Oak Ridge National Laboratory FY 2023 Site Sustainability Plan with FY 2023 Performance Data

At the close of each fiscal year, the US Department of Energy (DOE) Sustainability Performance Office (SPO) issues guidance documents and technical resource aids/tools necessary for DOE sites and national laboratories to complete sustainability reporting requirements. SPO is part of the DOE Office of Asset Management. As required by DOE Order 436.1A, Departmental Sustainability, each site develops and commits to an annual site sustainability plan (SSP) that identifies its respective contribution toward meeting DOE’s sustainability goals. SPO collects and compiles information reported by each site to develop an agency-wide sustainability report and implementation plan, which is used to report DOE sustainability progress to the federal government as required by all major federal agencies. DOE launched a formal Sustainability Office and annual SSP process in 2011. Each year, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in concert with the DOE Office of Science (SC), provides the resources essential to fulfill its commitment to deliver a complete and accurate SSP and quality performance data for entry into the DOE Sustainability Dashboard managed by SPO. The performance data entered by each DOE site are then combined to disclose the progress of each DOE program office and are further combined to show comprehensive progress for the agency. The Office of Asset Management assists program offices in sustaining their missions, freeing up resources by reducing waste, avoiding excess expenditure on utilities, maximizing productivity, and improving the efficiency of facilities and processes. By focusing on mission needs, programs and associated DOE sites can help the agency meet its sustainability goals as outlined in federal statutory and regulatory requirements. In FY 2022, the SSP Guidance/Instructions (US Department of Energy, Sustainability Performance Office) was updated to capture requirements from Executive Order (EO) 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad; the Energy Act of 2020 (EAct 20); actions outlined in DOE’s Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan and Sustainability Plan; and EO 14057, Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability. Updates in SSP guidance help to minimize and streamline reporting while simultaneously addressing updated federal requirements. Per DOE, each SSP should provide an overview of the site’s planned actions and of efforts and accomplishments during the reporting period. SPO collects and compiles information reported by each site to develop DOE’s Annual Sustainability Report, Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan, and Annual Energy Management Report to Congress. The agency goal has been to lower the reporting burden for sites and increase and improve the consistency of information available to decision-makers, allowing them to better identify projects and potential for increased efficiency and to reduce waste, lower emissions, and enhance operational resilience. Sites may elect to produce more polished publications for their leadership and stakeholders, but this step is no longer required. The ORNL SSP narrative report (this document) and the reporting of DOE SPO Sustainability Dashboard performance data is a collaborative effort of approximately 30 subject matter experts (SMEs) from ORNL facility management, mission support, and research divisions. Annually, these associates come together to provide a report that can be used by DOE to demonstrate continued agency progress in energy efficiency and sustainable federal operations.