National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

JSC

Annual Sustainability Report

2014

FY2014

Water Consumed: 

321,317,991 gallons

Energy Used: 

1,006,600 MMBTU 

(gas, electric, fuel oil)

Paper Purchased: 94 tons

Petroleum Fuel Used: 

26,344 gasoline gallon equivalents

Alternative Fuels Used: 

15,800 gasoline gallon equivalents

FY2014

Disposed Non-Hazardous Waste: 1,360 tons 

Disposed Hazardous Waste: 18 tons 

Renewable Energy Produced Onsite: 375,521 kWh 

Composted: 182 tons 

Total Materials Recycled: 3,679 tons 

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

construction/demolition debris, office supplies, pallets, 

tires, Industrial Solid Waste, and electronics)

FY2014

Air Emissions:

Carbon Dioxide (CO2e): 145,506 metric tons 

Particulate Matter (PM): 15.5 tons 

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): 6.73 tons 

Carbon Monoxide (CO): 6.65 tons 

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): 0.1 tons 

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): 20.63 tons

Johnson Space Center

4,416,220 Gross Square Feet

Over 8,900 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. 

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

Sustainable 

Acquisition

Electronic 

Stewardship

Renewable 

Energy

Climate 

Change 

Resilience

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) 2014 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 2014. 
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 consumption, as well as renewable energy sources and building efficiency.

Nights and 

Weekends

JSC reduces energy 

consumption by only 

30% when personnel 

leave for nights and 

weekends. That means 

JSC is still running at 

70% energy usage 

when most employees 

are not 

around. 

Reduction

In FY 2014, JSC reduced electricity 

and natural gas consumption 

by 2.6%, which is equivalent to 

supplying electricity to 654 houses 

for an entire year. 

JSC Energy Intensity

JSC replaced lighting and 

installed lighting controls 

in Building 46, which is 

estimated to save 364,000 

kWh a year. That is enough 

saved energy to power 23 

homes for an entire year.

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

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

In FY 2014, JSC installed 

additional natural gas meters 

in the 200 and 300 area 

buildings to help improve 

usage tracking and problem 

reporting. The more you 

know about usage, the more 

you can improve!

Performing an energy efficiency audit on your 

building or home can help you find all kinds of 

ways to save energy and money, ranging from 

big projects to small improvements. In 2014, the 

JSC Energy Team performed comprehensive 

energy audits on 1.2 million square feet across 

the site to identify ways to conserve energy. 

Shine a Light on 

Energy Conservation 

Got Gas?

Oughtn’t You Better Audit? 

The More You Know... 

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

when not in use and turning off lights in empty rooms. 

2. Complete energy audits on 43 buildings (about 1.4 million square feet) 

to identify and prioritize energy efficiency projects and improve building 

and system operations. 

3. Focus on reducing after-hour energy usage since usage only decreases 

by 30% when personnel leave for nights and weekends. 

FY 2015 Focus Areas

Wild About Wind 

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Did You Know

Starting in FY 2014, JSC partnered with the 

U.S. Department of Energy to investigate how 

installing wind turbines on the roof of a building 

may change wind and rooftop conditions, 

especially when combined with a green roof. 

The study will help us better understand 

wind energy performance in urban areas and 

ultimately help improve wind turbine design. 

The JSC Energy Team updated 

the Energy Dashboard on the 

JSC web site to include all of the 

Mall building steam and chilled 

water meter data, along with 

site-wide potable water meter 

data across the site. Now all 

employees can access building 

data to see how their efforts are 

making a difference! 
FY 2015 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.

Footprint Reduction

In FY 2014, JSC reduced 

the Center’s operational 

footprint by 29,631 square 

feet through strategic 

demolition of inefficient 

and outdated buildings. 

This reduction in footprint 

will allow JSC to construct 

more efficient facilities. 

Composting

In FY 2014, JSC mulched 

and composted 182 tons 

of organic material to provide 

rich soil for JSC’s onsite 

landscaping beds. That is 

well over the weight of the 

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a 

modified jumbo jet. 

