2

Do My Efforts Really Matter?

You may be thinking, “I’m just one person; my actions can’t 

make that significant of a difference. Does buying a couple of 

water bottles every day, driving my 5-passenger vehicle alone, 

leaving my air conditioner set to 68°F, or leaving my electronics 

plugged in have enough of an impact that I should actually 

change my behavior?”

A cultural behavior is an acceptable norm that we are able to 

meet without significant impact on our reputations. However, 

consider that we are being judged for our cultural norms seven 

generations from today. From the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy, “In our 

every deliberation, we must consider the impacts of our decisions on the next seven 

generations.” Assuming a generation is about 20 years, that’s 140 years from now. 

If we think back to 140 years ago (1873-1874) it’s obvious how much of a difference 

each generation has made to our lives today. It wasn’t until 1880 that Edison patented 

distribution of direct current electricity. Around 1873-1874, the American Indian wars 

were still raging; Levi Strauss began manufacturing denim work pants, and DDT 

(dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was first synthesized. 

Do you remember DDT? DDT is a 

great example of the dichotomous 

nature of sustainability. There will 

always be pros and cons in every 

decision we make regarding the 

impacts to human health and 

the environment.

1873 Seven Generations Back 2013 Seven Generations Ahead 2153

DDT Pros: 

“Many areas of the world are now free 

of such diseases as malaria purely 

as the result of DDT used on lice and 

mosquitoes in the period 1942–1960s. 

It is estimated that DDT alone was 

responsible for the saving of tens of 

millions of human lives.” (Cited from 

the “Hayes’ Handbook of Pesticide 

Toxicology”, 3rd Edition, 2010.) 

DDT Cons: 

“The U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, the federal agency 

with responsibility of regulating 

pesticides before the formation of 

the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency in 1970, began regulatory 

actions in the late 1950s and 1960s to prohibit many 

of DDT’s uses because of mounting evidence of the 

pesticide’s declining benefits and environmental and 

toxicological effects. Rachel Carson’s book Silent 

Spring in 1962 stimulated widespread public concern 

over the dangers of improper pesticide use and the 

need for better pesticide controls.

A causal relationship between DDT exposure and 

reproductive effects is suspected. Today, DDT is 

classified as a probable human carcinogen by U.S. 

and international authorities. This classification is 

based on animal studies in which some animals 

developed liver tumors.” (Cited from http://www.

epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/chemicals/ddt-briefhistory-status.htm)

?
3

Envision the world as you see it in 2153, 7 generations from now. What do you see?

Is your behavior impacting how future generations will live? Do you need to change 

your behavior right now to create the world as you’d like to see it in 2153?

Reality Check:

If this was easy, we would already be doing it. Because sustainable living is not always 

cheaper, may be harder to implement, and may not be socially accepted, we often 

choose not to do what has the greatest positive impact to our natural resources.

Ultimately, your JSC Sustainability Leads are trying to make this decision easier for 

you. Here are examples of how we are supporting you by using the Triple Bottom Line 

decision-making tool.

Recycling efforts alone saved JSC 

$228,000 in 2012. Thank you for 

recycling. Consider how much you 

could save if you didn’t buy things 

you didn’t need, such as bottled 

water or extra supplies. 

We’ve given our Sustainability 

Presentation to over 1,000 

JSC employees so far. Without 

awareness, behavior change 

likelihood = 0%. Every 

month, sustainability 

opportunities are 

published on the 

JSC Sustainability Web 

page. You can also contact 

your sustainability champions 

to give a presentation. 

Over the past 

20 years, JSC 

reduced hazardous waste 

generation by 99.9%, saving 

hundreds of thousands of 

dollars while preserving 

natural resources. Please 

continue helping us identify 

opportunities.

My goal as the JSC Center 

Operations Director is to create 

a working environment where 

JSC employees feel happy, 

comfortable, and productive to 

support our mission. Similarly, 

my vision for sustainability is 

that it’s something we don’t 

even think about; it’s ingrained 

in our thinking. We just do it.

 Joel Walker 

JSC Center 

Sustainability Officer

“

”
4

NASA’s Commitment to Sustainability 

AGENCY POLICY STATEMENT

Worldwide, people have turned to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for 

inspiration throughout our history. It is NASA’s mission “To drive advances in science, technology, and 

exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality, and stewardship of the 

Earth.” NASA is an agency that leads by example and will continue to spur profound changes in our 

knowledge, culture, and expectations.

