National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

JSC

Annual Sustainability Report

2013

FY2013

Water Consumed: 

325,571,000 gallons

Energy Used: 

1,029,768 MMBTU 

(gas, electric, fuel oil)

Paper Purchased: 447 tons

Petroleum Fuel Used: 

40,863 gasoline gallon equivalents

Alternative Fuels Used: 

55,468 gasoline gallon equivalents

FY2013

Disposed Non-Hazardous Waste: 1,354 tons

Disposed Hazardous Waste: 21 tons

Renewable Energy Produced Onsite: 368,840 kWh

Composted: 192 tons

Total Materials Recycled: 3,420 tons

(Includes paper, cardboard, bottles, cans, scrap metal, 

construction/demolition debris, office supplies, pallets, 

tires, Industrial Solid Waste, and electronics) 

FY2013

Air Emissions:

Carbon Dioxide (CO2): 107,704 metric tons

Particulate Matter (PM): 13.9 tons

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): 5.4 tons

Carbon Monoxide (CO): 3.2 tons

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): 0.1 tons

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 8.2 tons

Johnson Space Center

4,445,851 Gross Square Feet

1,600 Acres
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. 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’s sustainability program breaks down into six major 

resource areas: Energy, Materials & Waste, Water, Land, 

Air, and People. Each resource group identifies ways to 

meet Agency and Center sustainability goals within their 

purview. 

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Annual Sustainability Report 

documents these efforts over the past year and brings 

awareness to the JSC community. This is by no means an 

exhaustive list of accomplishments. More success stories and 

goal details are available on the JSC Sustainability Web Site. Each 

year, JSC makes strides towards achieving Agency and 

Center sustainability goals, and here is our status as of FY 2013. 

Reduce direct GHG emissions by 18.3% and indirect emissions (e.g., commuting, travel) 

by 12.6% by FY 2020 compared to FY 2008. 

Reduce petroleum use by 2% annually, compared to FY 2005, and increase the use of 

alternative fuels by 10% annually through FY 2015.

Divert 50% of solid waste and 50% of construction and demolition debris from landfill.

For FY 2013 and beyond, ensure that 7.5% of total electricity consumption is from renewable 

energy sources.

Evaluate climate change risks to identify and manage the effects of climate change on 

operations and Mission in both the short and long term. 

Reduce potable water intensity (gallons consumed per square foot) by 2% each year, 

compared to FY 2005, and reduce use for industrial, landscaping, and agricultural by 2% 

each year compared to FY 2010.

Procure energy-efficient equipment rated per Electronic Product Environmental Assessment 

Tool (EPEAT) standards, and use best practices for computer operation and disposal.

Reduce energy intensity (energy consumption per gross square feet) by 3% annually 

compared to FY 2003. 

Ensure that at least 15% of existing buildings meet Guiding Principles for High Performance 

Principles by FY 2015.

Ensure that over 95% of applicable new contract actions meet Federal mandates for 

acquiring products that are energy efficient, water efficient, biobased, environmentally 

preferable, non-ozone depleting, recycled content, or are non-toxic or less toxic alternatives.

NASA and JSC Sustainability Goals

1

Energy People

Air

Water Land

Materials/

Waste

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Greenhouse 

Gases (GHG)

Sustainable 

Buildings

Fleet 

Management

Water 

Use

Waste

Sustainable 

Acquisition

Electronic 

Stewardship

Renewable 

Energy

Climate 

Change 

Resilience
Energy

Energy resources include energy sources that JSC needs to operate the site. The goal of Energy is to reduce 

energy consumption while still accomplishing the Mission. Topics covered in this area include electricity, natural 

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

Energy Usage

If JSC employees each 

paid for their energy bill 

at work, each person 

would pay $1,750 a 

year on average!

That’s a Lot of Kilowatt!

In FY 2013, JSC 

used over 168 million 

kilowatt hours (kWh) 

of electricity, more 

than enough to power all the homes in 

the Cities of Webster 

and Dickinson and 

an additional 1,700 

homes for a year. 

The Sonny Carter Training Facility took a proactive approach 

to saving energy and JSC funding during the summer of 2013.

Overall, SCTF’s extensive energy saving efforts reduced their total energy consumption by 1.5%, 

saving $46,565.

