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North Carolina Department of Environment Quality

NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Sustainability - Sustainability - Greener DENR

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DENR employee sustainability projects saves money

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DENR employees frequently use their good judgment and resourcefulness to save money and resources. This determination to better manage the environment and natural resources includes the DENR workplace as well. 
 
Starting in 1999, legislation directed state agencies to develop and incorporate policies and practices into their daily operations that preserve natural resources, conserve energy, eliminate waste and emissions, and lessen overall environmental impacts. In 2000, DENR’s sustainability team was commissioned to help DENR employees meet the sustainability goals and cost savings mandated by the governor and state laws.  
 
In the last 13 years, DENR sustainability projects have saved the department millions of dollars. Sustainability is not just good environmental stewardship; it is a part of good business because it reduces wasteful use of time and money. Every year, DENR calls for nominations for the DENR Sustainability Awards to honor DENR employees for the best sustainability projects. Projects from past years have been large and small, but all have been outstanding examples of sustainability in the DENR workplace.  Here are a few examples of the hundreds of DENR employees’ sustainability projects during the past 13 years:
  • In 2012, staff of the N.C. State Parks and Recreation at Fort Macon State Park achieved a 30 percent reduction in fuel purchases and almost a 2 million gallon reduction in water usage.
  • In 2012, Jeff Poupart of the N.C. Division of Water Quality set up a completely paperless permit renewal pilot project achieving an 84 percent reduction in processing costs.  
  • In 2012, Lula Dingess of the North Carolina Zoo, made strategic changes in the locations of the zoo’s public recycling and waste collection receptacles, which saved  fuel, work hours, and even $3,663 in a single year for trash bags.
  • In 2011, Steve Harvell of the N.C.  Museum of Natural Sciences, converted the Nature Art Gallery lighting to all LED, which saved $2,039.00 in energy costs.
  • In 2011, the North Carolina Zoo’s “Can Can Girls” raised funds for one of the zoo's field ecology programs by collecting and recycling aluminum cans.  
  • In 2010, the N.C. Zoo used wastewater meters to save $145,000 on its water bills.  
  • In 2010, the N.C. Divison of Marine Fisheries saved more than $27,000 by taking two surplussed boats and rebuilding them for the division’s use.  
  • In 2009, the N.C. Zoo used innovative and sustainable methods to save nearly $2 million on the construction of the new elephant house.
  • In 2005, the N.C. Division of Water Quality’s Stormwater Permitting Unit established an electronic permit application process, which saved paper, staff time, mailing time and filing room space. It also expedited the permitting process.
  • In 2002, staff working at Clemmons Educational State Forest in the N.C. Division of Forest Resources saved contractor costs by using community service volunteer resources for several projects.

Do you know of a great DENR project that saved time, money, and/or resources? Consider nominating the project and people who completed the project for this year’s DENR Sustainability Awards by the end of December! 

 
 
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DEQ Sustainability Vision

DEQ is the primary environment agency and model for sustainable actions of all North Carolina government agencies.

DEQ Sustainability Mission

To inspire a culture of sustainability within DEQ by promoting environmentally responsible actions.

 
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