Environmental Improvement Categories
Resource Center Links
Environmental Improvement Categories
Environmental Management Systems
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Facilities participating in the National Environmental Performance Track program demonstrate past environmental achievement and commit to continued improvement in their environmental performance. Performance Track measures progress toward environmental performance goals in specific environmental categories (see the Environmental Performance Table for details (PDF, 298KB, 3 pp). The following links provide information and resources for developing strategies to improve performance in these wide-ranging categories:
- General Environmental Measurement Resources
- Air Emissions
- Discharges to Water
- Energy Management
- Land Use
- Material Procurement
- Material Use
- Noise
- Product Performance
- Transportation Management*
- Vibration
- Waste Management
- Water Use
* This category is not listed in the Environmental Performance Table, but is included here as a supplementary resource.
Each link above describes:
- The environmental issues addressed in the category
- Aspects of environmental improvement within the category
- How to achieve performance improvements
- Business benefits of these improvements
- Methods to convert various improvements into appropriate aspects and units
- Ways to show environmental improvements in commonly understood contexts
A detailed, searchable list of Performance Track members' goals is available in Excel or PDF format.
- Microsoft Excel version (880 KB)
- PDF version (9.37 MB, 90 pp.)
For more details on specific goals, please use the search by goal made feature in the online directory of Performance Track members.
In addition, the Resource Center provides links to information and resources related to Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Implementation of an EMS is a core requirement for acceptance into Performance Track. These links are intended to help facilities develop effective EMSs that satisfy the entry criteria of the program. This link also provides access to general resources for effective environmental management and sustainable business practices.
The National Center for Environmental Innovation has an online global library of Internet resources, such as journals, databases, guidelines, programs, and institutes that demonstrate best practices and innovations in environmental management from around the world. It also provides a list of fellowships for group and individual exchanges.