JSC Energy Intensity

Many appliances still draw 

power even when turned off, 

accounting for about 5% of 

residential power bills. With 

an $11.6 million electric bill, 

JSC can capture significant 

savings if we unplugged 

appliances when not in use! 

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).

JSC installed motion 

activated lighting and 

personalized lighting 

settings in Building 

419 in FY 2013. This 

pilot project saved 

76,190 kWh since 

January 2013.

In Building 45, the Facility Manager (FM) challenged residents to 

take the stairs when possible to boost health and save energy from 

elevator use. Also, the FM consulted with occupants to remove 

excess lighting in offices to help reduce unnecessary energy usage.

You can help JSC meet energy goals and save funding by incorporating the following into your 

everyday routine:

• Remember to turn off lights when you leave the room.

• Turn off and unplug (or switch surge protectors off) computers, other electronics, and 

appliances when not in use and at the end of each day. 

• Close your blinds during the sunny parts of the day to reduce air conditioning needs. 

• Notify Work Control (x32038) if you see outside building lights on during daylight hours or if 

your office lights do not turn off when they are supposed to.

Capture the Savings Lighting Project

Facility Managers Take Action

Energy Saving Tips

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, and report energy saving opportunities to Facility Managers. 

FY 2014 Focus Areas

SCTF Cuts the Kilowatts

2 3

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Did You Know

Air 

Conditioning

SCTF turned 

off air handlers 

at night instead 

of running 

them 24/7.

Parking 

Lights

SCTF replaced 

parking lot 

lights with 

low-powered 

LED lights.

Lighting 

Cutbacks

SCTF only used 

half of overhead 

lighting in the high 

bay areas during 

the day and 

turned off lights 

at night, saving 

1,000 watts for 

each light bulb.
Materials & Waste

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

the Mission accomplished. The goal of Materials & Waste is to reduce unnecessary material purchases, reduce 

toxics material use, reduce waste, and reform waste into new materials, resulting in procurement and disposal 

savings. Specific topics include green purchasing, reuse, recycling, and pollution prevention.

JSC recycled 

2.2 million 

pounds of trash 

in 2013. That is 

more than twice 

the weight of the 

International 

Space Station.

JSC increased food waste and 

shredded paper composting 

by 45%, from 38,940 pounds 

in 2012 to 56,560 pounds in 

2013.

JSC started 

reconditioning 

empty product 

drums in 2012. 

In the first 18 

months of the 

program, JSC 

diverted 23,220 

pounds from 

landfill and saved 

about $28,700.

Instead of buying new flight 

hardware for each project, 

JSC’s Logistics Branch has a 

streamlined Shared Program 

Stock option that makes 

excess flight-related inventory 

available to other projects, 

which will cut supply 

purchasing, 

storage, and 

disposal 

expenses.

JSC’s Property Branch now 

uses electronic forms for 

equipment transfers instead 

of printing hard copies. 

The Procurement Branch is 

working on implementing 

similar paperless processes. 

In 2013, JSC started 

tracking how much shredded paper was 

securely recycled through the JSC ‘Burn 

Bag’ Program for sensitive documents. This 

increased JSC’s paper recycling rate by about 

12,000 pounds more a month.

In 2013, the JSC Cafés started recycling empty food cans as scrap metal and recycling fryer 

oil. These programs will divert 1,560 cans and 3,640 pounds of fryer oil from disposal. 

1. Expand efforts to go paperless, specifically in shipping and 

procurement documents. 

2. Improve accounting and capture waste diversion weights for all reused 

and recycled NASA property.

3. Improve waste diversion rates at unmanned recycling locations and office areas. 

4. Improve data collection and implementation of sustainable acquisition purchases for 

designated items (e.g., cleaners, carpet, paint, toner cartridges, office products, paper 

products, etc.)

5. Improve data collection of Construction & Demolition (C&D) diversion weights. 

Volunteers in 10 

buildings collected 

over 2.18 tons of used 

coffee grounds and 

shredded paper for 

JSC to compost in the 

first 9 months of the 

Coffee to Compost 

Program. 

In 2013, JSC won a national award 

from the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency for the increase 

in onsite composting efforts. 

JSC composts enough organic 

material to avoid buying 

mulch for landscaping beds across 

the site, saving thousands of dollars.

Composting

Drum Roll, Sharing is Caring

Please!

