National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

JSC

Annual Sustainability Report

2015

FY2015

Water Consumed: 

313,401,000 gallons 

Energy Used: 

11,021,038 MMBTU 

(natural gas, electric, fuel oil) 

Petroleum Fuel Used: 

14,820 gasoline gallon equivalents

Alternative Fuels Used: 

15,363 gasoline gallon equivalents

FY2015

Disposed Non-Hazardous Waste: 1,243 tons 

Disposed Hazardous Waste: 18 tons 

Renewable Energy Produced Onsite: 366,231 kWh 

Composted: 263 tons 

Total Materials Recycled: 6,334 tons 

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

construction/demolition debris, office supplies, pallets, 

wood, tires, Industrial Solid Waste, and electronics)

FY2015

Air Emissions:

Carbon Dioxide (CO2e): 136,965 metric tons 

Particulate Matter (PM): 13.11 tons 

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): 5.94 tons 

Carbon Monoxide (CO): 5.78 tons 

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): 0.09 tons 

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 16.66 tons

Johnson Space Center

4,467,253 Gross Square Feet

Over 8,500 Parking Spots

1,600 Acres

Over 7,000 Employees
Table of Contents Sustainability at JSC

Overview 1

Energy 2

Land 4

Water 6

Materials 8

Air 10

People 12

Contact Information Back Cover

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. 

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. 

Award Energy Performance Contracts and Utility Energy Services Contracts by the 

end of 2016.

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

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Greenhouse 

Gases (GHG)

Sustainable 

Buildings

Fleet 

Management

Water 

Use

Waste

Reduction

Sustainable 

Acquisition

Electronic 

Stewardship

Renewable 

Energy

Climate 

Change 

Resilience

Energy 

Performance 

Contrancs

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 includes six major resource areas: 

Energy, Materials, Water, Land, Air, and People. Each resource group 

identifies ways to meet Agency and Center sustainability goals within 

their purview. 

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 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 2015. 
Energy

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

reduce energy consumption while still accomplishing the Mission. Utilities consumed at JSC include electricity, 

natural gas, and fuel. Energy topics also include renewable energy sources and building efficiency.

Back to the Baseline

In FY 2015, a new Executive 

Order (13693) established 

new energy reduction goals 

for federal agencies. 

The new goals reset the 

baseline year to 2015, 

which gives JSC a fresh 

start to meet requirements. 

JSC Electricity Usage

In FY 2015, JSC used 163 

million kilowatt hours, which 

is enough electricity to power 

15,000 homes for an entire year. 

JSC Energy Intensity

JSC almost doubled its 

purchase of renewable 

energy credits (RECs) 

in FY 2015 from 

FY 2014 (over 23,700 

MWh). RECs help 

JSC meet federal 

requirements for 

renewable energy.

Goal: Reduce energy intensity by 3% annually from FY 2003 to FY 2015 and 2.5% annually from 

FY 2015 to 2025. Energy intensity is British Thermal Units (BTUs) per gross square foot (GSF). 

Based on energy audit results, JSC made 

improvements to Building 7, 9, and 46 

to improve their air conditioning 

system efficiency in FY 2015. 

Overall, the three projects are 

expected to save over 

811,000 kWh of energy a 

year, saving JSC over $65,000 

annually in utility costs. 

In FY 2015, JSC awarded the Energy Savings Performance Contract 

for the construction of a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) installation 

at Building 24, which is a more efficient way to generate electricity than 

paying to bring electricity onsite from an electric company. The project 

will decrease JSC’s overall energy usage while providing a more secure 

source of power during emergencies (i.e., hurricanes and storms). 

Renewable 

Energy Credits 

Anticipated Energy 

Savings 

CHP for 2016

Onsite Renewables

1. Start construction on the new Combined Heat and Power (CHP) project 

at Building 24 that will reduce JSC’s overall dependency on electricity 

generated offsite and increase JSC’s overall energy efficiency. 

2. Complete energy audits on selected buildings to identify and prioritize 

energy efficiency projects and improve building and system operations. 

3. Continue to plan for future energy-efficiency projects, such as Mall-Area 

window replacements and net-zero building designs that will yield the 

greatest energy reductions.

4. Conduct an energy reduction competition during the summer to 

foster energy awareness and encourage energy efficient behavior 

in JSC buildings. 