1. Develop the Space Life Sciences Laboratory facility and finish 

renovating the Building 45 annex.

2. Continue removing invasive species and restoring 500 acres of Coastal 

Prairie habitat. 

3. Maximize the use of laboratories and other Center spaces to reduce 

resource use.

4. Continue optimizing space utilization to help increase efficiency in 

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

maintenance costs.

In FY 2014, JSC began construction on one of two new buildings that will be Leadership 

in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified to add to the already 8 LEED certified 

buildings onsite. The Building 45 Annex and the new Building 21 Space Life Sciences 

Laboratory are both planned for completion in FY 2015.

As part of a larger effort to rehabilitate the native prairie 

and native forest onsite in FY 2014, JSC removed the 

invasive Chinese tallow tree from 13 acres and planted 

12 acres with native Coastal Prairie seeds using a 

“no-till drill,” a specialized seeder to prevent soil 

impacts from plowing. 

In FY 2014, JSC started working 

to develop the next JSC Master 

Plan, which will determine the 

direction the Center will take from 

an operational standpoint over 

the next 20 years and beyond. 

Incorporating sustainability and 

resiliency principles 

into the Master 

Plan will help 

JSC increase 

efficiency in 

facilities 

and meet 

Federal 

and 

Agency 

goals. 

Making Room for Efficiency

Continuing on the Path to LEED

Fighting the Invaders

JSC’s Future

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Did You Know

In 2014, JSC demolished 

Buildings 225 and 226 to 

make room for new, more 

efficient buildings. Building 

226 was the first building 

constructed at JSC in 

December 1962, known 

then as NASA’s Manned 

Spacecraft Center (MSC). 

The bricks from this eligible 

historic building will be 

reused onsite with a sign 

noting their special origin.

To increase efficiency 

and recapture underutilized space, JSC 

coordinated over 300 

personnel / office moves 

to fill the Central Mall 

Area to design capacity. 

This allowed JSC to 

reclaim over 11,000 

square feet of excess 

space and allows 

occupants to conduct 

housecleaning and 

excess old equipment 

and materials. 

Movin’ On Up

In FY 2014, JSC completed a 50-Year Historic 

and Architectural Survey, which identified 45 

buildings throughout JSC, EF, and SCTF that 

are eligible for the 

National Register 

of Historic Places 

(NRHP). 

JSC Making History

In FY 2014, JSC worked with employees 

to increase awareness about wildlife 

interactions with humans. Consequently, 

deer-vehicle collisions were reduced by 

85%, and bird-window strikes are down 

by 90%. JSC personnel 

also responded to 

90 wildlife 

conflict calls 

during the year.

Reducing Wildlife 

Conflicts
FY 2015 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 321 million 

gallons of potable water 

in FY 2014, which is a 

0.6% decrease from FY 

2013 water intensity. JSC’s 

savings could provide water 

to 350 houses for a month. 

Low Flow

Bathrooms use the largest 

percent of water in a single 

household, about 27% of 

overall water consumption. 

JSC helps reduce those impacts 

onsite by installing low-flow faucets 

and toilets in new and renovated 

buildings, such as Buildings 3, 

20, and 12. 

1. Encourage employees to conserve water whenever possible to get us 

back on track with federally mandated reduction goals.

2. Encourage employees to immediately report turf irrigation system leaks 

to Work Control (x32038) for repair. 

3. Develop and implement projects to update pass-through water 

systems with circulating water systems to reduce water consumption.

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

trash out of stormwater and storm inlets.

5. Encourage employees to drink water provided site-wide rather than 

purchase expensive, bottled water.

Water Consumption

JSC finished replacing 

four sanitary sewer lift 

stations in FY 2014, 

which will help keep 

“the flow” moving. This 

next year, JSC will be 

gearing up to replace 

more aging sanitary 

infrastructure, which will 

increase efficiency and 

reduce the potential for 

problems across the site.

