58 Handbook of Green Building Design and Construction

10. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)—Appropriate methods should

be applied to ensure IEQ, such as the use low-VOC paints and adhe-
sives as well as Carpet & Rug Institute Green Label Plus carpets and
low-emitting certified products. Smoking on premises should be
prohibited.
In 2004, the Department of Energy (DOE) had also developed an
Environmental Protection Program, the goals and objectives of which are
“to implement sound stewardship practices that are protective of the air,
water, land, and other natural and cultural resources impacted by DOE
operations and by which DOE cost effectively meets or exceeds compliance
with applicable environmental; public health; and resource protection laws,
regulations, and DOE requirements. This objective must be accomplished
by implementing Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) at DOE
sites. An EMS is a continuing cycle of planning, implementing, evaluating,
and improving processes and actions undertaken to achieve environmental
goals.” Some of these goals and objectives include:
1. Goal: Protect the environment through waste prevention.
   Objective: Minimize environmental hazards, protect environmental
resources, minimize life cycle cost and liability of DOE programs, and
maximize operational capability by eliminating or minimizing the gen-
eration of wastes that would otherwise require storage, treatment, dis-
posal, and long-term monitoring and surveillance.
2. Goal: Protect the environment through reduction of environmental
releases.
   Objective: Minimize environmental hazards, protect environmental
resources, minimize life cycle cost and liability of DOE programs, and
maximize operational capability by eliminating or minimizing the use of
toxic chemicals and associated releases of pollutants to the environment
that would otherwise require control, treatment, monitoring, and reporting.
3. Goal: Protect the environment through environmental preferable
purchasing.
   Objective: Minimize environmental hazards, conserve environmental
resources, minimize life cycle cost and liability of DOE programs, and max-
imize operational capability through the procurement of recycled content,
bio-based content and other environmentally preferable products thereby
minimizing the economic and environmental impacts of managing toxic
by-products and hazardous wastes generated in the conduct of site activities.
4. Goal: Protect the environment through incorporation of environmental
stewardship in program planning and operational design.