Electronic Forms Improved 

Paper 

Recycling

JSC Café Recycling

Coffee Grounds FY 2014 Focus Areas

4 5

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Did You Know

JSC Waste Diversion Goal

Goal: Divert at least 50% of trash from landfills by FY 2015.
FY 2014 Focus Areas

Water

Water resources include the water that comes and goes from the site. The goal of Water is to reduce consumption and protect local water resources from potential pollutants. Topics covered in this area include 

potable water, water reuse, fire suppression water, wastewater, and stormwater. JSC is very close to 

several bodies of water, so managing our water resources appropriately is critical to operating sustainably.

Potable Water Use

In FY 2013, JSC used 326 million 

gallons of potable water, enough 

potable water to fill all of 

Building 1 

more than 

17 times!

Potable Water Reduction

Ellington Field decreased 

their potable water use 

by 14% from FY 2012. 

That is enough water to 

provide 32 houses with 

water for an entire month!

1. Encourage employees to conserve water whenever possible.

2. Encourage the use of WaterSense products and waster saving fixtures 

and appliances. 

3. Identify target areas and funding for additional water conservation 

projects.

4. Encourage employees to listen for “rogue water flow.”

5. Review opportunities for recycled water use.

Water Consumption

A JSC employee reported hearing flowing 

water next to Building 13 on a sunny day. 

After investigating, the Environmental 

Office found that Building 13 equipment 

uses potable water to keep cool. After one 

use, the water drains to the stormwater 

discharge system. JSC is installing a 

closed-loop water recycling system to save 

potable water, which has the potential to 

save 3% of JSC’s total water consumption, 

about 9.75 million gallons per year.

Employees are JSC’s eyes 

and ears! Listen and report 

any unusual noises or water 

flows (e.g., water running in 

storm drains on sunny 

days). You efforts might help 

JSC conserve 

water and meet 

sustainability 

goals!

JSC now 

has water 

meters on 

all buildings. 

This will 

help JSC 

identify any 

problems 

or leaks 

quickly. 

JSC Custodial 

implemented new floor 

cleaning equipment 

for common areas that 

reduces the water needed 

to mop floors. In addition, 

it eliminated all except 

one cleaning chemical, 

and added traction for 

increased safety.

JSC potable water usage increased by 

6% in FY 2013 from FY 2012 due to 

several operational and maintenance 

activities, such as pond cleaning, 

State-required potable water tank 

cleaning, and new fire water system 

filling and flushing. Some chilled water 

leaks also contributed to the increase.

JSC added the ability to reroute 

condenser water during cooling 

tower maintenance in Building 

24, which will save 

at least 10 million 

gallons of potable 

water a year. 

Making a Big Difference Look and Listen

Meter Mania Smart Thinking

Water Usage Increase Water Savings

6 7

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Did You Know

14%

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

0037 823 GALLONS

0

90 10

80 20

70 30

60 40

50
FY 2014 Focus Areas

Birds have a hard 

time recognizing 

window glass, and 

they sometimes 

run into the glass 

and injure themselves. Occupants 

in Building 20 

helped reduce 

bird collisions 

by making an 

effort to close 

their blinds during 

major migration 

seasons. That 

is using their 

noggins!

Mucho Mulch

Birds on 

the Brain

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. The goal of Land is to develop and maintain 

facilities in a sustainable and high performing manner. Specific topics include landscaping, wildlife, agriculture, 

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

Debris Diversion

JSC diverted over 95% of 

construction and demolition 

debris from landfill during 

the Building 12 renovation! 

Going Green

JSC has over 6,900 civil servant 

and contractor employees onsite 

that work in 4.4 million square 

feet of office space to support 

Mission objectives. Over 321,000 

square feet of office space is green 

certified, and more improvements 

are made each year that help save 

resources.

1. Develop the Space Life Sciences Laboratory facility. 

2. Renovate the Building 45 annex.

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 into buildings.

In 2013, JSC worked with wildlife rehabbers to rehabilitate and 

release several animals found onsite, including a roseate spoonbill, a whitetail deer, and several hawks. If you find an injured or 

distressed animal onsite, be sure to keep your distance and call 

Work Control at x32038 to contact the Wildlife Response Team.

