National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

JSC

Annual Sustainability Report

2012

12%

3 69%

99% 404,644 kWh 

$54,400,000

$30,000

280,000 

GALLONS

321,660

SQUARE FEET

750 ACRES

in equipment redistribution 

instead of disposal

saved in 10 weeks through 

a JSC Green Team energysaving competition

of water 

runoff 

saved for 

irrigation

more 

efficient 

chillers 

installed

REDUCTION 

in electricity 

consumption 

from FY 2011

REDUCTION 

in hazardous 

waste generation 

over 20 years

of renewable energy 

generated onsite

11%REDUCTION

in water use 

from FY 2011

REDUCTION

in petroleum fuel 

use in fleet vehicles 

from FY 2005

of certified green 

building space 

containing rare Texas 

Coastal Prairie Habitat 

One Presidential 

GreenGov award 

earned by NASA
Table of Contents Sustainability at JSC

Overview 1

Energy 2

Materials & Waste 4

Water 6

Land 8

Air 10

People 12

Contact Information Back Cover

Sustainability is a mindset that demonstrates a balance 

between economic vitality, environmental stewardship, 

and social responsibility when considering short 

and long-term planning. Businesses refer 

to this concept as the “The Triple Bottom Line.” The National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

(NASA) Johnson Space 

Center (JSC) has been 

implementing aspects of 

sustainability for over 

20 years, and with the 

NASA Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (SSPP) 

providing specific 

sustainability goals 

and targets, 

JSC can provide 

a coordinated 

effort to reach 

and even surpass 

these goals. JSC 

developed the fiscal 

year (FY) 2012 Annual 

Sustainability Report to 

document these efforts 

and bring awareness to the 

JSC community.

As the first report of its kind, this 

JSC Annual Sustainability Report is an 

accumulation of JSC’s sustainability efforts 

over FY 2012. The report provides a status on how 

JSC is working to accomplish NASA’s SSPP sustainability goals and tasks and includes major accomplishments from past years. Statuses fall under 6 major 

resource areas, as defined in the JSC Sustainability 

Engagement Strategy: Energy, Materials & 

Waste, Water, Land, Air, and People. 

This is by no means an exhaustive 

list of accomplishments. More 

success stories and goal 

details are available on 

the JSC Sustainability 

Web Site.

JSC may not have 

funding for all the necessary environmental 

projects to instantly 

transform JSC into 

a sustainable facility, 

but the Federal government and NASA 

set over 60 goals 

and targets for JSC 

to accomplish over 

the next few years. In 

order to reach these 

goals, we must make 

every project and program 

an opportunity to generate 

positive environmental impacts 

and improve JSC’s environmental, social, and economical standing. 

As this report shows, every effort does 

make a difference, and we challenge each one 

of you to find ways to incorporate sustainability into 

your lives every day, at work and at home.

Sustainability helps us consider all the costs of a project or process. If you just consider the product or 

installation costs, you might end up paying more for maintenance, energy, waste disposal, or regulatory 

compliance in the long run. Life-cycle analyses can help prevent hidden costs, maximize the return on 

your investment, and reduce environmental impacts. 

Considering Cost Alone Can Be Expensive!

Environmentally friendly and less expensive, 

who would have thought?

1

Energy People

Air

Water Land

Materials/

Waste
Energy

Energy resources include energy sources that JSC needs to operate the site. Topics covered in this area include 

electricity, natural gas, and fuel consumption, as well as renewable energy sources and building efficiency. 

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Energy Usage

In FY 2012, JSC used over 

177 million kilowatt hours 

(kWh) of electricity, enough 

to power 14,000 homes or 

3/4 of the homes on Galveston Island for a whole year. 

Natural Gas Impact

JSC would have to plant 

2 million trees to absorb 

all the carbon dioxide released from burning natural 

gas at JSC in FY 2012.

Solar

JSC has 14 

solar panel 

arrays at the 

Child Care 

Center. 

Geo-thermal

JSC has geo-thermal 

heat pumps at the Child 

Care Center.

Solar/Wind

JSC has 

22 solar 

and windpowered 

parking lights.

Solar Water Heaters

JSC has solar 

thermal water 

heaters at the 

Gilruth and 

Child Care 

Centers.