FY 2016 Focus Areas

LEDs Brighten Up the Place

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Did You Know

Over the past several years, JSC has begun to switch out older, more inefficient 

lights with LED lights and fixtures. In addition to requiring less energy, lasting 

longer than traditional lights, and producing less heat, LEDs eliminate costly 

recycling fees that fluorescent bulbs require. JSC’s LEDs are even made locally, 

saving in transportation costs. Here are the LED projects finished so far:

• Exterior of Building 24

• Interior and Exterior of Building 28

• Interior and Exterior of Building 48

• Parking Lot of Building 330

• Exterior Canopy of Building 13

• Parking Lot of the Sonny Carter 

Training Facility

In 2015, JSC generated enough renewable energy onsite 

to provide electricity to 30 homes for a year. JSC’s 

renewable energy sources include daylighting, 

geothermal heat pumps, wind turbines, solar 

panels, solar water heaters, and solar powered 

parking lots in specific areas onsite. 

15,000
FY 2016 Focus Areas

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 JSC goal for Land is to develop and maintain 

sustainable and high-performing facilities. Specific topics include landscaping, wildlife, agriculture, vegetation, 

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

It’s Raining Deer?

Wildlife studies completed in FY 2015 link 

an increase in deer populations to increased 

rainfall in the late winter and in spring. 

JSC’s deer population passed 200 in FY 

2015, the first time in over a decade.

Green Space

As of FY 2015, JSC has over 272,458 

square feet of Leadership in Energy 

and Environmental Design (LEED) 

certified space. With the new Building 

45 Clinic Annex, JSC will have more 

than 288,000 certified square feet. 

LEED buildings are designed to be 

more efficient in resource use than 

traditional office space. 

1. Finish construction of the Human Health and Performance Laboratory 

facility (Building 21), which will be JSC’s 10th LEED-certified building.

2. Continue optimizing space utilization to help increase efficiency 

in facility use and to reduce the Center’s operational footprint and 

required maintenance costs.

3. Finalize and obtain NASA Headquarters approval of the new JSC 

Master Plan.

Egrets and other protected waterbirds maintain 

a large nesting-colony onsite. Patrolling alligators 

underneath the heronry keep egg-stealing 

predators at bay. Over 400 waterbirds nested 

and hatched their young on JSC in 2015. 

Species include anhingas, little blue herons, 

cattle egrets, black-crowned night herons, 

snowy egrets, and green herons. 

In partnership with the Houston 

Zoo, JSC provides a quiet 

breeding place for 45 Attwater’s 

prairie chickens, a critically 

endangered species native to 

Texas. In 2015, the JSC birds 

contributed to the 257 chicks 

released into the wild to fight 

the threat of extinction.

Fighting the 

Invaders

Egrets and Alligators

Fighting Extinction

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Did You Know

Not only does JSC fight 

invasive plant species, 

JSC Wildlife Managers also 

relocate non-native cats and 

ducks from JSC in an effort to 

reduce invasive animal species.

JSC has a BirdWindow Collision 

Program that 

reduces the number 

of migratory bird 

collisions with 

windows. By FY 

2015, the program 

has reduced birdwindow strikes by 

more than 75%, 

saving the lives 

of hundreds of 

migratory birds 

flying through JSC.

Flying High

In 2015, JSC demolished 

Buildings 262A, 262B, 

and 264, which covered 

approximately 6,000 square 

feet, to make room for new, 

more efficient buildings. 

Making Room

Texas made Top 10 states for LEEDcertified projects in 2015. 15% of all the 

LEED projects certified in the U.S. in 

2015 were in Texas.

Texas Leading in 

LEED

TOP TEN

LEEDER!
FY 2016 Focus Areas

Water

Water resources include the water that flows in and out of the site. The JSC goal for 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. Because JSC is close to several bodies 

of water, it is critical that we manage our water resources appropriately and operate sustainably.

Water Usage

JSC used over 313 million 

gallons of potable water in 

FY 2015, which is a 4% 

decrease from FY 2014’s 

water intensity. JSC’s 

savings is enough water 

to fill 12 Olympic 

swimming pools.

Let It Rain

In 2015, Hobby airport reported 

77.12 inches of rain to the 

National Oceanographic and 

Atmospheric Administration. 

That is 70% above the average 

rainfall for Houston (45.28 inches), 

according to U.S. Climate Data.

1. Initiate the renewals of the 5-year stormwater permit for JSC.

2. Initiate a project to update and rehabilitate JSC’s sanitary sewer lines 

and lift stations. 

3. Start development on a Nitrification Action Plan and associated 

sampling for the federal and state new drinking water requirements.

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

trash out of stormwater and storm inlets.

5. Continue identifying water conservation and recycling opportunities at 

JSC to reduce consumption.

Water Consumption

Green roofs help reduce stormwater runoff, 

and the Building 12 roof has diverted over 

7.5 million gallons of stormwater 

since August 2012.

JSC generated and 

sent 229 million gallons 

of wastewater to the 

wastewater treatment 

plant. This is a 16% 

increase from FY 2014 

generation.

