What Is Sustainability?
For IHS, sustainability means:
- The long-term management of our facilities and operations in a manner that ensures that IHS planning, practices, and operations reduce our impact on the environment.
- To provide a safe and healthy environment for IHS staff, visitors, and patients.
- Partnering with Tribes to develop sustainable communities.
The concept of sustainability has emerged as a result of significant concerns about the unintended social, environmental, and economic consequences of rapid population growth, economic growth and over-consumption of our natural resources. Implementing sustainable practices helps to ensure that the actions of the present generation do not compromise the environment for future generations.
To address these mounting challenges, federal agencies are subject to numerous statutory requirements, executive orders, and other policies surrounding sustainability. Below is a brief list of the various regulations and laws that guide IHS' sustainability initiatives.
- EO 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance
: Directs federal agencies to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; meet a number of energy, water, and waste reduction targets; participate in regional and local planning activities; and leverage federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies.
- EO 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy and Transportation Management
: Directs federal agencies to conduct their environmental, transportation, and energy-related activities under the law in support of their respective missions in an environmentally, economically and fiscally sound, integrated, continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner.
- Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) Overview
[PDF]: Provides a six-page overview of EISA as it applies to the FEMP.
- Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT)
: Signed into law by President George W. Bush on August 8, 2005. The Act has 12 titles, addressing such topics as energy efficiency, renewable energy, types of fuels and vehicles, and research and development.
Under the guidance of the above regulations, IHS and HHS have made significant efforts to further their departmental compliance. Below are links to some initiatives undertaken in the last few years.
Check out IHS achievements: 2011 Sustainability Annual Progress Report [PDF - 1.4MB]
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