National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration

Annual Sustainability Report

Published September 2017
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan 

(SSPP), NASA’s sustainability policy is to “execute the mission without compromising our planet’s resources 

so that future generations can meet their needs.” To that end, NASA is taking action now to “provide a future 

where the environment and living conditions are protected and enhanced.” 

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 NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) has been implementing aspects of sustainability for 

over 20 years. With the NASA 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) 2016 Annual Sustainability Report documents these 

efforts over the past year and brings awareness to the JSC community. 

Each section documents the applicable sustainability goals, interesting 

facts about the resource, what individuals can do to help, JSC’s goal status, 

success stories for FY 2016, and upcoming center efforts relating to the 

resource area. This is by no means an exhaustive list of accomplishments, 

and more information is available on the JSC Sustainability Website.

Each year, JSC makes strides towards achieving Agency and Center sustainability goals, and here is our status 

as of FY 2016 for the goals listed in Executive Order 13693, Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade. 

Grey statuses indicate that data is not available to make a status determination, efforts are for future endeavors, 

or that this goal is an Agency-level initiative that is indirectly related to Center efforts.

* The Guiding Principles for High Performance Buildings are principles that guide facilities in improving performance and efficiency. 

These can be found at https://energy.gov/eere/femp/guiding-principles-sustainable-federal-buildings. 

Sustainability at JSC NASA and JSC Sustainability Goals

Table of Contents

Sustainability Goals 1

Energy 2

Land 4

Water 6

Materials 8

Air 10

People 12

Contact Information Back Cover

Reduce direct GHG emissions by 47% and indirect emissions 

(e.g., commuting, travel) by 32% by FY 2025 compared to FY 2008. 

Reduce Energy intensity (energy consumption per gross square feet) 

by 2.5% annually compared to FY 2015. 

Ensure that 1% of existing buildings above 5,000 gross square feet are energy, 

waste, or water net-zero buildings by FY 2025. 

Ensure that at least 23% of buildings or 30% of gross square footage will meet 

Guiding Principles for High Performance Buildings* by FY 2025. 

Ensure that at least 10% of total electricity consumption is from renewable 

energy sources for FY 2016 through FY 2017. 

Ensure that at least 10% of total electricity consumption and thermal energy 

is from clean energy sources for FY 2016 and FY 2017. 

Ensure that environmental performance and sustainability factors are considered 

for all applicable procurements. 

Award contracts with BioPreferred and biobased criteria to be delivered 

in FY 2016 (Agency-level goal). 

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

Reduce the acquisition, use, and disposal of toxic and hazardous materials, 

particularly when helpful in meeting GHG reduction goals.

Award Energy Savings Performance Contracts and Utility Energy Service Contracts 

by the end of 2016 (Agency-level goal). 

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

on operations and mission in both the short and long term (Agency-level goal). 

Ensure 95% of monitors, PCs, and laptops acquired meet environmentally sustainable 

electronics criteria (EPEAT registered) and all have power management features enabled. 

Ensure that environmentally sound methods for disposal are followed.

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

compared to FY 2007, and reduce industrial, landscaping, and agricultural 

water use by 2% each year compared to FY 2010. 

Install appropriate green infrastructure to improve storm water and wastewater 

management. 

Reduce per-mile GHG emissions by 4% by 2017, 15% by 2021, 

and 30% by 2025, compared to FY 2014.

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Greenhouse 

Gases (GHG)

Sustainable 

Buildings

Clean and 

Renewable 

Energy

Water 

Use

Fleet 

Management

Sustainable 

Acquisition

Pollution 

Prevention 

and Waste 

Reduction

Energy 

Performance 

Contracts

Electronic 

Stewardship 

and Data 

Centers

Climate 

Change 

Resilience

Get Involved

1 Know the goals – What is NASA aiming for? 

2 Make a difference – How can you make a difference in your work area?

3 Join the JSC Sustainability Team – How do you want to get involved and share your ideas?

4 Keep informed – What’s happening onsite and on the JSC Sustainability Website? 
Energy

Energy resources include a variety of energy sources 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 oil. Energy resources also include renewable sources and increasing 

building efficiency.

2 3 GOAL

Related Federal Goals:

• Goal 2 – Sustainable Buildings:

Reduce Energy intensity (energy consumption 

per gross square feet) by 2.5% annually compared 

to FY 2015. 

