Processes that May Impact Water Quality at LaRC

Posted on September 16, 2022 by Jazmin Argarin

NASA Langley is located within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. In order to comply with various water quality regulations LaRC operates under three water discharge permits that set limits on the amounts of pollutants and types of wastewater that is allowed to leave LaRC’s property.

This quarterly article gives information on the types of pollutants and requirements for Environmental Review and approval for any operations, projects, new or existing equipment that will drain wastewater, change water generating processes, drain equipment.

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2022 Energy Awareness Month Virtual Expo

Posted on September 9, 2022 by Jennifer Bradley
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Reducing Urban Wildlife Pollutants: Back River TMDL

Posted on June 17, 2022 by Jazmin Argarin

NASA Langley is surrounded by the Back River and the Chesapeake Bay. The Back River is a small 2-mile-long tributary located between Hampton and Poquoson that flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

This quarterly article gives information on the limitations placed on the Back River.

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2022 Earth Day/Arbor Day Tree Planting is Complete!

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Jennifer Bradley
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The Back River & Chesapeake Bay Waterways

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Jazmin Argarin

NASA Langley is surrounded by the Back River and the Chesapeake Bay. The Back River is a small 2-mile-long tributary located between Hampton and Poquoson that flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is a 200-mile-long estuary from Maryland to Norfolk, Virginia. 

This quarterly article gives information on the limitations placed on the Back River and Chesapeake Bay.

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Facility Stormwater Connections and Spill Response

Posted on December 16, 2021 by Jazmin Argarin

NASA Langley’s Environmental Management Office actively works to prevent harmful substances and illicit discharges from entering the stormwater system.  We appreciate the vigilant assistance that we receive from everyone in facilities and around Center.  Many of us have been working from home the past year, as we begin to make our way back into our respective facilities, please take the time to reacquaint yourself with your surroundings.  Situational awareness is an important factor in helping the Center minimize the potential for water pollution.

This quarter’s stormwater article provides information on familiarizing yourself with Facility Stormwater Connections at NASA Langley and how to Respond to an Illicit Discharge.

Remember, it is important to understand and reduce ways pollution can reach our stormwater from everyday activities.


							

	
			

									
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Energy Awareness Month – Week 3 Announcement


			

				Posted on October 14, 2021 by Jennifer Bradley			


					

				

Click the link below to join the meeting!





Energy Awareness Month Event: Webinar – Switching Heating, Hot-Water and Cooking to Electricity

Tuesday, October 19, 11:00AM-12:00PM  





With most NASA Langley personnel continuing to work completely or partially from home, the NASA Langley Energy Team is excited to present its popular home energy savings presentation, while also providing additional talks focused on specific home-energy-related topics. Next week’s webinar in the Home Energy Efficiency series will cover building electrification: the act of (and reasons for) switching space-heating, water-heating, and cooking appliances from fuel-burning equipment to electric-powered equipment. Learn about new energy-efficient air-source heat pumps, heat-pump water-heaters, and induction stoves that can cook food without the temperature control problems of an older electric (resistance) range.






							

	
			

									
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2021 Energy Awareness Month Events!


			

				Posted on September 30, 2021 by Tonya Kiefer			


					

				






Each year, the U.S. Department of Energy designates October as Energy Awareness Month. 





NASA Langley’s Energy Team has some great online events planned for this year where personnel can learn about climate change, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. NASA Langley’s Energy Awareness Month events are listed below. 














NASA Langley Home Energy Efficiency Webinar Series





Many personnel are currently working completely or partially from home. In this course series, learn about what you can do to reduce energy usage at home and save money on utility bills. Over a series of four webinars, the Environmental Management Office will cover the following topics:





  • Home Energy Efficiency Basics:  October 8 from 11:00-11:45am. 





This first webinar in series will cover typical home energy end-uses, basic energy saving tips, and some advanced energy savings measures to make sure your extra time at home does not translate into extra money spent on your utility bills.





Click here to download the presentation slides. Click here to download a video of the webinar.










  • Building Envelope, Heating/Cooling, Ventilation, and Indoor Air Quality:  October 14 from 11:00-11:45am.