Wind

JSC has 

2 wind 

turbines at 

the Child 

Care Center.

Solar Sunshades

JSC’s newly renovated 

Building 12 has 240 

solar panels on the 

sunshades 

installed 

on the 

side of the 

building.

Did You Know

During FY 2013, 7.5% of JSC’s electricity usage must be from renewable sources.

When first installed, JSC’s renewable sources and energy conservation measures won the Center the 

2010 NASA Blue Marble Award for Excellence in Energy and Water Management. In FY 2012, 11% 

(20 million kWh) of JSC’s electricity came from renewable energy generated onsite and the purchase of 

Renewable Energy Credits for offsite electricity generation.

JSC Energy Intensity

All buildings over 

5,000 square feet have 

electricity meters to 

monitor building use 

and efficiency.

Goal: Reduce energy intensity by 3% annually (for a total of 30%) from FY 2003 through 

FY 2015. Energy intensity is British Thermal Units (BTUs) per gross square foot (GSF).

In FY 2012, JSC 

reduced electricity 

consumption 

by 12% from 

FY 2011.

In FY 2012, JSC designed an Energy 

Dashboard that employees can use to 

look at how their buildings are performing.

Energy Meters Electricity Reduction 

New Energy Dashboard

1. Encourage behavior that saves energy, such as unplugging electronics 

when not in use.

2. Identify additional areas for energy improvements. 

3. Encourage employees to turn off computers during nights and 

weekends.

FY 2013 Focus Areas

JSC’s Onsite Renewable Sources 

2 3

12%
Materials & Waste

Materials & Waste resources include anything that JSC buys, sells, or disposes of to keep the site running and 

the Mission accomplished. Topics covered in this area include green purchasing, reuse, recycling, and pollution 

prevention.

JSC recycled 2.8 million pounds of trash 

in FY 2012, equivalent to the weight of 

16 Orbiters. This saved JSC $228,000.

Recycling save money and 

meets Agency sustainability goals. Any revenue from 

recycling more valuable items, 

like scrap metal, helps fund 

the cost of recycling bins, 

outreach efforts, and pollution 

prevention projects.

Installing a Zero-Waste Pollution Prevention system for the 

JSC Photo Lab in 2003 completely eliminated one of the 

largest hazardous waste streams at JSC — it historically 

generated over 5 million pounds a year.

Recycling plastic bottles 

started with YOU! Because JSC employees 

demanded plastic bottle 

recycling, JSC initiated 

site-wide collection in 

2008. Every effort does 

make a difference!

Over the past 

20 years, JSC 

reduced hazardous waste 

generation by 

99.9%, saving hundreds 

of thousands 

of dollars.

In FY 2011, JSC substituted a biobased cutting fluid for a 

petroleum product in 20 metal fabrication machines, saving 

$30,000 per year in waste disposal costs.

1. Expand the composting program.

2. Improve the waste diversion rates at unmanned recycling locations.

3. Improve construction and demolition debris recycling and reporting.

4. Increase sustainable acquisition purchases for designated items (e.g., 

signs, cleaners, carpet, paint, toner cartridges, office products, etc.).

In addition to mulching 

leaves and branches, 

JSC collects preparation scraps from the 

2 cafés as part of 

a pilot project.

In FY 2012, JSC composted 638,940 pounds, 

avoiding over $50,000 

in waste disposal costs.

JSC reduced 

hazardous waste 

generation by 39% 

in 2 years, from 

62,853 pounds 

in FY 2010 to 

38,500 pounds

in FY 2012.

Recycling 

Benefits

JSC’s Pollution

Prevention Success

Amazing Past Achievement!

YOU Make A

Difference!

Biobased Can Help You Save

FY 2013 Focus Areas

Composting

4 5

?

Did You Know

99%

39%

JSC Waste Diversion

Recycled

Goal: Divert at least 50% of trash from landfills by FY 2015.
FY 2013 Focus Areas

Water

Water resources include the water that comes and goes from the site. Topics covered in this area include 

potable water, water reuse, firewater, wastewater, and stormwater. JSC is very close to several lakes, 

streams, and bayous, so managing our water resources appropriately is critical. 

Potable Water

JSC uses enough 

water each year to 

supply over 2,400 

houses a year, over 

307 million gallons. 