• Goal 3 – Clean & Renewable Energy: 

Ensure that at least 10% of total electricity 

consumption is from renewable energy 

sources for FY 2016 through FY 2017.

• Goal 3 – Clean & Renewable Energy: 

Ensure that at least 10% of total electricity 

consumption and thermal energy is from clean 

energy sources for FY 2016 and FY 2017.

• Goal 8 – Energy Performance Contracts:

Award Energy Savings Performance Contracts 

and Utility Energy Service Contracts by the 

end of 2016. 

Did You Know?

• Watt’s Up?

In FY 2016 JSC, SCTF and NASA’s Ellington Field 

(EF) facilities consumed 163 million kWh of electricity 

at a cost of $8.5M and 486k MCF (million cubic feet) 

of natural gas at a cost of $2.2M. 

• Cutting Costs

JSC, SCTF, and EF used enough electricity to power 

over 14,000 average Texas homes, yet JSC paid 

about one third the cost of those homeowner bills. 

What You Can Do:

• Remove personal refrigerators, especially older, 

compact refrigerators. These refrigerators use 

electricity and generate heat constantly, and 

they are a significant source of energy use in 

our offices. 

• Turn off lights, computers, and auxiliary devices 

when leaving offices and conference rooms. 

• Adjust window shades to block sun during the 

brightest times of the day to keep the heat to 

a minimum, and close shades at night.

• Use task lighting in your work areas, and 

coordinate with your building’s Facility Manager 

to reduce any unnecessary lighting. 

• Choose energy saving (Energy Star or FEMPdesignated) products when purchasing 

electricity consuming devices. 

Highlights: 

• Awesome Audits

JSC audits 25% of the center’s square footage annually, 

amounting to over 1.2 million square feet per year. 

These audits result in Energy Conservation Measures 

(ECMs) that increase efficiency, such as lighting 

replacements and maintenance requests. 

• Busting the BTUs

JSC implemented several ECMs in several buildings 

across the site. These projects included replacing 

lighting, improving ventilation, and other conservation 

efforts. Not only do these improvements reduce onsite 

energy usage, they save over $200,000 per year in 

energy costs. 

• Powering Up

Through an energy performance contract, JSC started 

construction on the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) 

installation at Building 24 in FY 2016. The CHP will 

provide a consistent and efficient way to generate 

electricity onsite, which decreases JSC’s overall energy 

usage and adds to the steam, chilled water, and other 

utilities the JSC Central Plant provides for the site.

What’s Coming Up for the Center:

1 Complete several HQ funded small, energy conservation projects for tasks identified during onsite 

energy audits, with priority on projects that have the highest return on investment. 

2 Initiate window replacements in Buildings 1, 4N, and 45 to increase energy efficiency by helping 

to reduce glare, solar heat transfer, and infiltration of hot, moist air into the buildings. 

3 Complete the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility, and bring it online to start operation. 

This will increase efficiency and reduce overall greenhouse gas generation for JSC.

4 Continue educating the JSC community about energy awareness and smart energy usage behavior. 

Onsite energy users have the potential to significantly reduce energy usage and associated power costs. 

JSC Energy Intensity
Land

4 5

Land resources include all physical structures, infrastructure, and land-based natural resources that the 

Center owns, maintains, builds, uses, and protects. The JSC goal for Land is to develop and maintain 

sustainable landscapes and high-performing facilities. Land resources include landscaping, wildlife, 

vegetation, roads, planning, and buildings, including sustainable buildings and historic facilities.

Related Federal Goals:

• Goal 2 – Sustainable Buildings:

Ensure that 1% of existing buildings above 

5,000 gross square feet are energy, waste, 

or water net-zero buildings by FY 2025. 

• Goal 2 – Sustainable Buildings: 

Ensure that at least 23% of buildings or 

30% of gross square footage will meet 

Guiding Principles for High Performance 

and Sustainable Buildings by FY 2025.

• Goal 10 – Climate Change Resilience: 

Evaluate climate change risks to identify and 

manage the effects of climate change on 

operations and mission in both the short 

and long term. 

Did You Know?

• Collaboration is Key

Collaboration areas are scattered throughout 

the Center to inspire productivity, creativity, 

and problem-solving. Buildings 30, 56, and 

57 have multiple collaboration areas to help 

inspire new ideas. 

• Lean and Green

In FY 2016, NASA as an agency surpassed 

3 million square feet of space that meet the 

Guiding Principles for High Performance and 

Sustainable Buildings. 

