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BNL's Earth Week 2011 is all about sustainability. Sustainable goals help us choose our direction as a community for responsible energy, water, and materials consumption, not just on a Lab-wide level but as individuals, too. Conservation and recycling are at the core of BNL's sustainability plan, which makes the Lab more appealing as the provider of choice for world-class science and facilities.
Being Green: 10 Ways You Can Help
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Go paperless
Scan and distribute electronic copies of reports and letters or cut your paper use in half by creating double-sided prints.
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Turn off the lights
If you have control of them, turn lights off whenever you leave your office or work area.
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Power it down
Screen savers don't save power. Turn your computer off at night instead of leaving it in sleep mode and save 40 watt-hours per day.
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Use recycling bins
Every ton of glass recycled saves nine gallons of fuel oil needed to make glass from virgin materials.
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Buy green supplies
Recycled paper, reconditioned toner cartridges, products with a high recycled or recyclable content with less packaging.
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Conserve water
Stop running the water when brushing your teeth and save up to 5 gallons a day in your household.
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Dial it down
Adjust your home thermostat one degree higher in summer and one degree cooler in winter and reduce your annual energy use by 10%.
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Walk or bike there
Save gas, wear and tear on your vehicle, and reduce air emissions while improving your heart health and reducing your risk of obesity.
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Travel or webinar?
Ask yourself the question “Is the trip necessary?” Can the purpose be accomplished through video conferencing instead?
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Bring your own bag
Don't add to the 84 billion plastic bags used in the U.S this year. Use a recyclable lunch container and use recyclable shopping bags.
Brookhaven Sustainability Highlights
Brookhaven’s energy research over the next decade will draw on our considerable scientific expertise to help reduce the carbon footprint of the U.S. energy economy. Another way we reduce that footprint is right here at home by making basic Laboratory operations more energy efficient. Some highlights...
Recycling
63%
During calendar year 2010, BNL recycled 63% of its waste.
Energy Use
- 10.5%
From 2003 to 2010, BNL decreased its building energy intensity by 68,000 MMBTU (thousand thousand BTUs) for a savings of $1.3 million.
Water Usage
- 46%
Between 1999 and 2010, BNL reduced potable water use by 46%.
Energy Credits
35,000,000
During calendar year 2010, BNL purchased 35 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy credits*.
* Renewable Energy Credits are issued by the government to power companies which use environmentally friendly methods to generate electricity. Credits can be traded and sold on the open market, providing an incentive to produce “green” power.
Earth Week Events
During Earth Week 2011, every Lab employee has the opportunity to expand our understanding of BNL’s activities in alternative energy source research, on-site pollution prevention, and the personal behavior choices we make every day that affect our life style and community in direct and lasting ways.
The week’s events include something for everyone – and that's the
goal for BNL’s Earth Week 2011 celebration: get everyone involved and
committed to year-round sustainability practices.
Use this page to map out your activity for the week, whether it’s making a pledge and earning your sustainability bracelet, attending the environmental vendor fair, seeing the latest hybrid and electric vehicles in the market, or connecting with your fellow employees for a rideshare program – save money, gas, and aggravation expended on your daily commute.
April 25—29
Earth Week Sustainability Quiz
Take the Earth Week Sustainability Quiz and be eligible to receive an Earth Week giveaway. Test your knowledge and learn how each one of us may reduce our carbon footprint. Quiz website
April 25—29
Environmental Displays
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Berkner Hall Lobby
Check out the beautiful photos of BNL wildlife on display in Berkner
Hall lobby throughout Earth Week. Also see all the wonderful
environmental-themed posters created by children from local elementary
schools as part of BNL’s annual “Your Environment” art contest.
April 25—29
Environmental Pledge Tree
April 25-26, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Research Support
Building and
April 27-29, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Berkner Hall Lobby
Come place your pledge on the environmental pledge tree and get your
sustainability awareness bracelet. This year’s pledges will focus on
helping employees understand how behavioral changes in the workplace can
help support BNL's Site Sustainability Plan. All donations will be
forwarded to the Foundation for Ecological Research in the Northeast
(FERN), a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to conserve,
protect, and enhance habitats in the Northeast through research,
education, and dissemination of information. As always, there will be
great giveaways. For more information, contact
Jason Remien, Ext. 3477
April 25, 26
BNL Office Swap
11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m., Berkner Hall Lobby
Support BNL's Housekeeping Standard to help ensure a safe, healthy,
and clean environment for all workers. Clean out your office, conference
rooms, and supply closets and get rid of clutter! Bring unwanted
supplies to Berkner Hall Lobby and swap or just take what you need – for
free! All supplies not swapped will be recycled. For more information,
contact Francine Donnelly, Ext. 3381.