Wastewater

JSC decreased the wastewater sent 

offsite for treatment by over 15% 

over the past 6 years from 233 million 

gallons in FY 2007 to 200 million 

gallons in FY 2012, saving $63,000.

1. Encourage the use of WaterSense and water saving fixtures and 

appliances.

2. Identify target areas for water conservation projects. 

3. Encourage water fountain use instead of water dispensers.

Water Consumption

Over the past year and a half, JSC has been working on replacing the 

potable water lines onsite. The project separates the potable water and 

fire water systems, which will reduce the flushing required to maintain 

water quality standards. The old system had large pipes that broke 

frequently during droughts. The upgraded 

system utilizes smaller pipes that will eliminate 

age-related pipe breaks and ensure proper 

pressure and supply. Also, all buildings now 

have water meters that can help identify 

and address problems or leaks.

Building 

20 is a 

certified 

green 

building 

that saves 

potable 

water 

by using 

condensation 

from 

air conditioning to 

water the landscaping around the 

building. 

This year, JSC replumbed the ponds in the Mall area 

to recirculate instead of drain into storm drains. The 

project will save approximately 10 million gallons a 

year, enough to fill 200,000 bathtubs.

During the summer 2011 drought, JSC started collecting and storing water from well flushing to use 

for irrigation. The project saved over 280,000 gallons of potable water over the last year.

The Clear Lake City 

Water Authority provides 

water to JSC; however, 

JSC does have 2 wells 

for emergency use. 

If JSC uses the wells, 

the water is treated in 

2 above ground tanks 

before being distributed 

throughout the site.

Past well-water pumping in the Houston area 

caused subsidence, or 

sinking. JSC has sunk 

over an entire foot in elevation since 1973. Now 

only about 15 feet above 

sea level, JSC may see 

greater flooding impacts 

from storms.

Water Line Project

Building 20 

Water Savings

Mall Pond Water Project

Amazing Past Achievement!

Potable Water Subsidence

6 7

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Did You Know

15%

JSC reduced 

potable 

water use 

by 11% 

since FY 

2011.

11%

Goal: Reduce potable water use by at least 26% from FY 2007 through FY 2020.
FY 2013 Focus Areas

Invasive plant species are 

a growing problem. JSC 

has 13 species of concern 

that:

•	 Spread continuously;

•	 Choke out native species that feed and house 

our native wildlife;

•	 Cause more mowing

because they grow taller 

than native species; and

•	 Are costly and difficult

to remove.

Historically, Texas had 6.5 million acres of 

Texas Coastal Prairie Habitat. Today, there is 

only 1% of this vital habitat left, and 750 acres 

at JSC contain Texas Coastal Prairie Habitat.

Invasive Plants Protecting Our 

Coastal Prairie

Land

Land resources include any physical structures, infrastructure, and land-based natural resources that JSC 

owns, maintains, builds, protects, or uses to operate the site. Topics covered in this area include landscaping, 

wildlife, agriculture, vegetation, roads, and buildings, including green buildings and historic facilities. 

Green Roofs

Building 12 has over 68,000 plants 

on its green roof! Green roofs 

help filter stormwater and provide 

better insulation, which reduces 

cooling and heating costs.

Facilities at JSC, EF, and SCTF

• 196 Buildin

• About 4.4 million square feet 

office space

• 1,600 Acr

• JSC has 8 out of NASA’s 30 LE

buildings.

• JSC has 321,660 square feet 

green building space.

1. Develop the Space Life Sciences Laboratory facility.

2. Renovate Building 45.

3. Remove invasive species and begin 500-acre habitat restoration efforts.

4. Maximize the use of office space to reduce resource use.

5. Integrate sustainable maintenance practices in buildings.

JSC has 3 National Historic Landmarks, including the Apollo Mission Control and Viewing 

Room, the Building 32 Space Environment Simulation Lab Chambers A and B, and the Saturn V 

Rocket. Sixteen more facilities are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

JSC has over 250 plant and 

animal species, including 

hawks, rabbits, and 150 deer.

JSC helps local schools learn about Agricultural Science and 

Education with the Texas Longhorn Project.

Only found in Texas, the critically endangered Attwater’s 

Prairie Chicken finds a quiet home at JSC in partnership with 

the Houston Zoo breeding program.