NASA’s sustainability policy is to execute NASA’s mission without compromising our planet’s 

resources so that future generations can meet their needs. Sustainability involves taking action 

now to enable a future where the environment and living conditions are protected and enhanced. In 

implementing sustainability practices, NASA manages risks to mission, risks to the environment, and 

risks to our communities, all optimized within existing resources. In executing its mission, NASA’s 

sustainability objectives are to:

• increase energy efficiency;

• increase the use of renewable energy;

• measure, report, and reduce NASA’s direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions;

• conserve and protect water resources through efficiency, reuse, and stormwater management;

• eliminate waste, prevent pollution, and increase recycling;

• leverage Agency acquisitions to foster markets for sustainable technologies and environmentally 

preferable materials, products, and services;

• design, construct, maintain, and operate high-performance sustainable buildings;

• utilize power management options and reduce the number of Agency data centers;

• support economic growth and livability of the communities where NASA conducts business;

• evaluate Agency climate change risks and vulnerabilities and develop mitigation and adaptation 

measures to manage both the short- and long-term effects of climate change on the Agency’s 

mission and operations;

• raise employee awareness and encourage each individual in the NASA community to apply the 

concepts of sustainability to every aspect of their daily work to achieve these goals;

• maintain compliance with all applicable Federal, state, local or territorial law and regulations related 

to energy security, a healthy environment, and environmentally-sound operations; and

• comply with internal NASA requirements and agreements with other entities.

To implement this policy and meet the requirements and targets outlined in this plan, NASA will be 

practical in the integration of sustainability and sustainable practices. We will look for ways to leverage 

existing management systems, processes and decision-making, to influence both long-term planning 

and short-term actions, to enhance and strengthen our ability to perform our mission.

Olga M. Dominguez

NASA Senior Sustainability Officer 

The Johnson Space Center proudly mirrors our agency initiatives committed to sustainability. This 

JSC Sustainability Engagement Strategy is a tool intended to assist employees in understanding what 

sustainability at JSC actually means and offer ways to incorporate sustainable living into personal and 

professional activities.

4

Joel B. Walker

Center Operations Director

Center Sustainability Officer

NASA Johnson Space Center

Ellen Ochoa

Director

NASA Johnson Space Center
JSC’s Definition of Sustainability

If we were completely aware of the impact our behavior had on our natural resources, 

and the multiplied impact of millions of people behaving in the same way, we would change. 

The most widely accepted definition of sustainability was created by the United Nations World Commission 

on Environment and Development in 1987. It states that sustainability is “development that meets the 

needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 

Achieving sustainability comes from balancing the need for economic vitality, environmental stewardship, 

and social responsibility to ensure that we have enough resources to meet our needs today and in the future. 

JSC Sustainability Initiatives

The challenge of developing a sustainability program at JSC is integrating what we’re already doing well, 

with what needs to be done better, and effectively communicating those needs to the rest of JSC 

to affect behavior change. There are some fundamental requirements for sustainability assigned to all 

federal agencies via Executive Order (EO) 13514, which culminated in our Agency document, the Strategic 

Sustainability Performance Plan (SSPP). The NASA SSPP allows each Center to implement sustainability 

into its operations as best fits the existing processes, to meet the EO goals. However, we don’t want 

everything to be a requirement. 

The JSC Sustainability Model was envisioned to represent the six natural resource areas we are working 

to sustain. Each resource focal point at JSC is responsible for coordinating a status on the requirements for 

sustainability (and reporting subsequent metrics), leading outreach efforts, staying aware of and evaluating 

technology advancements, and addressing JSC questions respective to that resource.

Additional detail is provided for each resource area of the JSC Sustainability Model on pages 9-14 to 

help you understand what it encompasses and how you can contribute to ‘doing better’ in all areas of 

sustainability.

Energy: Mr. Rob Way and Mr. Kevin McCue are the 

focal points for energy, which includes all components 

of energy use and optimization (including electricity, 

natural gas, renewable, transportation, etc.). 

Materials/Waste: Ms. Michelle Fraser-Page is the 

focal point for materials and waste, which includes 

all components of materials and waste from material 

procurement efforts and buying green (sustainable 

acquisition) to all elements of waste (municipal, 

construction, and industrial/hazardous waste) 

and recycling.

Water: Mr. Doug Conover is the focal point for water, 

which includes all elements of water use and disposal, 

including drinking water quality, water use, wastewater, 

and storm water.

Land: Mr. Lynn Lefebvre is the focal point for 

land, which includes all elements of ‘real property,’ 

land, buildings, other structures, as well as historic 

preservation, wildlife, and vegetation.

