The NIH research community, in coordination with the Division of Environmental Protection, is taking small actions to make NIH labs sustainable.  In an effort to reduce chemical waste, the NEMS Sustainable Lab Practices Working Group is targeting and prioritizing specific NIH laboratory chemical waste streams for reduction efforts.  NIH researchers are encouraged to reduce the purchase and use of the targeted chemicals and replace these chemicals with greener alternatives when possible.  Additionally, NIH is developing the Go Greener Lab Challenge, an evaluation tool that will assess how green NIH labs are.  The Challenge evaluates energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling and encourages labs to consider implementing sustainable practices.  Information on greener chemical alternatives and the Go Greener Lab Challenge are coming soon to a lab near you! Additional information on the greening of NIH labs is available in the recent presentation to Lab Managers Interest Group.

Do you use greener alternatives for certain hazardous chemicals?  Do you know of ways to green your lab?  Do you want to help minimize the environmental impact of labs at NIH?  If you would like to get involved in any of these efforts, please email green@mail.nih.gov.