•	 Over 10 acres of wildflowers and sustainable landscapes make

JSC beautiful.

•	 JSC uses all native Texas plants in new landscaping, saving water

and reducing fertilizer and pesticide use.

•	 When JSC cleans out the ponds in the Mall Area, the pond sludge

composts into a natural fertilizer that is used around the site.

Did You Know? 

•	 JSC recycles 50% to 90% of all Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

construction waste and demolition debris. 

•	 LEED buildings use 30% to 50% less energy and water compared to non-LEED buildings.

•	 JSC purchases 100% green power through credits for each LEED building onsite.

•	 Drought-tolerant landscaping surrounds each LEED building, reducing the need for

irrigation. 

•	 The air smells clean and fresh! LEED buildings require the use of low-emitting materials

(i.e., paints, carpet, composite wood, and adhesives) to improve the indoor air quality. 

•	 Many building materials used during construction contain recycled content.

•	 LEED buildings have cool roofs (i.e., reflect more sunlight) to lower cooling costs.

Remembering our Heritage

B20

Platinum Gold Silver Certified

B2N

26

265

12

B29

207A

B27

JSC Wildlife

Partnerships for Texas Critters

Sustainable Landscapes

JSC Green Buildings

(LEED Certified)

(pending)

8 9

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Did You Know

11,661 Glandularia Bipinnatida Dakota Mock Vervain 

11,661 Ruellia Brittoniana ‘Pink’ Dwark Pink Ruellia 

11,661 Sedum Moranense Red Stonecrop 

10,810 Malephora Lutea Rocky Point Ice Plant 

10,810 Sedum Mexicanum Mexican Sedum 

10,810 Sedum Rupestre ‘Angelina’ Angelina Stonecrop 
FY 2013 Focus Areas

Air

Air resources include both indoor and outdoor air. Topics covered in this area mainly focus on outdoor air quality, 

greenhouse gas emissions, and toxic chemical reduction. This is a relatively new area, so JSC is still working on 

gathering data and developing a complete greenhouse gas inventory. 

Scope 1

Emissions from the 

JSC Fleet and onsite 

generators, boilers, 

refrigerators, and air 

conditioning units.

Scope 2

Emissions from electricity, heat, or steam 

generated offsite.

Scope 3

Emissions from 

travel, commuting, and trash 

disposal. 

Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun in the Earth’s atmosphere. The Federal government is 

starting to track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on 3 different source categories:

The Good

Ozone in the stratosphere protects the 

Earth from harmful 

radiation from the 

sun. Certain refrigerants and solvents 

can degrade good 

ozone.

In 2012, Houston 

had 43 days with 

bad ozone levels. 

Fear not! This was 

a decrease from 

the 52 bad ozone 

days in 2011.

Did you know that JSC carpool 

and vanpool vehicles can get 

assigned parking spots onsite? Make sure to sign up with 

NuRide.com to get rewards for 

your carpooling excellence!

JSC has several combustion and emission sources 

onsite to support people and operations, including:

•	 4 large boilers,

•	 33 chillers, and

•	 27 generators.

Many of these sources 

are old and inefficient – 

some over 50 years old.

If 10,000 JSC employees telework once 

a month, it would save approximately 

1,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide 

equivalents per year. This reduces 

emissions the same as if JSC grew 

38,462 sapling trees for 10 years.

The Ugly

Houston has too much ground-level 

ozone, causing smog and health 

problems for the young, the old, 

and the sick. Now, major emission 

generators must work together to 

reduce ground-level ozone. This is 

why counties around Houston require 

emission tests in car inspections.

The Bad

Ground-level 

ozone forms 

when pollutants 

from combustion interact 

with sunlight. 

The result is 

smog. 

Ozone: 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Bad Ozone 

Days

Carpool Pays!

Onsite Combustion and 

Emission Sources

Telework

FY 2012 Accomplishments

1. Encourage employees to replace organic-based solvents and cleaners 

with products that emit fewer pollutants.

2. Expand the JSC greenhouse gas inventory to include Scope 3 sources.

3. Encourage the replacement of target refrigerants, such as R-12 

and R-22.

4. Encourage and record savings from telework and carpooling initiatives. 

1. JSC removed the last of Class I refrigerants from large cooling systems and fire suppression systems. Class I refrigerants have one of 

the largest greenhouse gas potentials if leaked into the environment.