Air: Mr. Kirk Hummel is the focal point for air, which 

includes air emissions (gases and particulates) at 

both point and non-point sources, Greenhouse 

Gases, indoor, and outdoor air quality, etc.

People: Ms. Laurie Peterson is the focal point for 

sustainability awareness and works hand-in-hand 

with the JSC Green Team for behavior changes 

specific to sustainability within the JSC population.

5

JSC Sustainability Model

The natural resources we are trying to sustain
How Do I Contribute?

 There are four ways that you can make a difference:

 Personally – understand your footprint

 Professionally – be more sustainable in your office area

 Professionally – be more sustainable in your job function

 Professionally – promote sustainability by joining a 

 JSC Sustainability Team

 How do I contribute to sustainability PERSONALLY?

For personal engagement, being aware is half the battle. A seed is being planted right now 

that may immediately bloom, or slowly affect the way you think about consuming Earth’s 

resources. Either way, sustainability initiatives are guaranteed to be a topic of discussion for 

the rest of our lives. Per William McDonough, “Isn’t that the point?” 

Here are some things you can do personally to make a difference:

1) Calculate your ecological footprint at www.myfootprint.org. That will give you a baseline 

to start from regarding personal decisions you can make to live more sustainably. 

2) There is a list of actions you can take right now to reduce your footprint 

under the “Take Action” tab at www.myfootprint.org.

3) Tell all your friends and family what you’re doing, and how it’s making 

a difference to YOU! Plant the seed with someone else!

 How do I contribute to sustainability PROFESSIONALLY in my office area?

Our JSC sustainability champions can assist you in auditing your office area for ways to be more 

sustainable. Don’t worry; this isn’t the type of audit where anyone gets in trouble! It is a great way 

to compete against a partnering office or organization to see who can be the ‘most sustainable’. 

E-mail JSC-Sustainability@mail.nasa.gov to participate.

6

1

1

2

2

3

4
 How do I contribute to sustainability PROFESSIONALLY in my job function?

Do you have a job that makes a difference to our Center’s Sustainability Initiatives? Yes, you do!

7

Sustainability Initiatives Your Role Supports

Buy only what you need (check for supplies at Freecycle@Work), buy sustainably (green, 

recycled, energy efficient), recycle and reuse where ever possible, conserve resources by 

considering them when you develop your plans. And, consider taking the Green Engineering 

SATERN class to understand many ways to make a difference.

Check the critical spares database (OSCAR) for hardware needs, and consider water 

and energy conservation measures in your test and verification plans. Review the Green 

Engineering philosophies below, and consider taking the SATERN class.

Understand our Sustainable Acquisition buying requirements, so that you can inform 

your customers. Sign up for the training class on the Environmental Office Training Web 

Site, and consider taking the SATERN class on Green Engineering.

Consider Green Engineering design principles in your efforts (see Green Engineering 

concepts below). Take the challenge to design your project to meet your space mission 

requirements as well as leave a positive legacy. Take the Green Engineering SATERN

class to learn more.

You are the eyes and ears of your facility, and your activities tie back to Center Operations. 

How can we meet your tenants’ needs most sustainably? Consider pollution prevention 

opportunities to reduce regulated waste, and maximize location of recycling bins. You 

might like the Green Engineering SATERN class to understand life-cycle impacts.

Consider ways that your project can have the least impact on Earth’s natural resources. 

Maximize Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) components, purchase 

green and local building products, and aim for a 90%+ recycling rate. Use the JF 1138

to help you identify and reduce your project’s environmental impacts. Take the Green 

Engineering SATERN class.

Think about the processes and material input/output of your lab. Consider Green 

Engineering design principles in your efforts (see Green Engineering concepts below, 

and use JF 1138). Take the Green Engineering SATERN class.

Communicate our JSC Sustainability Initiatives by arranging for us to speak at your next 

meeting. Contact JSC-Sustainability@mail.nasa.gov. Consider a competition in your own 

organization (who can recycle the most, or who has the most sustainable office?), or have 

each employee set one major goal that will make a difference, like “I will never drink from 

a Styrofoam cup.” Start your own Green Team. And, consider taking the Green Engineering 

SATERN class. 

Job Function

Employee

Project

Manager 

Procurement

Specialist 

Engineer/

Scientist 

Facility

Manager 

Construction

Project 

Manager 

Laboratory

Technician/

Manager 

Line Manager

Green Engineering 

includes design 

philosophies 

and tools.