This second webinar in the series will focus on the building enclosure (or envelope), as well as the machines that provide fresh air, keep the indoor temperatures comfortable, and heat water for a house. Learn about actions that can be taken to save energy by improving the performance of these building systems.





Click here to download the presentation slides. Click here to download a video of the webinar.










  • Switching Heating, Hot-Water, and Cooking to Electricity:  October 19 from 11:00-11:45am.





This third webinar in the Home Energy Efficiency Webinar Series will cover building electrification: the act of (and reasons for) switching space-heating, water-heating, and cooking appliances from fuel-burning equipment to electric-powered equipment. Learn about new energy-efficient air-source heat pumps, heat-pump water-heaters, and induction stoves that can cook food without the temperature control problems of an older electric (resistance) range. 





Click here to download the presentation slides. Click here to download a video of the webinar










  • Solar PV, Solar Thermal, and Electric Vehicles:  October 26 from 11:00-11:30am.





This final webinar in the Home Energy Efficiency Webinar Series will focus on home renewable energy systems – how solar photovoltaic (PV) panels generate electricity, how solar thermal collectors can heat domestic water and/or air in a house, and what to keep in mind when considering installing solar panels on your rooftop. The presentation will also briefly review electric vehicles and the equipment for charging them at home.





Click here to download the presentation slides. Click here to download a video of the webinar.
















Virtual Energy Tour





To follow up the Home Energy Efficiency presentations with real-life examples, NASA Langley Aerospace Engineer Ruth Amundsen will present a virtual energy tour of her home on October 27 from 12:00-12:30pm.  If you are unable to attend, you can check out the solar tour of her home on YouTube.





Click here to download the presentation slides. Click here to download a video of the webinar.














Climate Change Discussion





NASA Langley Climate Research Scientist Dr. Patrick Taylor will present “An Interactive Discussion on Climate Change – Science and Society” from 3:00pm-4:00pm on October 28. 





Our climate system is interconnected. This means that actions and events happening across the globe have local impacts. Our climate system is also changing. The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have driven warmer temperatures, melting ice, rising seas, shifting precipitation patterns, and changing atmospheric winds. Life on Earth is sensitive to climate; human society is especially susceptible because we rely on climate-vulnerable, complex, and often fragile systems for food, water, energy, health, and security. As a result, climate touches every aspect of NASA. Not only is climate a key science focus area, but NASA’s mission is vulnerable to climate change including risk to our supply chains, our people, and our infrastructure. NASA Langley Climate Research Scientist Dr. Patrick Taylor will discuss the science of climate change, the role of NASA’s unique satellite observations in monitoring, predicting, and understanding how fast our climate is changing, and how these changes are affecting our everyday lives and NASA’s mission. We hope to open a dialogue around how climate change is impacting NASA Langley. 





Click here to download a video of the webinar.












For more information on NASA’s celebration of Energy Awareness Month, feel free to visit: https://nasa.sharepoint.com/sites/EME-EWMP/SitePages/Energy%20Awareness%20Month.aspx






							

	
			

									
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Keep Fats, Oils, and Grease Out of the Drain!


			

				Posted on September 17, 2021 by Jazmin Argarin			


					

				

LaRC’s Environmental Management Office actively works to prevent harmful substances like fats, oils, and grease (also known as FOG) from entering drains at LaRC.  In fact, it is prohibited to dispose of FOG by pouring it down LaRC’s drains.  





This quarter’s stormwater article provides information and prevention methods on how to keep FOG out of our drains. 





Remember, making small changes in your everyday activities can also help improve your local community and the Chesapeake Bay.






							

	
			

									
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Maintenance Activities & Water Quality at LaRC


			

				Posted on June 21, 2021 by Jazmin Argarin			


					

				
Maintenance activities happen routinely at LaRC and some of these activities have the potential to impact water quality.  Examples include draining of cooling towers and boilers, washing of equipment, chiller tubes and pumps, and dewatering of basements, utility tunnels, and sumps.  LaRC utilizes best management practices to prevent harmful products from entering the storm drain system while performing these activities. 


Please be reminded that nothing should be poured down storm drains or dumped outside without LaRC Environmental approval.  Materials in storm drains flow directly into our watershed without any treatment.


This quarter’s stormwater article provides best management practices for maintenance of mechanical processes.


 Click here to access the article!



							

	
			

									
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