The newly renovated Building 12 was awarded Leadership in Environmental 

and Energy Design (LEED) Gold certification in FY 2013. Building features that 

contributed to the Gold certification include open floor plans with access to 

natural lighting for most occupants, air conditioning from floor vents instead 

of ceiling vents to help increase efficiency, the energy saving green roof and 

solar panels, and environmentally friendly or local building materials.

JSC started a Texas Coastal Prairie restoration project 

in FY 2013 by removing thousands of invasive Chinese 

tallow trees from the site’s prairie lands and planting 

native wildflower and grasses harvested from the 

Attwater’s Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. 

JSC and EF Building Ages

From Problem to Wetland

Wildlife Rescue

Building 12 Got The Gold

Restoring 

the Prairie

8 9

?

Did You Know

7%

95%

In 2013, JSC took a 2,200 square foot area with drainage problems 

that was difficult to mow and transformed it into a new, thriving 

wetland habitat. JSC harvested wetland plants already growing 

in ditches onsite to seed the new wetland, so there was no need 

to purchase plants. In 3 weeks, the new wetland was thriving 

and providing a home for local bird and plant species.

JSC mulches tree limbs from landscaping efforts for use in landscaping 

beds across the site. In FY 2013, 

JSC generated over 328,000 

pounds of mulch, significantly reducing the need to purchase mulch.
FY 2014 Focus Areas

Air

Air resources include both indoor and outdoor air quality. The goal of Air is to maintain regulatory compliance 

with air regulations and work with regional efforts to reduce the release of specific air pollutants. Topics covered 

in this area mainly focus on outdoor air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, and reductions in toxic chemical use. 

Air quality is a topic that affects the whole Houston area, and JSC works with neighboring cities to improve air 

quality throughout the region. 

Ozone

In 2013, Houston 

had 17 days with 

bad ozone levels. 

Fear not! This was 

a decrease from 

the 43 bad ozone 

days in 2012.

Emissions

JSC reduced stationary source air emis-

sions by more than 30% since 2012, 

which include particulate matter, nitrogen 

oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, 

and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

These emissions occur mainly from com-

bustion processes and chemical usage. 

JSC started a pilot program where employees can choose one of two options: 

1) work an hour extra each day and take every other Friday off, or 2) telework 

every other Friday. In addition to water and electricity savings, these options 

help employees save gas needed to get to and from work and help reduce 

associated air emissions. If 1/3 of employees take advantage of Super Flex 

Fridays, it would save about 750 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per 

year just from transportation savings. It would take 615 acres of U.S. forests 

to absorb all that carbon dioxide that Super Flex Friday saves. 

Old boilers can be very inef-

ficient, producing significantly 

more air emissions than their 

modern counterparts. JSC re-

placed an old boiler at Ellington 

Field with two small, high-effi-

ciency boilers. The replacement 

boilers reduced nitrogen oxides 

air emissions by more than 80% 

compared to the old boiler.

When purchasing equipment that generates 

air emissions, your choice matters! Be sure to 

purchase equipment with the highest emission 

controls feasible. JSC did. JSC purchased two 

emergency generators with state-of-the-art emis-

sion controls, one for the potable water plant and 

one for the Sonny Carter Training Facility computer 

room. Because of those choices, JSC will reduce 

air impacts while improving system reliability. 

JSC only used 

41,000 gallons of 

gas and diesel in 

fleet vehicles during 2013, a 51% 

decrease from the 

84,000 gallons in 

2012. The signifi-

cant decrease in 

petroleum fuel use 

well exceeds the 

required 2% de-

crease per year.

In 2013, JSC developed a better way to 

track painting activities on fixed struc-

tures (i.e., buildings, parking lots, etc.) 

through JSC Form 2118 to ensure regu-

latory compliance. Part of the program 

included increasing awareness about 

no-VOC paint. If you do not have VOCs 

in your paint, you do not have to fill 

out the extra paperwork, encouraging 

individuals to choose paints with fewer 

emissions.

Super Flex Fridays

New and Improved

Progress on Buy to Save

Petroleum

No VOCs? No Problem!

1. Renew JSC’s main Title V Federal Operating Permit for air compliance.

2. Develop a database tracking system for air emissions to increase 

efficiency.

3. Provide air permitting and regulatory compliance support during 

procurement and construction phases of significant Facilities projects.