Based on an infographic 

developed by Prof. Sean 

McGinnis, Program Director of the 

Virginia Tech Green Engineering 

Program (www.eng.vt.edu/green).

Green Engineering

Design

Life Cycle

Thinking and Assessment

Modeling, Simulation,

and Prognostics

Sustainable 

Manufacturing Biomimicry

Green Chemistry Mass Reduction

Materials Selection

Dfx

(Design for x, where x 

can be repair, reuse, 

recyclability, etc.)

3
 How do I get more involved in sustainability efforts at JSC?

 Join a JSC Sustainability Team!

 Cross-Directorate Communication

The Environmental Stewardship Subcommittee (ESS) began in January 2000, and acts as JSC’s advocate 

for conserving natural resources, reducing environmental impact, and providing a healthy workplace. As a 

proactive, problem-solving group, the ESS develops recommended strategies for implementing NASA and 

JSC’s environmental policies and for enhancing compliance. The primary focus is on issues that cross organizational lines. ESS team members provide bi-directional communication to and expect information from JSC 

organizations specific to environmental and sustainability issues. Members of the ESS can help their organization 

in understanding when, why, where, and how to use the Environmental Planning Checklist (JF1138).The 

Environmental Management System (EMS) determines yearly what high priority aspects will be focused on 

for the coming year. These Environmental Management Programs have objectives and targets that are 

developed, then tracked and reported to the ESS. Executive Order 13514 and the NASA Strategic Sustainability 

Performance Plan (SSPP) drive metrics in all environmental areas that this group discusses as it pertains and 

impacts the Center sites. Please contact the JSC Environmental Office to become a member of the JSC ESS.

 Encourage Behavior Change

Started in January 2010, the charter of the JSC Green Team is to make known, 

to the entire JSC community, how to personally make ‘green’ decisions and take 

‘green’ actions. Overall, it is a fun-loving group working to change the behavior 

of individuals for the better regarding sustainability. Everyone at JSC is asked 

to participate in sustainability, and for those interested in organizing ways to 

encourage sustainable behaviors (through events, competitions, education 

outreach, tours, etc.) please join the Green Team. The Green Team interfaces with 

the JSC Wellness Program, Human Resources, the Employee Assistance Program, 

Starport, the Gilruth, Public Affairs, the Strategic Opportunities Partnership 

Development Office, and Safety and Mission Assurance. Please contact the 

JSC Green Team to become a member.

 Brainstorm Technical Solutions

In 2004, the JSC Sustainability Partnership Team (SPT) was formed to integrate technical ideas from the JSC 

population with solutions to terrestrial applications. The SPT strives to improve environmental sustainability at 

JSC and increase JSC’s exposure to ‘dual use’ technologies that may be beneficial in both terrestrial and space 

exploration environments, while engaging the technical workforce in solving JSC’s institutional (a.k.a. terrestrial) 

sustainability problems. The goal is to bring coordinated sustainability projects to JSC management to share the 

responsibility for environmental sustainability at JSC. The JSC SPT can be considered a ‘think tank’ for those 

interested in brainstorming ideas for increasing our technical sustainability using the awesome resources 

available at JSC. Please contact Mr. Mike Ewert to become a member of the JSC Sustainability Partnership.

Contractor Inclusion

An additional team that supports sustainability efforts is the Contractor Environmental Partnership (CEP). 

The CEP includes a collection of JSC contractor volunteers that collaborate on sustainability efforts and 

external events. The CEP is mainly responsible for the free electronic recycling events held several times 

at Space Center Houston since 2008. These events, open to the public, are run by volunteers and supported 

through external sponsorship and donations. The CEP also works on supporting sustainability initiatives, 

such as the Coffee to Compost Program, sustainable acquisition projects, and outreach efforts to onsite 

and offsite contractors. Please contact Ms. Jeni Morrison to become a member of the CEP.

JSC Green Team Logo

Final 4-6-10

8

4
9

Energy

Energy can be split up into four functional areas: Requirements/Mandates, Operations & 

Contingencies, Sources (electricity, natural gas, renewable energy, and transportation fuel), and 

Conservation. With 4.2 million square feet of building space JSC requires large amounts of energy for lighting, 

cooling, heating and powering devices ranging from cell phone chargers to massive test equipment. The center 

currently receives electricity from Reliant Energy and natural gas from Atmos Energy. Electricity provides power 

for most equipment on site as well as lighting, heating and cooling by driving electric water chillers. Natural gas 

is used to generate steam for heating and in steam driven chillers for cooling. The site currently has 0.31% 

renewable energy in the form of wind generators and solar panels. The use of several sources of energy 

contributes to the site’s ability to avoid and recover from outages. 