What You Can Do:

• Avoid interactions with wildlife. If a wildlife-human 

conflict occurs, call Work Control (x32038) to get 

assistance from a trained professional. 

• Coordinate with the Historic Preservation 

Officer to avoid impacts to historical landmarks, 

buildings, and districts when planning projects. 

• Take a moment to find out about the sustainable 

features of your building, so you can use these 

features as they were designed. This will help 

increase building efficiency. Leadership in 

Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 

buildings, especially, have new technology 

to operate more efficiently. 

• Report problems in your building to the Facility 

Manager immediately. Maintaining buildings 

helps sustain a basic level of efficiency. 

What’s Coming Up for the Center:

1 Revise the Wildlife Management Plan for the next five years. 

2 Demolish the majority of facilities in the flood-prone 200 area and return the area to natural 

habitat to increase efficiency, resilience, and land stewardship. 

3 Develop protection measures for onsite historical landmarks to preserve our cultural heritage 

(i.e., both Mission Controls, etc.).

JSC Gross Square Footage

Highlights:

• Pieces of History

JSC submitted the 50-Year Historic 

Survey to the Texas State Historic 

Preservation Office. The survey 

designated historic districts at JSC 

and EF. 

• Planning Like a Master

JSC prepared the new Center-wide 

Master Plan, which aims to agressively 

reduce building square footage and 

increase efficiency. 

• Efficiency in Space Utilization

JSC has spent the last several years 

increasing efficiency in space utilization 

across the Center. As a result of these 

efforts, JSC improved space utilization 

per employee by 7%.

• Natives for the Green Roof

JSC replanted the green roof on 

Building 12, replacing the struggling, 

non-native plants with Texas natives. 

The native plants are growing better 

since they are more acclimated to 

local climates and weather conditions.
Water

6 7

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.

Related Federal Goals:

• Goal 4 – Water Use:

Reduce potable water intensity (gallons per 

square foot) by 2% each year, compared to 

FY 2007, and reduce industrial, landscaping, 

and agricultural water used by 2% each year 

compared to FY 2010.

• Goal 4 – Water Use: 

Install appropriate green infrastructure 

to improve storm water and wastewater 

management.

Did You Know?

• Water Usage

According to the Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA), it takes six and a half years for 

the average American residence to use the 

amount of water required to fill an Olympicsized swimming pool. JSC used enough water 

to fill over 450 Olympic-sized swimming pools 

in FY 2016. 

• Treated or Not?

Wastewater (transported through the sanitary 

sewer) is treated before being released into 

the environment. Stormwater (water from 

rainfall that goes into storm drains and 

ditches) is not treated before being 

released into the environment. 

What You Can Do:

• Listen for “dry water flow” around site when it 

is not raining. If heard, report the incident to the 

Environmental Office (JSC-Environmental-Office@

nasa.gov).

• Report leaky faucets and fixtures to the 

appropriate Facility Manager as soon 

as possible. 

• When designing or implementing projects, 

be sure to use low-flow or WaterSense 

appliances, equipment, and fixtures.

• When designing systems, consider recirculating 

water systems and other types of water saving 

infrastructure instead of systems with singlepass through infrastructure.

What’s Coming Up for the Center:

1 Design and construct several sanitary sewer lift stations as funds become available.

2 Begin rehabilitation of JSC’s sanitary sewer lines in FY 2018. 

3 Continue identifying water conservation and recycling opportunities at JSC to reduce consumption.

4 Encourage employees to utilize JSC’s potable water instead of purchasing costly bottled water.

Water Consumption

Highlights:

• Saving the Gallons

JSC reduced water usage from 

313 million gallons to 303 million 

gallons, a 3% reduction in potable 

water usage in one year!

• Fixing the Drips

At 1 drip per second, a faucet 

can leak 3,000 gallons per year. 

In 2016, JSC repaired 482 leaks 

around site, helping to save water 

and utility costs.

• The Cost of Savings

With the cost of water being so 

low at JSC, water savings projects 

are very hard to fund. The savings 

from reducing water usage usually 

does not pay back the cost of 

implementing improvements. 

Employee water conservation 

initiatives are essential to help 

JSC meet federal water goals.
Materials

8

9

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

accomplish the NASA 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.

Related Federal Goals:

• Goal 6 – Sustainable Acquisitions:

Ensure that environmental performance 

and sustainability factors are considered 

for all applicable procurements. 