4. Encourage employees to replace high-VOC coatings and solvents with 

low- or no-VOC alternatives where possible.

10 11 ?

Did You Know

JSC Scope 1 & 2 Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

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

2020. (Scope 1 & 2 emissions are direct onsite or offsite emissions.)

Scope 3 GHGs are air emissions that come from 

employee travel, commuting, trash disposal, and 

electricity transmission and distribution. NASA 

has been developing Scope 3 GHG Inventories for 

all the Centers, so JSC can see how our efforts 

reduce these emissions. Center inventories should 

be available in FY 2014.

Scope 3 GHGs

60%
FY 2014 Focus Areas

People

People affect every element of sustainability at JSC. Your decisions on how to accomplish tasks either use or 

save resources. Decisions like remembering to turn off lights and equipment when leaving for the day, follow-

ing sustainable acquisition requirements, carpooling, or teleworking all make a difference. Topics covered in this 

area include behavior change (awareness, personal growth, happiness, and transition), communication (market-

ing, outreach, and external relations), recognition and awards, environmental planning, and technology transfer.

Footprints

You can calculate your indi-

vidual ecological footprint 

at www.myfootprint.

org. If everyone 

lived like you 

do, how many 

planets would 

we need? 

Spinoffs

Every year, JSC publicizes all 

the technology transfers to the 

public sector through a publica-

tion called Spinoff. Find out how 

NASA and JSC are changing 

the world and saving the en-

vironment through technology 

transfers at the Spinoff Web Site.

Wondering who to call if you are interested in electric cars or cycling to and 

around site? Demetrius Roberts is 

the new JSC Cycling point of contact 

(POC), and Dave Hanson is the new 

JSC Electric Car POC. Also, Jerry 

Rowlands

is the new 

Conserva-

tion Projects 

POC. 

JSC now has a sustainability 

operating rhythm. The annual 

Sustainability Engagement Strategy 

will be released in October, and the 

Annual Sustainability Report will be 

released in March. Find out about 

monthly sustainability opportunities 

through JSC Today and on the new 

Sustainability Initiatives Web Site. 

JSC celebrated the people 

element on Earth Day by inviting 

everyone to bring a musical 

instrument to the Mall Area. 

Several groups took a stress-free 

work break during their lunch by 

playing guitars, makeshift drums, 

or other instruments. 

There are four ways you can make a 

difference:

1. Personally – Understand your 

footprint.

2. Professionally – Be more sustainable 

in your office area. 

3. Professionally – Be more sustainable 

in your job function. 

4. Professionally – Promote sustainability 

by joining a JSC Sustainability Team

Did you know that JSC has several employee resource groups (ERGs) to encourage 

collaboration between individuals that share a common purpose, interest, 

or background? Check out an ERG that sparks your interest: • African American ERG (AAERG) • Asians Succeeding in Innovation & Aerospace (ASIA) ERG • Emerge ERG (Next Generation Professionals) • Hispanic ERG (HERG) • Human/Systems Integration (HSI) ERG • Out and Allied (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Allies) ERG

The Sustainability Partnership 

Team developed the design 

for a Solar Powered Outdoor 

Collaboration 

Cupola (SPOCC). 

(POC: Mike 

Ewert).

The JSC Green Team 

conducted LEED building 

tours and hosted an energy 

reduction competition 

(POC: JSC-Green-Team@

mail.nasa.gov).

The JSC Contractor 

Environmental 

Partnership started 

the volunteer-based 

Coffee-to-Compost 

Program (POC: Jeni 

Morrison). 

The Environmental Stew-

ardship Subcommittee of-

fered Environmental Man-

agement System training 

in 2013 and identified 

several water conserva-

tion projects for FY 2014 

(POC: JSC-Environmen-

tal-Office@nasa.gov).

Who to Call Sustainability 

Operating Rhythm

Music on the Mall

Employee Resource Groups

JSC Sustainability Team Projects

1. Increase awareness of Agency and Center Sustainability Goals.

2. Encourage behavior changes that support Mission success and 

sustainability goals. 

3. Encourage employees to incorporate features with positive 

environmental impacts to every project. 

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

to meet sustainability goals. 

12 13 ?

Did You Know

You Can Make a 

Difference

JSC Green Team Logo

Final 4-6-10
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!