In FY 12 JSC used 177,300,242 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 406,270 thousand cubic feet (MCF) of 

natural gas. By comparison, an average home uses 11,280 kWh of electricity and 630 MCF of natural gas. This 

energy cost JSC an average of $33,623.83/day. Check your energy usage at the Energy Usage Dashboard. 

A combined heat and power (CHP) project in development using Department of Energy (DOE) alternative funding 

promises to reduce JSC’s energy use as well as provide generation of electricity on site, increasing our energy 

security. Other projects using DOE alternative funding are in work or being planned to provide even more 

sustainable options for JSC. 

• Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms when not in use where ever there is a switch.

• Remove energy using equipment from your office, particularly refrigerators, heaters, and extra printers. 

• Shut off or hibernate your computers when not in use. 

• Use task lighting in your work areas and coordinate with your Building Facility Manager to reduce ceiling 

lighting. 

• Printers and FAX machines – Per IRD don’t turn off the large Minolta copier/fax/scanners. For other 

printers, enable sleep mode during the week and turn off on weekends (this is to minimize on/off cycles 

but still save energy). FAX machines generally can be turned off every night.

• Unplug (or power off electrical strips) for equipment you’ve turned off where ever possible. Even if your 

equipment is off, but still plugged in these still draw a small amount of energy (a.k.a. Energy Vampires). 

• Participate in the Superflex schedule, so that we can save facility energy by scheduling some of our 

JSC buildings in ‘weekend ops mode’ on alternating Fridays.

• Angle blinds to reduce direct 

sunlight and close blinds at the 

end of the work day.

• For window shades repair, 

etc., please submit your 

request electronically to 

jsc-furniture@mail.nasa.gov.

These are just samples of how 

you can help. For more ideas 

check out the JSC Energy 

Management website.

Tips for Saving Energy

Questions?

Contact Mr. Rob Way or Mr. Kevin McCue.
10

Materials and Waste

Materials and waste includes the entire material process from 

design (with the environment in mind) to purchase, use, and 

finally disposition of the product once it’s no longer needed. 

This may be the single area where employee actions have 

the biggest impact on how well JSC meets its goals, because 

every employee, every day, handles some sort of material. 

Your choices may be as simple and immediate as recycling 

a drink bottle instead of placing it in the trash, or you may 

be involved in a multimillion dollar procurement where you 

can emphasize recycled content and biobased materials 

instead of petrochemical-based materials.

Ideally, we first reduce our purchases by dematerializing our 

processes, for example, using projectors or tablets instead 

of printing handouts for meetings. Next we will look for ways 

to reduce the hazards of our workplace by searching for and 

using less hazardous/toxic materials. When you are finished 

with an item, it may still have usable life left. At that point, 

we turn to reuse, utilizing various outlets such as the 

Redistribution and Utilization Office and Freecycle@Work. 

Recycling is actually far down on the priority list, as usually 

an item is downcycled, meaning it has less utility and value 

than it used to. The final option, and the one least preferred, 

is discarding in a landfill.

Waste

• Join and participate 

in Freecycle@Work.

• Bring lunch to 

work in reusable 

containers (avoid 

‘to go’ containers).

• Participate in the 

coffee grounds 

composting program

as discussed on the 

JSC Environmental 

Web page.

• Check out R&U 

before purchasing 

new office supplies, 

especially binders.

• Find out what and 

where to recycle in 

your facility on the 

JSC Materials and 

Waste Web page.

Paper

• Read and edit 

documents electronically when 

possible (even 

in meetings).

• Use network 

printers instead 

of personal, desk 

top printers.

• Print double sided, 

set ‘narrow’ 

margins, use draft 

setting to save ink.

• Reuse cardboard 

packaging.

• Use the backsides 

of unneeded 

documents for 

note taking.

JSC Materials and Waste

Balance Process

Over the years, JSC employees have found 

numerous innovative ways to reduce our material 

footprint. Our composting program is growing by 

leaps and bounds and won JSC a national award 

from EPA in 2013. The machine shop in Building 10 

switched to a biobased cutting fluid that costs less 

and lasts longer. Now we’re focusing on getting 

involved earlier in the process and looking at 

design criteria to emphasize materials that are 

better for the environment.

As you can see, there is so much more to material 

and waste than simply recycling. We need to look 

at the whole process from “cradle to grave,” and 

start to change that process into “cradle to cradle.” 

