(SBL) - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
It’s National Drive Electric Week!
Help advance the Lab’s climate goals by joining the Net-Zero Lab Visioning Team!
All are welcome! As part of the team, you will —
APPLY by Friday, 3/11/22. Members will be selected to maximize diversity of viewpoints and skills.
Learn More in this brief video
Federal Sustainability Executive Order 14057 (December 2021) set a firm path for decarbonizing federal sites by 2045, with many significant interim milestones. Highlights include:
Learn more in this Summary
California Clean Air Day is October 6th.
We all have a role in clearing the air! One of the best things you can do is trade your gas vehicle in for an electric vehicle. It’s easier than you think.
What the Lab is doing for cleaner air:
What you can do:
More about California Clean Air Day
More about the Lab’s Climate Goals and Your Role
National Drive Electric Week starts on September 25th and is a great opportunity to learn more about electric vehicles (EVs).
Why you should drive an Electric Vehicle (EV) – (if you don’t already)!
The FY 2020 report on the Lab’s sustainability performance is available in this Summary. See highlights below.
Current and planned sustainability activities at the Lab are covered in a new draft Plan for a Sustainable Berkeley Lab. Feedback on the Plan is welcome via this form.
Highlights for FY 2020 include four Sustainability Awards, and improvements over FY19 in nearly every category.
The Integrative Genomics Building (IGB) has achieved LEED Gold, and is the Lab’s seventh building to earn LEED certification for sustainable building design. Key sustainability highlights of IGB include:
UC / Lab employees are eligible for incentives on Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrids.
While supplies last, UC employees are eligible for a steep discount on a Nissan Leaf through December, and a small discount on Ford electric vehicles through October. For more information on employee offers for electric vehicles and renewable energy, view this list.
Check out the Lab’s Sustainability Update to UC on this year’s accomplishments in Climate, Waste, and Water including:
UC employees are still eligible for a steep discount on a Nissan Leaf, and a small discount on Ford EVs.
Nissan LEAF: Nissan Leaf $10,000 Discount offer extended through September 30, 2017.
Ford EVs: Employees are eligible for a $750 discount on the purchase of any Ford EV or EV-hybrid or special lease pricing through August 31, 2017.
PG&E is still offering a $500 Rebate for a wide range of EV/Clean Fuel Vehicle owners.
For a limited time, Berkeley Lab employees are eligible for a steep $10,000 discount on a Nissan Leaf, in addition to other federal and state rebates. Offer ends 3/31/2017 or while supplies last. Learn more >
Installation begins in June for up to fifteen new EV charging stations. These stations are part of the Lab’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint, and support the growing number of staff electric vehicles (EVs). The new stations should come online later in 2016, and will bring the total to twenty-four, or less than 1% of all parking spaces. All charging spaces require a permit to use, and will be designated with a sign and/or paint on the pavement.
The SBL team, including our summer intern and Facilities’ Controls Engineer, attended the annual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference. John, Deirdre, and Erin each presented and participated on panels to discuss EV Charging, energy data management, and waste diversion. We always enjoy catching up with our knowledgeable and enthusiastic sustainability colleagues from higher education campuses, who share lessons and success stories that translate well to our Federal site.
The Department of Energy recognized Berkeley Lab for its leadership in providing staff electric vehicle charging at the Workplace Charging Challenge Summit 2014. Fewer than 20% of all Challenge partners received this recognition, which was presented by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Reuben Sarkar. The Department of Energy launched the Workplace Charging Challenge in 2013 with the goal of achieving a tenfold increase in the number of U.S. employers offering workplace charging by 2018. For more information, contact Sustainable Berkeley Lab or the Workplace Charging Challenge.
As University of California employees, we are eligible for some sustainability-related offers from Mosaic Solar Loan and Nissan. Find more information and links to sign up at the Sustainable Berkeley Lab website. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) does not endorse or recommend any products or services identified
Sustainable Berkeley Lab hosted a booth at the Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Fair to talk to Berkeley Lab employees about EV charging and alternative commuting options. Three of our EV-charging permit holders brought their vehicles to show the variety of cars available. Thank you, Valerie, James, and Henrik! We also talked to fair visitors about some alternative commuting options, such as WageWorks and Zimride. Thank you to the Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Committee for inviting us AND for taking care of road safety around Berkeley Lab.
As part of Sustainable Berkeley Lab’s (SBL) electric vehicle readiness initiative, the Lab began issuing permits in May to allow staff to charge their personal electric vehicles at the main site. The program enables staff to use their EVs even when a round trip exceeds the range of a single charge. This initiative supports electrification of transport, a key component of California planning to meet legislated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions along with other efficiency and renewable energy strategies. Eighteen permits have been issued and new permits have been requested every month. Staff pay for the electricity used while charging. For more information, please visit the EV Charging website.
The Lab has joined DOE’s Workplace Charging Challenge, making a pledge to assess electric vehicle charging demand and implement a plan to increase the availability of charging. Efforts begin with a process to allow permitted staff to charge their personal vehicles at approved 120v outlets on the main campus. Please stop by the Electric Vehicle Showcase on Thursday, April 25, at noon outside the cafeteria to learn about the Challenge, sign up for an EV Charging Only permit, or be part of the Lab’s EV Readiness initiative. We are working to begin charging in early May. Click here for more resources.