Did you know that the 

State of Texas requires 

JSC to test drinking 

water to make sure 

employees have safe 

drinking water? Instead 

of purchasing expensive 

bottled water, bring your 

own cup or mug to work 

and take advantage of 

all the water fountains 

throughout the site. 

In FY 

2014, JSC 

updated the 

automatic 

controls for 

the Building 

40 Water 

Tower for 

potable 

water to 

ensure more 

efficient 

water usage. 

Since there are now water meters on all buildings, 

JSC added water meter data to the Energy 

Dashboard. Now employees can see how their 

energy and water consumption changes over time.

Improving 

Sanitation

Water Line Project Update

Drink up!

Tower Upgrades

Water Works

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Did You Know

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

The water line project that started in 2011 to 

help update the aging, potable water system 

infrastructure is almost complete! The final 

step is to flush the lines to ensure the system 

is working properly. JSC will then be able to 

put an end to frequent waterline flushing! 
Materials

Materials resources include anything that JSC buys, 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 

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

Diversion

JSC recycled 64% of trash 

and 98% of construction and 

demolition debris generated 

during FY 2014. Overall, JSC 

diverted 4.8 million pounds 

from landfill. That is more 

than 100 times the weight 

of an Orion 

spacecraft. 

JSC’s volunteer-driven Coffee-to-Compost Program 

expanded to include two new drop-off locations in the 

central Mall area, resulting in a 1,300-pound increase in 

shredded paper and more than a 10,000-pound increase 

in used coffee ground collection for composting. 

There are regulated 

hazardous wastes that can 

also be recycled. In FY 2014, 

JSC recycled over 324,000 pounds 

of Industrial Solid Waste. Recycling 

these wastes avoids the need to 

incinerate these waste streams, which 

eliminates the environmental impacts 

from the combustion process. 

JSC Procurement is in the 

process of going paperless, 

which would reduce 

paper usage by 

an estimated 

1,618 reams 

(or 809,000 

sheets) per year.

In FY 2014, JSC 

increased the amount of designated 

items purchased with recycled or 

biobased content from 54% to 76%. 

Choosing the environmentally 

conscious options for supply 

purchases reduces negative 

environmental impacts.

After a successful pilot test that 

recycled 8,600 pounds of clean 

wood during a decommissioning 

project, JSC now is implementing 

a site-wide clean 

wood recycling 

program to help 

divert clean 

wood from 

landfills. 

1. Evaluate Ellington Field’s waste and recycling operations and 

assess future opportunities.

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

3. Compile a master list of products that are compliant with the 

various “green purchasing” program requirements, and make 

the list available to JSC purchasers and requestors.

4. Continue improving data quality for tracking recycling, 

disposal, and purchasing data. 

In FY 2014, JSC started tracking the amount of excess 

property that was diverted from landfill through sales 

and donations, which reported an additional 1.29 million 

pounds towards JSC’s diversion rate. 

Purchasing

In FY 2014, JSC spent over 

$2 million on environmentally 

friendly supplies, including 

items with recycled and 

biobased content that helped 

reduce environmental impacts. 

Caffeinated Compost 

Paperless 

Procurement 

Industrial Solid 

Waste Recycling 

Improving 

Compliant 

Purchases 

Wood Recycling Pilot 

FY 2015 Focus Areas

Assessing the Excess 

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Did You Know

JSC Waste Diversion Goal

Goal: Divert at least 50% of trash from landfills by 2015.
FY 2015 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 (GHGs), 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. 

Fighting Smog

From 2007 through 2014, JSC reduced 

nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from stationary 

sources by 75%! NOx emissions contribute to 

the formation of ground-level ozone and smog. 

GHG 

Reductions

From FY 2008 

to FY 2014, 

JSC reduced 

total greenhouse gas 

emissions by 30%. 