That’s why each functional group needs to have 

education as part of their core challenge.

For a list of contacts to help with recycling, 

redistribution, and reuse, see the JSC Recycles 

Web page. 

Questions?

Contact Ms. Michelle Fraser-Page.

Tips for Reduction
11

Water

Water at JSC is comprised of several functional areas: potable water, storm water, wastewater and 

re-use water. They are primarily managed within the Utilities Branch of the Facilities Management and 

Operations Division of CenterOps. 

Potable water at JSC is a very essential resource for all employees as the major uses of potable water are 

for drinking fountains, janitorial and restroom use, laboratories, cafeterias, fire protection (inside and outside 

buildings – fire hydrants), turf irrigation, and plant uses, including make-up water for cooling towers, boilers, 

chillers, and cooling for air compressors. New potable water metering recently installed at all buildings will be 

used for verification of site water usage and will aid in identifying areas for potential water conservation. There 

are several essential members of the team supporting the site potable water system. First is the maintenance 

and operations contractor that actually operates and maintains the entire system. Another support member is 

the Environmental Office that deals with the regulatory aspects of the potable water system. The final support 

member is the Occupational Health Office that monitors the water quality parameters to verify compliance with 

the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 

The second functional area of water is Storm Water. Although it may not seem like the storm water system 

directly touches everyone’s life on site, at certain weather-related times, it does play a very important role. 

During rain events this system is responsible for collecting and conveying rain water from the site. The system 

is necessary because it effectively collects and removes rain water to have minimal impacts on walkways and 

vehicular travel ways resulting from the rain event. The Environmental Office supports this effort, as there are 

regulatory requirements for the quality of water leaving the site in addition to storm water controls on all 

contractors that perform digging operations on site. 

The third functional area of water is Wastewater. This system consists of conveyance infrastructures that 

remove primarily liquid waste streams from restrooms and approved waste streams from equipment. Waste 

water systems are generally not visible since the collection systems are underground; however, any infrequent 

malfunctioning of these systems can be an inconvenience to site employees. The Environmental Office also 

supports this function in assuring site waste streams meet the permitted parameters of local agencies. 

Tips for Sustainable Water Use

• Minimize constant water running at work and 

home while lathering hands, washing dishes, 

washing cars, and brushing teeth.

• Practice low flow operations during all water use, 

and be sure to turn off faucets when complete.

• Immediately notify Facility Managers of any 

water leaks observed inside or outside of JSC 

facilities.

• Kick the plastic bottle water use and utilize the 

economical onsite water fountains that provide 

State Regulated potable water.

• Avoid using storm water and wastewater systems for disposing of anything other than their 

intended discharges.

The final functional area is a future opportunity that requires funding to implement. 

Water Reuse allows the treated effluent 

from the local sewage treatment plant to 

be used for turf irrigation and cooling tower 

make-up water. (Don’t worry! The wastewater is treated several times before it is used 

for these purposes.)

Questions? Contact Mr. Doug Conover.
12

Land

The Land resource is comprised of the actual property that JSC, Ellington Field (EFD), and Sonny 

Carter Training Facility (SCTF) sit upon, but also the structures, buildings, and utilities included at each 

site, termed real property. JSC is 1,580 acres. EFD is 37 acres, and SCTF is 13 acres. In regards to sustainability, 

the Land resource can be divided into three major components: Structures, Grounds, and Master Planning.

The JSC Master Plan, approved in 2010, lays out the general strategy for demolition and construction of all real 

property over the next 5, 10, 20, and 50 years. Additionally, Land includes preservation of historic assets, wildlife, 

agriculture, landscaping, and vegetation (wild flower fields, orchards, trees, wetlands, fields, etc.).

The JSC complex has 375 buildings and over three million square feet of office space. Most of these existing 

facilities and infrastructure remain from the original construction in the 1960s. Though built with the best 

practices at the time, the forethought of sustainable structures 50 years later did not exist. Much of this 

infrastructure is approaching the end of its lifecycle. As the aging infrastructure gets replaced, sustainable 

practices must be employed to ensure the replacements last for the next 50 years and beyond. 

We have two National Historic Landmarks (NHL): The Building 30 Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. Mission Control 

Center and the Building 32 Space Environment Simulation Laboratory, as well as sixteen additional buildings 

that are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). An archeological survey of JSC 

was completed in 2013, and a 50-year site historic survey will soon be under way. From a sustainability 

perspective, there are currently eight Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings. 

