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Environmental Responsibility

Oak Ridge Associated Universities' (ORAU) environmental management philosophy emphasizes sustainability through recycling, waste minimization, green purchasing, and energy efficiency. Whether it means saving more than 125,000 pounds of materials annually from landfills or ensuring that hazardous waste is handled properly, ORAU is committed to incorporating environmental responsibility into our business strategies and day-to-day operations.

How we’re making a difference

  • ORAU’s environmental management plan was a contributing factor to the organization’s successful ISO 14001 certification, which recognizes ORAU’s commitment to continuous improvement in pollution prevention, energy conservation and waste reduction. 
  • ORAU was recognized as an “Outstanding Green Achiever” by the GoGreenET’s Green Business Recognition Program that highlights Knoxville-area businesses and nonprofit organizations that engage in environmentally-friendly business practices.
  • ORAU has also been recognized among the winners of the Green Electronics Council’s EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) Sustainable Purchaser Award. Since inception of the annual award in 2015, ORAU has received the award each year.

Recycling and waste minimization

Recycling and waste minimization have significantly contributed to our successes in environmental responsibility. In support of our management of the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, ORAU’s procurement office prioritizes purchasing goods made from recycled materials. Likewise, our recycling program has saved hundreds of thousands of pounds from area landfills—so much that the net weight of our recycled materials exceeds the weight of our waste.

LEED certification

The centerpiece of ORAU’s main campus in Oak Ridge is a 73,000-square-foot office building that earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2009. LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—is the nationally accepted standard for the design, construction and operation of high-performance, sustainable buildings.

The building efficiently uses resources—energy, water and materials—while minimizing the effects on human health and the environment, and promoting economic performance.

ORAU received the esteemed Gold-level distinction based on excellence in five categories:

  • Sustainable site development
  • Water savings
  • Energy efficiency
  • Materials selection
  • Indoor environmental quality

Impact Areas

ORAU employees collect over 14,000 pounds of recyclables, donations

ORAU employees diverted 14,464 pounds of technorecylables and donations from the landfill during the company’s annual two-day recycling event in honor of Earth Day. Employees collected 3,633 pounds of technorecyclables and 973 pounds of batteries and bulbs, and donated 969 pounds to the Holiday Bureau and 567 pounds to the Ecumenical Storehouse.

Read the news release

A group of employees recycles old electronics during a recycling event

Recycling is just one way ORAU is committed to environmental responsibility

Recycling plays a significant part in environmental management, and ORAU operates a large-scale program for both recycling used consumables and buying products made from recycled materials. Our recycling program has saved hundreds of thousands of pounds from area landfills and has resulted in the net weight of our recycled materials exceeding the weight of our waste.

Employees participate in the annual Earth Day recycling event