The 2014 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Sustainability Awards continues efforts to recognize teams and individuals for their outstanding contributions to the Department's sustainability mission, including accomplishments in managing pollution, waste, energy, water, and vehicle fleets. Nominations are collected through the DOE Sustainability Awards Database. Account creation and management (e.g., password assistance) can be performed directly through the database. The deadline for submitting nominations is August 15, 2014. Winning teams and individuals will be recognized in the fall of 2014. For more information, read the 2014 DOE Sustainability Awards Information sheet.

If you have questions or need technical assistance, contact sustainability@hq.doe.gov.

Award Categories

The 2014 DOE Sustainability award categories focus on Sustainability Superstars and Site and Project Awards.

Sustainability Superstars
  • Change Agents: An individual who takes the initiative to foster behavior change in their immediate work environment, organizational unit and/or site. Recognition will focus on efforts, large or small in scope, that advance one or more of the goals identified in the SSPP. 
  • Exceptional Service/Sustainability Champion: The sustainability champion demonstrates a history of exemplary performance in leading implementation of sustainable practices while reflecting a comprehensive approach to energy and environmental management through innovative strategies, practices, and outreach.
Site and Project Awards
  • Sustainability Goal Management
    • Greenhouse Gas Scope 1 and 2: Site greenhouse gas reduction strategies and management approaches that address Scope 1 and 2 emissions. The approach should exceed or supplement targets in the SSPP and emphasize a holistic approach to greenhouse gas management.
    • Greenhouse Gas Scope 3: Site greenhouse gas reduction strategies and management approaches that address Scope 3 emissions. The approach should exceed or supplement targets in the SSPP and emphasize a holistic approach to greenhouse gas management, including teleworking and other emissions saving measures.
    • Renewable Energy: Recognizes outstanding achievements in planning, designing and constructing renewable energy to replace or lower conventional energy consumption.
    • Green Buildings: Site-wide programs and projects that promote comprehensive green building principles and demonstrate progress toward meeting the Guiding Principles for High Performance Sustainable Buildings.
    • Fleet: Comprehensive and/or replicable approaches to fleet management programs. Programs may be at the organizational, regional, or campus-wide level and should include cross-cutting strategies to achieve and exceed the fleet goals
    • Water: Recognizes an integrated approach to water resource management, addressing all water types as potential resources (waste, storm, grey, etc.) and identifying opportunities for their reuse.
    • Waste Reduction and Pollution Prevention: Recognizes innovative and effective waste reduction programs. Nominations should document waste diversion data, and composting activities. The approach should exceed or supplement targets in the SSPP.
    • Green IT: Recognizes exemplary performance in implementing Green IT, including power management, sustainable electronics acquisition, and data center sustainability.
    • Performance Based Contracts: Recognizes utilization of performance based energy contracts to achieve DOE sustainability goals that support the President's Performance Contracting Challenge.
    • Climate Change Adaptation: Recognizes outstanding achievement in development and implementation of adaptation and resilience strategies to climate change.
  • Sustainable Innovation, Planning, & Engagement
    • Innovation and Holistic Approach: Recognizes innovative methods and cross-disciplinary research at the site level to support sustainability goal attainment.
    • DOE Sustainable Campus: Recognizes a campus that has been designed or modified to promote sustainable operations.
    • SustainABLE Communications: Recognizes successful and innovative communication and marketing strategies that promote sustainability goals, successes and best practices.

Contact sustainability@hq.doe.gov with questions or comments.