• Goal 7 – Pollution Prevention 

and Waste Reduction: 

Divert 50% of solid waste and 50% of 

construction and demolition debris from 

landfill. Reduce the acquisition, use, and 

disposal of toxic and hazardous materials, 

particularly when helpful in meeting GHG 

reduction goals.

• Goal 9 – Electronic Stewardship 

and Data Centers:

Ensure that environmentally sound 

methods for disposal are followed. 

Did You Know?

• Food Going to Waste

According to the EPA, the US sends over 

29 million tons of food waste to landfill 

annually. That is enough to feed over 

11 million families for a year. 

• Total Generation Decreasing

JSC decreased total waste generation 

by 19% since FY 2014. The approximately 

500-ton reduction is equivalent to the 

weight of 82 elephants. 

What You Can Do:

• Use the Sustainable Facilities Tool (www.sftool.gov/greenprocurement) to 

identify federal purchasing requirements 

for designated products and services. 

The site even has links to examples 

of compliant products to help reduce 

research time. 

• Participate in all of JSC’s reuse, recycling, 

and composting programs to maximize the 

center’s diversion from landfill. JSC diverts 

over 30 waste streams from landfill through 

recycling, reuse, and composting. 

• Reduce costly waste disposal and air 

emissions by using less toxic materials.

• Excess NASA-owned electronics and 

equipment through R&U to help JSC 

ensure proper disposal.

Highlights:

• Where the Rubber Meets ... Mars?

One of JSC’s labs installed a 50-meter indoor 

track made from 100% recycled rubber to allow 

for human endurance testing on a simulated 

Mars surface. Once the simulations and tests 

are complete, the material will be relocated for 

future reuse.

• Get An Upgrade!

Some of JSC’s labs reduced their hazardous 

waste generation by replacing old equipment 

with more efficient machinery. One lab went 

from generating 600 liters of waste per month 

to 1.5 liters of waste per month. 

• Container Size Matters

JSC Environmental Staff worked with labs to 

provide right-sized containers for hazardous 

waste collection. This allows for JSC to reduce 

the number and cost of drums for disposal.

What’s Coming Up for the Center:

1 Inform and encourage employees to find onsite resources for reuse rather 

than purchasing new products.

2 Ensure that JSC contracts include clauses requiring compliance with federal 

purchasing and reporting requirements. 

3 Encourage the use, tracking, and reporting of designated biobased products 

(i.e., products made from plants instead of petroleum). 

4 Incorporate the new NASA HQ requirement for waivers for designated energy 

consuming devices that are non-compliant.

Waste Diversion from Landfill
Air

10 11

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. 

Related Federal Goals:

• Goal 1 – Greenhouse Gases (GHGs):

Reduce direct GHG emissions by 47% and 

indirect emissions (e.g., commuting, travel) 

by 32% by FY 2025 compared to FY 2008. 

• Goal 5 – Fleet Management: 

Reduce per-mile GHG emissions by 4% by 2017, 

15% by 2021, and 30% by 2025, compared to 

FY 2014.

• Goal 7 – Pollution Prevention 

and Waste Reduction:

Reduce the acquisition, use, and disposal 

of toxic and hazardous materials, particularly 

when helpful in meeting GHG reduction goals.

Did You Know?

• Cleaning Up U.S. Air

Even with economic growth and population 

increases, national air pollutant concentrations 

are significantly lower since the Clean Air Act 

passed in 1990. The EPA determined that lead 

dropped by 99% and sulfur dioxide dropped 

by 85% as of 2016.

• Ozone Improvement

In 2016, the EPA re-designated the Houston/

Galveston area as a Moderate Non-Attainment 

area for National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

for ground-level ozone, a significant improvement 

from the previous designation as a Serious 

Non-Attainment area. 

What You Can Do:

• Choose paints, solvents, and other 

chemicals that have less or no Volatile 

Organic Compounds (VOCs). 

• Submit a JF 1138 prior to purchasing or 

modifying equipment that has the potential 

to produce air emissions or use refrigerants 

(i.e., combustion sources, generators, 

chillers, boilers, etc.). 

• Use equipment or refrigerants that have 

less greenhouse gas potential and are less 

ozone depleting. The Environmental Office 

has a list of alternatives that help meet 

these requirements.

• Avoid vehicle idling and keep combustion 

sources properly tuned to avoid generating 

additional air pollutants that can cause 

health impacts.