Incorporating air pollution controls into the 

designs of projects can stop emissions 

before they start. In FY 2014, three significant 

projects included features for new air pollution 

controls, including the JSC Combined Heat & 

Power Energy Saving Performance Contract, 

the Building 24 Central Heating and Cooling 

Plant Boiler Replacement, and Building 48 

Emergency Power System for Mission 

Control Repair Project. 

Did you know that Houston’s 

ground-level ozone levels have 

improved 29% between 2000 

and 2014, even with a population 

increase of over 34 percent? 

Way to go, Houston! 

Everyone can make a 

difference in air quality!

JSC now uses battery-powered Global 

Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices to easily track and document the 

19 portable generators located across 

the site. This makes regulatory 

recordkeeping for 

air efficient and 

helps track 

locations at 

a moment’s 

notice in case 

of emergencies.

The Power of Planning

Way to Go, Houston!

No More Acid Rain

New Car? 

Breathe Easier

Tracking Generators

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

low- or no-VOC alternatives where possible.

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Did You Know

JSC Greenhouse Gases (GHG)

30%

29%

Over the past 30 years, power plants 

have cut sulfate emissions that cause 

acid rain by more than 55% across 

the eastern United States. 

Compared to 1970 vehicle models, new cars, SUVs, and pickup 

trucks are roughly 99% cleaner for 

common pollutants (hydrocarbons, 

carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, 

and particle emissions). 
FY 2015 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.

JSC Population

JSC has about 7,000 

employees and about 

8,900 parking spaces. 

That is almost as big as 

the population of the City 

of Webster. 

External Web Site

JSC now has an external 

sustainability web site, where 

anyone can see the strides 

JSC is taking to become more 

sustainable. Check out JSC’s 

external Sustainability Web 

Site today to find out how you 

can get involved. 

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. 

In 2014, JSC 

Center Director 

and Center 

Sustainability 

Officer Joel Walker 

received a GreenGov 

Presidential Award for 

being a sustainability 

hero. Mr. Walker received 

the national award for his 

multi-faceted management 

approach to integrate a culture 

of sustainability at JSC. 

Every person will face 

challenges during their life, 

and the JSC Employee Assistance 

Program (EAP) provides services 

that assist employees and their 

dependents in adapting to 

changing environments. Topics 

include family and relationship 

problems, finances, grief and loss, 

stress and time management, 

conflict resolution, and more.

Do you want to get involved in 

improving JSC’s sustainability? 

Join a team! 

• The Sustainability 

Partnership Team 

POC: Mike Ewert

• The JSC Green Team 

POC: JSC-Green-Team

@mail.nasa.gov

• The JSC Contractor 

Environmental Partnership 

POC: Jeni Morrison

• The Environmental 

Stewardship Subcommittee 

POC: Alan Amor

Facilitating the transfer of space technology to applications here on 

Earth is an important part of the NASA and JSC Mission. Here are 

three ways you can find out more about NASA technology:

• NASA’s Spinoff Web site provides information on technology 

currently demonstrating benefits to the public. 

• NASA’s Tech Transfer Portal provides information on NASA 

technology and software available for licensing and/or use.

• NASA’s TechPort Web site provides information on ongoing NASA 

projects and technology development. 

In FY 2014, 

JSC held nine 

very successful 

Environmental 

Brown Bag 

discussions 

during lunch 

breaks throughout 

the year, helping to 

educate employees on 

new technology, good 

environmental practices, 

and sustainable options for work and 

home. Suggest topics that interest you 

for upcoming discussions by emailing 

JSC-Environmental-Office@nasa.gov. 

Sustainability Outreach Focus Areas

Technology

Award-Winning 

Center Hero

Employee 

Assistance 

Program

JSC Sustainability 

Teams

What Interests You?

1. Introduce sustainability and environmental topics to interested 

employees through more Environmental Brown Bag Lunch 

presentations.

2. Increase the use of alternative transportation (i.e., cycling, carpooling, 

public transportation, and walking) to get to and through JSC.

3. Integrate sustainability goals and recognition opportunities for positive 

behavior into required inspections and walk-throughs. 

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!