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The White House honored Y-12 with a White House Closing the Circle award, which recognizes federal leadership in environmental sustainability

 - By Linton Levy -

Following White House recognition this week of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Y-12 National Security Complex for its award-winning pollution prevention program, the NNSA marked National Energy Awareness Month by launching a new page on its website highlighting some of the successful energy conservation programs across the nuclear security enterprise.

In an email to NNSA employees last week, Administrator Thomas P. D’Agostino encouraged employees to work together to implement energy-saving actions and raise awareness throughout the enterprise. “NNSA is making significant reductions in energy usage as we meet the demands of the Stockpile Stewardship mission,” said Administrator D’Agostino. “Recently, I participated in a White House briefing to veterans on the issue of climate change and national security. I shared with the group that we have the tools and conviction to change the status quo, and that the NNSA is an active part of the solution through its climate modeling and national security efforts.”

The Administrator also announced that NNSA will launch a new awards program later this year to incentivize energy conservation. “This coming year, we will introduce an awards program that broadens our scope of recognition for those of you that contribute creatively,” he said. “Let our energy awareness be reflected by your contributions.”

Previously, in a press release announcing a new Executive Order promoting federal leadership in environmental, energy, and economic performance, the White House singled out Y-12 for the success of its pollution prevention efforts. Earlier this year, the White House honored Y-12 with a White House Closing the Circle award, which recognizes federal leadership in environmental sustainability.

NNSA is making significant reductions in energy usage as NNSA meets the demands of the Stockpile Stewardship mission. Examples across the enterprise include:

• Supercomputers: Los Alamos National Laboratory has two supercomputers -- ranking second and fourth -- on the 2009 Green500 List, a project led by Virginia Tech computer scientists to rank supercomputer energy efficiency. Los Alamos's "Cerillos" supercomputer ranked second at more than 458 million flops per watt, while the lab's "Roadrunner," the world's fastest supercomputer for the past two years, came in fourth at nearly 445 million flops per watt.
• Alternative Fuel: Displacement of petroleum fuel for the alternative fuel E-85 has been underway for several years. Gains in this area have earned the people leading the efforts recognition within the Administration and the Department.
• Fleet Management: NNSA professionals at Los Alamos National Laboratory were awarded NNSA Environmental Stewardship Awards for significant cost savings and for down-sizing/right-sizing the Laboratory vehicle fleet over the past two years.
• Energy Upgrades: Nevada Test Site professionals were awarded DOE Energy Management Awards for petroleum fuel displacement and energy-saving upgrades to lighting, air conditioning, associated controls, and the improved monitoring for these systems.
• Cool and White Roofs: For the past five years, the Federal/M&O/Building Technology Associates team from the Kansas City Site Office has been replacing, repairing, and upgrading the roofs of the National Security Enterprise using cool and white roof technology. This effort is a key component of the Facilities and Infrastructure Recapitalization Program.
• Energy Awareness: NNSA is constantly setting goals, measuring and tracking performance, and making sound strategic energy investment decisions.

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science in the nation’s national security enterprise. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability, and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; reduces the global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad. Visit http://www.nnsa.energy.gov/ for more information.