ORISE receives DOE silver award for GreenBuy program, fourth consecutive year

April 10, 2024

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education has been recognized for the fourth consecutive year as a silver-level recipient of the U.S. Department of Energy’s GreenBuy award for fiscal year 2023. The GreenBuy Award Program recognizes DOE sites for achieving stringent sustainable acquisition goals that go above and beyond the government’s “green” minimum compliance requirements. The award was presented on March 28 at the DOE Sustainability & Environmental Working Group (SEWG) during the Energy Exchange Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

ORISE previously received the silver level award in fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020 and the bronze level award in fiscal years 2019, 2018, and 2015. The silver-level recognition requires meeting more stringent goals of six products in at least three categories versus four products in at least two categories for the bronze level. The program leverages the Federal government's purchasing dollars to achieve mission goals while improving the marketplace for greener products and reducing the environmental impact of the Department's operations.

"We're delighted to have our commitment to sustainability acknowledged through the DOE's silver-level GreenBuy award,” stated Senior Vice President and ORISE Director Jim Vosburg. “This achievement was made possible by outstanding collaboration across multiple departments, allowing us to incorporate energy-efficient systems and sustainable products into our facilities and everyday operations."

ORISE’s silver-level award for fiscal year 2023 spanned the three GreenBuy Program product categories: construction, electronics and other.

Fiscal year 2023 products had to meet one, and in some cases multiple environmental standards and certifications including Energy Star® certified; WaterSense, GreenGuard, NSF-ISO, EPEAT GOLD, SILVER and/or BRONZE registered; and Federal Energy Management Program standards. These activities spanned throughout the entire year and were submitted for consideration with the fiscal year 2023 nomination.