By installing on-site solar and wind power systems and purchasing renewable energy certificates, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has gone beyond being "green powered." The Laboratory is employing renewable energy to offset not only the total energy use of its buildings, but the energy used by NREL vehicles, employee commutes, air travel and other "life cycle" energy consumption as well.
The laboratory exceeded its five-year goal as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Leaders Partnership, having cut overall greenhouse gas emissions more than 10% since 2000.
"We at NREL are proud to be leaders in energy efficiency and renewable energy," NREL director Dan Arvizu says, "by both providing the research that helps the nation reduce its dependence on foreign energy sources, and by using those very technologies to make our own facilities the very best they can be."
On-site electricity production from wind turbines and solar electric systems contributes 138,000 kwh annually to the laboratory's power needs.