In FY 2015, JSC finished installing the new water 

lines around site. The 150,000 linear feet of new 

water pipe is enough to stretch from JSC to 

Downtown Houston’s Toyota Center. 

Shake Your Tail Fins

The Roof and Runoff Waste Water

New Water Distribution System

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Did You Know

Goal: Reduce potable water use by at least 26% from FY 2007 through FY 2025. 

Water intensity is gallons per gross square foot (GSF). 

Visitors can now see the 

new Space Center Houston 

exhibit “The Shuttle and 747 

Carrier” above the tree line 

on Saturn Lane. In FY 2015, 

JSC worked with Space 

Center Houston to provide 

water and sewer capabilities 

for the new exhibit.

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 

4%

United States
Materials

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

accomplish the Mission. The JSC goal for Materials is to reduce unnecessary material purchases, reduce toxic 

material use, reduce waste generation, and convert waste into new materials, resulting in procurement and dis-

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

Diversion

JSC recycled 58% of its trash 

and 99% of construction and 

demolition debris in FY 2015, 

equaling 13.1 million pounds 

diverted from landfill. That is 

more than the weight of 14 

International Space Stations. 

In FY 2015, JSC composted 

over 18,000 pounds of coffee 

grounds, a 5,000-pound 

increase from FY 2014. 

That’s a lot of caffeinated 

compost for JSC’s plants. 

Aircraft tires are expensive and difficult 

to recycle. Now, JSC participates in 

an aircraft tire take-back program 

that saved JSC 

$20,000 in 

recycling costs 

in FY 2015. 

Compared to FY 2014, 

JSC reduced hazardous 

waste by 62% in FY 

2015, and EF reduced 

hazardous waste by 

11%. The 29,000-pound reduction 

helped JSC reduce hazardous 

waste disposal costs. 

In FY 2015, JSC 

composted over 363 

tons of organic material. 

That’s over 10% of all 

nonhazardous waste 

generated at JSC. 

In February of 2015, 

JSC switched to a 

combined recycling 

program. Now, JSC 

collects loose paper, 

loose cardboard, and bagged drink 

containers in one compactor. JSC now 

accepts #2 plastics and chipboard 

(i.e., cereal boxes) for recycling. 

1. Encourage greater participation in waste diversion programs, 

such as composting, recycling, and reuse.

2. Encourage employees to reduce printer and copier paper use.

3. Encourage the use of designated biobased products (i.e., 

products made from plants instead of petroleum).

4. Continue improving data quality for tracking recycling, 

disposal, and purchasing data. 

In FY 2015, JSC 

implemented four 

new recycling 

programs: clean 

wood, x-rays, garnet 

from industrial water knives, and 

oily wastewater from skimmers. 

These programs diverted more 

than 50,000 pounds in the first 

year of implementation. 

The federal government spends a significant amount 

of money on supplies and equipment. Requiring the 

federal government to purchase environmentally 

preferable products leverages its enormous purchasing 

power to help create demand for cost-competitive 

environmentally preferable products.

Making the Mock Up

In 2015, JSC personnel 

received over $92,000 worth 

of excessed parts, tools, and 

materials from the Reutilization 

and Distribution Branch to use 

in the construction the Orion 

mock up and operator console.

Perky Plants 

Pollution 

Prevention

Tire Take Back 

Putting Organic 

Waste to Good Use 

Switch to Single 

Stream

FY 2016 Focus Areas

New Recycling 

Programs 

Purchasing Power 

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Did You Know

JSC Waste Diversion Goal

Goal: Divert at least 50% of nonhazardous trash from landfills by 2015.

10%
FY 2016 Focus Areas

Air

Air resources include both indoor and outdoor air quality. The JSC goal for 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. 

Air Quality Action Days 

In 2015, Harris County had 20 days that 

the air quality index ranked “Unhealthy 

for Sensitive Groups” 

(USG) and five days that 

ranked “Unhealthy.” 

This is an increase from 

the four days ranked 

USG and no days 

ranked “Unhealthy” 

in 2014.

GHGs 

Going Down

From FY 2008 to FY 

2015, JSC reduced 

total greenhouse gas 

emissions by 33%. 

Refrigerants can either be ozone depleting 

substances or greenhouse gases. In FY 2015, 

JSC improved the documentation to verify 

the “full charge” of refrigerants in chillers. 

This helps JSC comply with regulations 

concerning refrigerant leaks.

Are you interested 

in today’s air quality? 

Check out the 

Environmental Protection 

Agency’s AIRNow website 

(http://www.airnow.gov/) 

that will give you daily air 

quality forecasts and notify 

residents about air alerts 

in their city. There even 

is an AIRNow app to get 

you information on the go. 

