Responsible Operations

Attention to the environment starts in our homes and in our workplaces. BTI several years ago embarked on a major program to reduce its energy footprint. Since 2003, our BTU consumption, one measure of energy use, has declined nearly 60%. This program involved the nearly total replacement of our plant growth chambers, a state-of-the-art system to control greenhouse conditions, improved insulation on windows, a new roof, timed interior lighting, and many other infrastructure adjustments. We hope to increase our use of renewable energy over the next several years, such as "air-source" cooling and potentially solar arrays.

Internal practices are also part of BTI's effort to improve its environmental citizenship. We have eliminated Styrofoam cups, experimented with compostable plates and "silverware," mandated double-sided printing, and require use of paper with significant post-consumer recycled content. BTI also recycles or reuses all of its bottles, cans, paper and so forth. While these policies affect small components of our operation, they allow all our employees to participate in environmentally-friendly practices, and raise awareness of how they might either instill similar practices at home, or how what they are already doing might be implemented at the institute.