April 26
Lunchtime Talk: Home Heating: How Much Can I Really Save?
Noon to 1 p.m., Berkner Hall, Room B
Tom Butcher, head of the Energy Conversion Group in the
Sustainable Energy Technologies Department, will speak on efficient
boilers for home heating systems. Find out how you can make your home
more efficient and less costly to heat during the winter.
April 27
Environmental Vendor Fair
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Berkner Hall
Learn about “green” products, energy and ecological conservation.
Vendors include Woodside Nursery, GETS, Reuse LI, Whole Foods, Spy Coast Bee man, Ecos.com, Onesta, Be Green Packaging, Long Island Sound Study Outreach Coordinator, Green House Enterprise, P.W. Grosser Consulting, Bits Limited, Go Solar Inc., Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District, Long Island Native Grass Initiative, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, Sunstream Solar, Veteran’s Imaging Products Inc., Three Gals Industrial, Ocean Janitorial Supply and more. For more information, contact
Ruth Comas, Ext. 3545.
April 28
"Your Environment" Art Contest Awards Ceremony
4 p.m., Berkner Hall Auditorium
Join us for the annual “Your Environment” art contest awards
ceremony. Awards will be presented to children from local schools for
creating posters relating to environmental sustainability. For more
information, contact Karen Ratel, Ext. 3711.
April 29
Hybrid Vehicle Display
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Berkner Hall Parking Lot
Come see what's new in the world of hybrid vehicles from local
car dealers. Learn about the benefits of owning an energy efficient
vehicle and how you can help reduce air emissions while enjoying
increased fuel economy. This is open to the
public. Employees are welcome to invite family and friends. For more
information, contact
Jeff Williams, Ext. 5587.
April 29
Bird Watching Walk
Noon to 1 p.m., Berkner Hall Upper Lobby
Walk the “Walk” to watch for birds that call BNL home during our
April Employee Lunchtime Tour. Bring your binoculars, wear appropriate
clothing and shoes, use tick repellant or other preventive measures. Lab ecologist Tim Green and bird watching authority Ernie Lewis will
guide the group and provide commentary and sightings. All employees are
invited and will meet in the upper lobby of Berkner Hall at noon. The
group will return to Berkner by 1:00 p.m. In case of inclement weather
please call Elaine Lowenstein, Ext. 2400.
April 30
Suffolk County Environmental Center Earth Day Festival at the Scully Estate on the Great South Bay in Islip
The Environmental Protection Division will represent the Lab at a booth with a number of interactive displays and giveaways. This free event includes many exhibits, information about nature walks, beach grass planting, and trail clean-ups, marine life exhibits, live entertainment, food, and many activities for children. This is a fun day for all, so bring your family and friends and show your support for BNL and Earth Day. For more information, contact Jason Remien, Ext. 3477.
Earth Week pics on
Bicycle prize winner
Congratulations to Ed Stein, of Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Sciences, grand prize winner of this 21-speed Diamondback Sorrento Mountain Hardtail bicycle. (Talk about reducing your carbon footprint!)
Save on home heating
Join us at Berkner Hall on April 26 as BNLer Tom Butcher, head of the Energy Conversion Group in the Sustainable Energy Technologies Department, talks about efficient boilers for home heating systems and how you can make your home more efficient and less costly to heat during the winter. Related Information...
Share the ride, save gas
The Laboratory participates in Long Island’s Commuter Choice Program and with gas prices on the rise, this is a great time to start ridesharing. Save money by sharing driving expenses and by reducing daily wear-and-tear on your vehicle. Get started.
Curious about hybrids?
See what's new in the world of hybrid vehicles from local car dealers. Cars on display in the Berkner parking lot April 29. Details at left.
BNL Bird Walk, April 29
Walk the “Walk” to watch for birds that call BNL home (like this indigo bunting) during the April Employee Lunchtime Tour. See details in the events list at left.