Master Planning

Comprehensive Long-Range Plan

Historic Preservation

Climate Change Awareness

Structures

Facilities, Infrastructure,

Construction, Utilities,

Operations & Maintenance

Grounds

Landscaping

Prairie

Wildlife

• Build Green. 

Use sustainable materials and 

practices for construction, 

remodels, and landscaping.

• Install a rain collection system. 

It saves in utility costs.

• Practice sustainable gardening. 

Use non-toxic solutions 

for pesticides, herbicides, 

and fungicides 

(growsmartgrowsafe.org).

• Backyard compositing 

replenishes the nutrients of 

the soil and reduces material 

to landfills.

• Stop invasive species. Native 

plants resist many pests and 

diseases, reducing the risk 

of garden problems.

The Building 12 Vegetative Roof includes flowers and other 

sustainable plants. Benefits of a green roof include increased 

green space and water absorption with reduced utilities usage.

Tips for Land Resource Use

Questions? Contact Mr. Lynn Lefebvre.
13

Air

Air is a worldwide ‘shared blanket of life’ that cannot 

be compartmentalized. The sharing is literally on the 

whim of the wind. We all know things that go into 

the air eventually make way to our lungs or rise into 

the atmosphere, sometimes having an effect on the 

‘thin blue line’ that allows us all to survive on this 

‘Blue Marble.’ 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines 

emissions as “gases and particles which are emitted 

by various point and non-point sources”. Point 

sources are stationary and clearly identifiable (e.g., 

backup diesel generators, industrial boilers in the 

Central Heating and Cooling Plant at JSC). Nonpoint sources are harder to identify and can be 

mobile (e.g., cars, lawn mowers, etc.). 

We’ve all heard a lot about Greenhouse gases 

(GHGs). What are they? The EPA defines GHGs as 

“gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.” Principle 

GHGs and sources include: Carbon Dioxide (CO2) , 

Methane (CH4) , Nitrous Oxide (N2O), and 

Fluorinated Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). 

Combustion of hydrocarbons is the greatest source 

of GHGs. NASA must reduce GHG intensity by 1% 

annually or 9% total by fiscal year (FY) 2015, per 

Executive Orders 13423 and 13514 and NASA 

SSPP Goals. 

Tips for Sustainable Air Quality

• When feasible, use flexible work schedules 

and carpooling to reduce your driving.

• Plant a tree, or plant many trees!

• When refueling your car, fill the gas tank 

during cooler evening hours to cut down 

on evaporation.

• Use low-VOC or water-based paints at home.

• Avoid idling your car in drive-thru lanes. Park 

your car and go in. 

• Keep your desktop and work areas clean 

simply using wet paper towels to remove dust.

Functional Area 

Breakdown for Air 

1. Stationary Sources - Topics that fall under the 

Stationary Sources Functional Area include the 

following:

• Point Sources (i.e., Stacks) - Point Sources 

include fixed points that expel air emissions. 

Most include permitted equipment used in 

several areas across the site. 

• Fugitive Sources (i.e., “Escapees”) - Fugitive 

Sources are air emission sources that are not 

from a fixed and easily identifiably point, such as

air emissions from chemical use.

2. Mobile Sources - Topics that fall under the Mobile 

Sources Functional Area include the following:

• Vehicles - Government and personal vehicles 

generate air emissions. While not all data is 

captured at this time, reducing these air 

emissions helps meet sustainability 

requirements. 

• Aircraft - Burning jet fuel contributes to JSC’s air 

emission sources, and JSC tracks jet fuel usage 

to better understand air impacts from these 

activities. 

• Non-Road Equipment - Maintenance equipment, 

onsite transportation equipment, and others also 

burn fuel that can produce air emissions. JSC 

also tracks fuel usage for these vehicles. 

3. Indoor Air Quality - Topics that fall under the 

Indoor Air Quality Functional Area include the 

following:

• Hazardous Material Usage - Many chemicals 

used onsite produce air emissions when used; 

therefore, they require hazard communication 

and reporting to ensure safe use and proper 

reporting. 

• Air Conditions and Exposure Assessments - 

Indoor air parameters, such as oxygen-depleting 

substances, lead, mold, dust, asbestos, and 

Nano particulates, impacts worker health and 

productivity. JSC monitors these conditions 

to ensure impacts are minimized.

Questions?