• Conserve energy. Cutting electricity 

usage reduces the demand on power 

plants and subsequently reduces air 

pollutant emissions. 

Highlights:

• Cutting Out the VOCs

JSC and EF reduced VOC emissions 

by 13% in FY 2016. VOCs combined with 

nitrogen oxides and sunlight cause groundlevel ozone to develop, which is the main 

ingredient in smog. The sites also reduced 

particulate matter by 2% and nitrogen 

oxide emissions by 9%. 

• Updating Equipment

JSC installed a replacement steam 

generation boiler with a Low-NOx burner 

that significantly reduces the emissions 

of nitrous oxides and other air pollutants. 

• Catching Up with Technology

In the new Building 21, JSC purchased a 

pre-certified emergency power generator that 

avoids the need for performance testing to 

demonstrate compliance with air regulations.

What’s Coming Up for the Center:

1 Continue providing air permitting and regulatory compliance support during procurement and 

construction phases of significant Facilities projects.

2 Initiate operations at the Combined Heat and Power Facility in late 2017, which will significantly 

reduce net GHG emissions.

3 Replace five old generators in B48 with two new, more efficient emergency generators in FY 2018, 

which will significantly reduce air emissions.

4 Develop a tracking system for Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6), an extremely potent greenhouse gas used 

primarily in electrical equipment, to better monitor use, detect releases, and evaluate alternatives.

5 Identify additional opportunities to add electric vehicles to the JSC fleet.

JSC Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
People

12 13

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, 

following 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. 

What You Can Do:

• Join the Sustainability Team to implement 

your ideas for sustainable technology and 

practices onsite. Email JSC-Sustainability@

mail.nasa.gov for more information or to 

submit success stories.

• Check out what is happening onsite and 

nearby each month by visiting the JSC 

Sustainability Website. 

• Find ways to integrate sustainable practices 

into your work every day. 

• Find ways to carpool or vanpool, some of 

which may be subsidized as a benefit by 

your employer.

• Participate in the next Bike to Work Day 

in the spring.

Highlights: 

• Bike to Work Day

In April 2016, JSC hosted the first 

annual Bike to Work Day. Experienced 

cyclists led groups of riders through 

various routes to JSC, demonstrating 

safe routes and riding practices. 

Over 40 participants joined in the fun, 

even with rain on the day of the event. 

• Living Lab

The Sustainability Partnership Team 

partnered with over 30 students from 

Rice University in Houston and the 

University of Chalmers in Sweden 

to host a Living Lab workshop on 

reimagining efficient storage for 

small spaces. 

• Fighting the Energy Vampires

The JSC Green Team hosted another 

energy vampire slaying competition 

from August to October of 2016. 

Buildings 12 and 321 swept aside 

the competition by having the greatest 

reduction in energy usage during the 

competition. Winners were awarded 

trophies made from repurposed and 

recycled materials from onsite. 

• Going Green

As a result of onsite sustainability 

efforts in 2016, JSC won the Houston 

Green Office Challenge for Property 

Management. JSC received this 

distinction for site-wide efforts to 

integrate sustainable practices into 

management of more than 4.2 million 

square feet of buildings

What’s Coming Up for the Center:

1 Coordinate the next Bike to Work Day event in the spring. 2 Coordinate outreach for LEED building occupants to understand sustainable features of new 

buildings and how to properly request changes to settings, such as temperature, lighting, etc.

3 Encourage participation from JSC employees and management in sustainable and 

environmentally friendly behaviors.

4 Identify opportunities for the Sustainability Team to assist in projects that will help JSC 

achieve sustainability goals. 

5 Coordinate additional opportunities for collaboration and innovation, such as Living Labs.

Resources:

JSC offers a variety of resources for personal and 

professional development, including the following: 

• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): • Connecting Veterans (ConVERG) • No Boundaries (NoBo) • Women Excelling in Life and leadership 

(WELL)

• African American ERG (AAERG) • Asians Succeeding in Innovation and 

Aerospace (ASIA)

• Emerge; Hispanic ERG (HERG) • Human Systems Integration (HIS) • Out & Allied ERG (OAERG)

• JSC Clinic • Ergonomic Assessments • Teleworking Capabilities • Employee Assistance Program • Gilruth Fitness Center
Are you interested in more about the JSC and NASA 

Sustainability Programs? Check out the latest on the 

JSC Sustainability Website.

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!