JSC’s fleet 

vehicles 

decreased their 

fuel consumption 

by 28% in FY 

2015 compared 

to FY 2014. 

51% of the total 

fuel consumed 

by JSC’s fleet in 

FY 2015 was E85, 

an alternative 

to petroleumbased fuel.

Cool as a Cucumber

Air Quality? 

There’s an App for That

Transporting the 

SmartWay®

Fuel Efficient 

Fleets

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

2. Finalize the new Environmental database tracking system for air emissions 

to increase efficiency.

3. Continue providing air permitting and regulatory compliance support during 

procurement and construction phases of significant Facilities projects.

4. Develop an inventory of electrical switchgear equipment containing sulfur 

hexafluoride (SF6), which has the highest global warming potential of all 

the greenhouse gases. 

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Did You Know

JSC Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

33%

The Environmental Protection Agency’s 

SmartWay Program allows freight 

transporters to improve supply chain 

efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas 

generation in a way visible to individuals 

choosing transportation companies. 

Look for SmartWay logos and SmartWay 

participants when choosing a 

transportation company. 

From 

2007 

through 

2015, JSC 

reduced nitrogen 

oxide (NOx) emissions 

from stationary sources 

by 81%! NOx emissions 

contribute to the formation 

of ground-level ozone 

and smog. 

Knock Out 

the NOx

Air

Quality
FY 2016 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 positive difference. Increased 

awareness and communication, recognition and awards, strategic and environmental planning, and technology 

transfers all affect how individuals can get involved in making JSC more sustainable.

The Multiplier Effect

With around 10,000 employees, those 

small everyday changes can make a 

big difference when the entire site joins 

in. This year, pick one thing to improve 

the Center’s footprint, and challenge 

your colleagues to do the same.

NASA Brain Power

The People Power of NASA 

is an incredible resource. 

NASA helps employees harness 

that power to solve all kinds 

of challenges through the 

NASA at Work Challenge. 

Post a challenge, and let NASA 

brainpower help you solve it. 

The JSC sustainability teams coordinate outreach efforts, focusing on specific topics over the 

course of the year. Each resource has two months to focus on outreach and increase aware-

ness about how individuals can make positive changes to achieve Agency goals. 

JSC added three more Employee 

Resource Groups (ERGs) in 2015:

• Connecting Veterans ERG (ConVERG);

• No Boundaries 

ERG (NoBo); and

• Women 

Excelling 

in Life and 

Leadership 

ERG (WELL). 

In 2015, JSC started revitalizing the 

Free Range Bike Program. Efforts 

included repairing abandoned bikes 

throughout the site and making the 

bikes available for anyone onsite to 

use. Tire pumps are now available 

in several buildings 

for employee 

convenience. 

Not only is JSC a 

fascinating place to 

work, JSC also has 

several resources that 

keep employees at the 

top of their game: • Healthy and 

sustainable food 

options around site; 

• Teleworking capabilities; • Ergonomic assessments; • Health and fitness 

opportunities and classes 

at the Gilruth Fitness Center; 

and

• Employee Assistance Program

for assisting employees through transition 

periods or difficult times in their life. 

Do you want to get involved in improving JSC’s sustainability? 

Join a team! • The Sustainability Partnership Team (POC: JSC-Sustainability@mail.nasa.gov) • The JSC Green Team (POC: JSC-Green-Team@mail.nasa.gov) • The JSC Contractor Environmental Partnership (POC: Jeni Morrison) • The Environmental Stewardship Subcommittee (POC: Sumera Ali)

NASA technology has 

provided an app called 

Earth Now that allows anyone 

to see the Earth’s “vital signs.” 

From a cell phone, anyone 

can now check out ozone 

levels, sea levels, water vapor, 

and the gravity field anywhere 

on the planet. 

Sustainability Outreach Focus Areas

JSC Sustainability Teams

New Employee 

Resource Groups

Bikes are Better

Mind, Body, and 

Soul

Earth Right Now

1. Coordinate an Energy Reduction Competition to encourage energy 

saving behavior among employees. 

2. Coordinate a Bike-to-Work Day to encourage the use of alternative 

transportation to get to and through JSC.

3. Coordinate volunteer participation in the 2016 Trash Bash to clean 

up trash in waterways both onsite and adjacent to the Center in 

conjunction with local cleanup initiatives. 

4. Increase participation from JSC employees and management in 

sustainable and environmentally friendly behaviors.

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Did You Know

Land Water People Air Energy Materials

January

February

May

June

September

October

March

April

July

August

November

December
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!