Contact Mr. Kirk Hummel.
14

People

People affect absolutely every element of sustainability at JSC. You use or save natural resources, 

whether it’s remembering to turn off lights and equipment in your offices or labs, following sustainable 

acquisition regulations, carpooling, teleworking, or taking 

alternative transportation to/from work. The People resource 

breaks out into four functional areas: Behavior Change 

(awareness, personal growth/happiness, and transition), 

Communication (marketing, outreach/education, and external 

relations), Recognition/awards, and Documentation Integration.

Behavior change is commonly broken down into five areas 

based on the Transtheoretical Model as shown below. 

Essentially, we change when we are ready to. Every seed of 

information we receive becomes a factor in when we may be 

ready to do something about the information we’re receiving.

More specifically, there are two elements to behavior change for 

sustainability: awareness and readiness. Awareness refers to understanding 

the needs and our options to support them (i.e., the seeds). Information, 

such as the JSC Sustainability Engagement Strategy and the Annual 

Sustainability Report, websites, announcements, and opportunities 

for involvement are emphasized within the People resource. In 

addition to communicating with the JSC community, the 

People resource focal point also communicates with the 

external community for benchmarking, awards, 

opportunities for collaboration, and innovative 

inclusion, all in an effort to drive as much 

awareness as possible.

The other element of behavior change is 

readiness. This means we are at a point 

on the Transtheoretical Model when 

we are ready to actually make a 

change. 

For some of us, 

we’re ready right when 

we get the information, and 

for others, it may take much more 

information, time, proof that it really 

makes a difference, and/or a clearly 

laid path to accomplish the behavior 

change. How much value do you place on 

appropriately using Earth’s natural resources? 

Do you know what you need to do to live more 

sustainably? How close are you to making a change 

in your behavior to support your values?

Each of the previous five resources presented in this Engagement Strategy list tips 

for you to understand what you can do and how to participate more broadly. Please 

contact any of the resource or team leads at any time with questions, comments, 

and suggestions. You may also contact JSC-Sustainability@mail.nasa.gov.

Questions? 

Contact Ms. Laurie Peterson.

1

2

3

4

5

Precontemplation

Contemplation

Preparation

Action

Maintenance

Help us plant more seeds!
Why should you care?

So why should you care about changing your behavior to protect our natural resources?

On page 6, you read about understanding your own ecological footprint using myfootprint.org. We measure our 

ecological footprint (a.k.a. – demand) to make sure that our usage rate of Earth’s natural resources is equal to or 

less than the Earth’s ability to replenish those resources, known as biocapacity (a.k.a. – supply). There is a 

reason this sounds like economics; it is your basic supply and demand curve.

At present, based on the research of the Global Footprint Network, the United States has a higher demand than 

our resources can replenish (a.k.a. – supply). The graph below shows our current usage rate of natural resources 

versus the biocapacity of our planet to replenish them. We’re not on target. The calculations in the National 

Footprint Accounts are primarily based on international data sets published by the Food and Agriculture 

Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database, and other data from 

the UN Statistics Division, the International Energy Agency, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 

Other data sources include studies in peer-reviewed science journals and thematic collections.

So maybe it won’t run out in our lifetime, which is an easy (and perhaps lazy) way to justify not doing anything 

that might be a little harder, a little more expensive, or a little more inconvenient now – but consider your 

children, your friend’s children, and their extended offspring. 

What can I do?

Consider changing just one thing (or more if you’re feeling ambitious) about your behavior to decrease your 

environmental demand. You’ll make a difference wherever you choose, whether it’s at home or at work. 

For example, consider monitoring your home’s energy usage, and work to decrease that each year. Start 

a campaign with your coworkers like JSC employee Chris Madden did.

“Back a few years ago, our branch had a competition to see who could pull in the lowest kilowatt 

hour on their home electricity bill. It was great fun, and more importantly raised awareness in my 

household – and, as a result, we have lowered our electricity bill each year since.” 

 - Chris Madden 

Every little bit matters! Leave a positive legacy!

15

This figure tracks the per-person 

resource demand Ecological Footprint

and biocapacity in the United States 

of America since 1961. Biocapacity 

varies each year with ecosystem 

management, agricultural practices (such 

as fertilizer use and irrigation), ecosystem 

degradation, weather, and population 

size. The Ecological Footprint varies with 

consumption and production efficiency.

Credit: Global Footprint Network 2012 National Footprint Accounts. 

Available at the Global Footprint Network Web page.
There are four ways we want JSC employees to engage in sustainability:

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

Sustainability Initiatives are linked off the JSC internal homepage under the 

“Around JSC” section. Contact JSC-Sustainability@mail.nasa.gov for 

questions and to learn more ways to make a difference.

Look inside for more great information!