DC* OIS* ADM/DD ADM/D 

NAME ASanchez KParadiso SStewart-Clark KOGreene 

(SStewart-Clark for) 

DATE 05/25/2011 05/25/2011 06/02 /2011 06/02/2011 

 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY