Sustainability superheroes honored at annual ceremony
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
The mission of NIEHS is to better understand how the environment affects human health.
By Susan Cosier
NIEHS scientists and staff working to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and make laboratories more sustainable were celebrated Oct. 21 at a Sustainability Superheroes recognition reception.
Awardees were honored in five categories: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Green Labs, NIEHS Green Researchers, NIH Freezer Challenge winners, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Green Champions, and NIEHS Special Recognition recipients.
“We have a history here at NIEHS of being the first,” said co-host J’Ingrid Mathis, executive officer and associate director for management. “We were the first in HHS to prepare a climate resilience plan, the first to have a net-zero energy building, and this year will be the first year that our annual electricity use will be 100% carbon free.”
“From pollution prevention to conserving and generating renewable energy, to hands-on implementation of new greening initiatives, today's awardees are working diligently to reduce the institute’s environmental footprint,” added NIEHS Scientific Director and event co-host Darryl Zeldin, M.D.
NIH Green Labs
Zeldin presented NIH Green Labs awards to labs exhibiting a commitment to compliant waste prevention, management, and recycling; cold storage best practices; water conservation; sustainable procurement; and fostering collaboration and engagement.
Fourteen NIEHS labs received gold lab status, 17 achieved silver lab status, and five achieved bronze lab status. See the full list of awardees in the slideshow below.
NIEHS Green Researchers
Steve Novak, Health and Safety Branch chief at NIEHS, presented the Green Researcher awards to individuals committed to safe, sustainable lab practices, and fostering collaboration and engagement in the environmental arena.
This year’s NIEHS Green Researchers included 27 gold winners, three silver winners, 10 bronze winners, and five honorable mentions.
NIH Freezer Challenge
Cold storage of biomedical samples is necessary for research, yet older freezers can use as much energy each year as an entire U.S. household.
“They are significant energy users,” said Kerri Hartung, NIEHS sustainability coordinator, who presented the awards. “Freezers really deserve additional focus when it comes to helping further our sustainability goals.”
NIEHS Special Recognition
Robby Robinson II, deputy associate director for management, presented the special recognition awards for nine projects focused on either energy and climate or waste. Awarded projects included a solar canopy installation, electric vehicle shared-use charging program, and pilot projects to boost recycling of gloves and pipettes. ?
“In total, we recognized 165 individuals as NIEHS Sustainability Superheroes, including nine staff members who were recognized for their accomplishments as Green Labs, Green Researchers, and Freezer Challengers,” said Heather Patisaul, Ph.D., scientific director of the Division of Translational Toxicology. “Their collective efforts go to the heart of who we are as an institute, and as their contributions demonstrate, we can all make a difference.”
HHS Green Champions
Four NIEHS projects were recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of its Green Champions awards. Terry Wells, property maintenance and operations chief in the NIEHS Office of Research Facilities, presented awards for the following projects.
·???????? NIEHS Refrigerant Management Plan
Kerri Hartung, Paul Johnson, Bill Steinmetz, Julie Johnson, Rachel Faison
·???????? NIEHS Rall Building Roof Replacement/Refurbishments
Ali Karver, Victor Stancil, Cameron Thompson
·???????? NIEHS Transportation Reduction of Soiled Animal Bedding
Paul Johnson, Brian Harris, Ben Hocutt, Paul Poliachik, William Ragland
·???????? NIEHS Recycling Program Innovation
Lisa Padilla Banks, Andrea Kaminski, LTCDR Justin Bunn, Kerri Hartung, Paul Johnson, Bill Steinmetz, Stephanie Bishop, David Christie, Cheryl Thompson, Paul Windsor
(Susan Cosier is a contract writer for the NIEHS Office of Communications and Public Liaison.)
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