2. JSC now uses battery backup systems to support Mission Control 

during bad weather instead of using generators.

3. JSC replaced old, standby electrical generators with new, emissioncertified engines over the past 2 years.

4. JSC replaced 3 chillers with newer, more efficient models and 

added a new chiller that also uses less harmful refrigerants.

10 11

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Did You Know

JSC Scope 1 & 2 Greenhouse Gases

Goal: Reduce Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 18.3% from FY 2008 

through FY 2020.
FY 2013 Focus Areas

People

People are essential to sustainability and to achieving the triple-bottom line, as well as one of JSC’s most 

valuable resources. Behavior change can make the difference when funds run low, and with over 50 years of 

innovative thinking and accomplishments with some of the top minds in the world, JSC can make significant 

strides towards surpassing Agency sustainability goals. Topics covered in this area include employee wellness, 

behavior change, awareness, environmental planning, and technology transfer.

It Makes a Difference!

Every action you take to meet JSC 

sustainability goals makes a difference! You might not think your 

individual actions save that much, 

but when all 10,000 people at JSC 

shut off their monitor when they 

leave their desk or print doublesided, the savings add up!

Ecological Footprint

If everyone on Earth lived like 

people in the U.S., it would 

take 7 Earths to sustain us.

In FY 2012 and early FY 2013, JSC 

worked with over 50 stakeholders to 

develop the JSC Sustainability Engagement Strategy to help increase 

awareness about Agency sustainability 

goals and Center sustainability efforts.

Early in FY 2012, 

NASA won a 

“Lean, Clean, 

and Green” Presidential GreenGov 

Award in part 

because of 2 

JSC projects. 

Congratulations!

If you stacked the amount of paper JSC 

consumes in a month, the stack would be 

as tall as the Saturn V rocket.

In FY 2010, JSC reduced printing by well 

over 26,147 pages (52 reams) in 4 weeks 

by challenging each JSC Organization to 

reduce copies. 

The JSC Contractor Environmental Partnership (CEP) and 

volunteers hosted 5 community electronic recycling events at 

Space Center Houston from FY 2009 through FY 2012, collecting 

over 595,500 pounds of electronics for responsible recycling and 

15,554 pounds of paper for shredding and recycling.

In FY 2012, JSC challenged 

buildings to reduce their energy 

consumption. The competition 

saved 9,000 kWh per day and 

over $30,000 in just 10 weeks. 

The 2 winning buildings 

reduced their energy usage 

by 26% and 20%.

JSC has 4 Center-wide Sustainability Teams:

1. Environmental Stewardship Subcommittee

2. JSC Green Team

3. JSC Sustainability Partnership Team

4. JSC Contractor Environmental Partnership

Have an idea for a sustainability team? Start your own!

1. Incorporate sustainable features to make every project an environmental project.

2. Get involved with a team or start your own.

3. Check out the JSC Sustainability Web Site (http://www6.jsc.nasa.gov/ja/ja13/capp.cfm) 

for more information on sustainability goals and tips towards making a difference.

JSC 

Sustainability 

Engagement 

Strategy

JSC Helps NASA Win 

A Presidential Award! 

JSC 

Green Team 

Exterminates 

the Copy Beetle

Contractors in Action

JSC Sustainability Teams

How Do I Help?

1. Increase awareness of Agency and Center Sustainability Goals.

2. Provide employees with information on how to make a difference at 

work and at home.

3. Encourage behavior changes that support Mission success and 

sustainability goals.

4. Encourage employees to incorporate features with positive 

environmental impacts into every project.

5. Record more success stories about what JSC is doing and has done 

to meet sustainability goals. 

12 13

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Did You Know

JSC 

Green Team 

Slays Energy 

Vampires
Are you interested in how JSC measures up against NASA’s 

sustainability goals and targets? Check out JSC’s sustainability 

status on the JSC Sustainability Web Page. 

Do you have questions, suggestions, ideas, or success stories? 

Tell us about it! E-mail JSC-Sustainability@mail.nasa.gov with 

your story.

Join the JSC Sustainability Movement. Find out how you can 

help, and make a change. 

Why? Because Every Effort Makes a Difference!