In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, NETL has produced a video highlighting the many steps the Lab has taken to conserve resources and promote a range of environmentally friendly practices.

At NETL, responsible environmental stewardship is a key element in the Lab’s mission of enhancing the nation’s energy foundation while protecting the environment for future generations. Earth Day aligns closely with NETL’s vision while emphasizing the importance of recycling, conserving energy and improving air quality.

Earth Day, which will be observed on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, was started in 1970 to focus attention on growing environmental issues and pollution. The date was chosen because it fell between spring break and final exams on many U.S. college campuses. Today Earth Day is a worldwide civic event.

Conservation practices taken at NETL and highlighted in the video include:

• In Albany, Oregon, NETL has taken steps to protect trees, including a 120-year-old Persian walnut.
• In Morgantown, West Virginia, a large portion of Technology Support Facility roof is covered with vegetation, providing an excellent layer of insulation that keeps the building cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
• Day cares that serve NETL’s Morgantown and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, sites use solar panels to meet various energy needs. The Morgantown day care also relies on geothermal heat pumps to lower reliance on supplies of nonrenewable energy.
• In Pittsburgh, NETL outfitted a large research laboratory with advanced monitoring technology to automatically reduce unnecessary air exchanges when the lab is unoccupied.

Learn more about these and other environmentally friendly practices by watching NETL’s conservation video celebrating Earth Day 2020.