Selected Examples of United States Efforts To Promote Sustainable Consumption and Production:
Climate Change, Energy, Air Pollution, and Atmosphere
The Coal Combustion Products Partnership (C2P2) Program is a cooperative effort between EPA, the coal combustion products (CCP) industry, and partners to help promote the beneficial use of CCPs and the associated environmental, economic, and performance benefits. Through the C2P2 Program, EPA and its co-sponsors, the American Coal Ash Association and the Utility Solid Waste Activities Group, are working with agencies at both the federal and state levels, as well as industry organizations, to reduce or eliminate legal, institutional, economic, market, informational, and other barriers to the beneficial use of CCPs.
Energy Star assists businesses and individuals preserve the environment by improving energy efficiency. Products that meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy earn the Energy Star label. More than 1,200 manufacturers use the Energy Star label in 13,000 individual product models. Energy Star has partnered with more than 7,000 private and public sector organizations. In 2002 alone Energy Star helped Americans to save enough energy to power 15 million homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 14 million cars -- all while saving $7 billion.
Green Power Partnership. Through this program, the EPA supports organizations that are buying or planning to buy green power. As a Green Power Partner, an organization pledges to replace a portion of its electricity consumption with green power within a year of joining the Partnership. The EPA offers credible benchmarks for green power purchases, market information, and opportunities for recognition and promotion of leading purchasers.
The Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP) is a 10-year initiative that seeks to increase access to modern energy services for those in developing countries in a manner that enhances economic and social development and reduces poverty. GVEP partners include developing countries and industrialized governments, multilateral organizations, private firms, NGOs and other interested stakeholders. <http://www.gvep.org/>
The Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles helps reduce vehicular air pollution in developing countries by promoting the elimination of lead in gasoline and encouraging the adoption of cleaner vehicle technologies. Phasing lead out of gasoline, and eliminating human exposure to lead, has an immediate effect on the health of millions of people.
The Partnership for Clean Indoor Air is increasing the use of affordable, reliable, clean, efficient, and safe home cooking and heating practices and to reduce the burden of disease. The partners are contributing their resources and expertise to improve health, livelihood and quality of life by reducing exposure to indoor air pollution, primarily among women and children, from household energy use.
The International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) will create a mechanism to organize and implement effective, efficient, and focused research, and to develop and deploy activities that advance hydrogen and fuel cell programs.
The Networked Environmental Information System for Global Emissions Inventories (NEISGEI) is an effort to develop: 1) a globally distributed database of air pollutant emissions information in well documented formats at the local, regional, national, and global scales; 2) computer software that will enable users to retrieve, compile, and analyze relevant emissions information from the globally distributed database using the World Wide Web; and 3) a global network of air emissions experts in government, industry, and academia.
The Center for Climate Change and Environmental Forecasting is an initiative of the U.S. DOT, dedicated to fostering awareness of the potential links between transportation and global climate change, and to formulating policy options to deal with the challenges posed by these links. The Center's research focuses on three broad areas: impact of climate variability and change on transportation, increasing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving modeling capabilities.
Climate Leaders encourages companies to develop long-term comprehensive climate change strategies. Established in 2002, Climate Leaders challenges companies to inventory their greenhouse gas emissions, set aggressive long-term reduction goals, and report on their annual progress. Through commitments announced to date, partners in Climate Leaders will prevent a total of 125 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions -- equivalent to the emissions from about 3 million automobiles in a year. Forty companies are currently partners in the Climate Leaders program.
The Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP) aims to reduce methane emissions from coal mining activities. By cooperatively working with coal companies and related industries, CMOP helps to identify and implement methods to profitably recover and use coal mine methane (CMM). Since the program's inception in 1990, the percentage of methane recovery grew from 25% to 85%. As of January 2000, 17 CMM pipeline sale projects were active in the U.S. recovering almost 43 bcf of CMM annually. Those projects are preventing significant releases of greenhouse gases, equivalent to removing almost 4 million cars from our nation's roads each year.
The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership is designed to foster cost-effective CHP projects. Since 2001 the Partnership has engaged the CHP industry, state and local governments, and other stakeholders in cooperative relationships to expand the use of CHP. Partners' projects annually reduce carbon dioxide by more than 8 million tons above what would be achieved by traditional generation methods. In addition, the annual energy savings equal 19 million barrels of oil more than would be attained under conventional combustion.
The Distributed Energy and Electric Reliability (DEER) Program is developing advanced technologies to strengthen our nation's electric energy infrastructure. The Program actively builds RD&D partnerships with industry and others to make distributed energy and electric reliability systems more energy efficient and affordable to consumers than the energy services they currently receive, while enhancing power quality and lowering environmental impacts. Distributed energy and electric reliability technologies provide utilities and consumers with more energy choices and increased control over energy usage and costs. For example, in just four years -- from 1997 to 2001 -- the DEER Program was instrumental in doubling the power handling capacity of high temperature superconductivity (HTS) wire while dramatically reducing its cost from $1,000 per kilo-amp per meter to $200 per kilo-amp per meter. In another case, the Superconducting Partners Initiative, a coalition formed by the Department of Energy, national laboratories, and industry, completed installation of the first HTS power delivery system at Southwire Company in Georgia. This 25-megawatt system, which transports 100% of electrical service to three factories, has already logged more than 16,000 hours of successful operation.
FreedomCAR, a government-industry program for the advancement of high-efficiency vehicles, focuses on fuel cells and hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources. FreedomCAR's long-term goal is to develop technologies for hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars and trucks that will require no foreign oil and emit no harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases. The Initiative will invest $720 million in new funding over the next five years to develop the technologies and infrastructure needed to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel cell vehicles and electricity generation.
The Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program integrates activities in hydrogen production, storage, and delivery with transportation and stationary fuel cell activities. It responds to several recommendations in the President's National Energy Policy, including the development of next generation technologies, establishment of an education campaign that communicates the potential benefits, and better integration of subprograms in hydrogen, fuel cells, and distributed energy.
Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) encourages landfills across the country to capture and use their landfill gas emissions as an energy source. Since 1994, LMOP has assisted in the development of over 230 landfill gas utilization projects -- including all 22 projects that went on-line in 2002. Together, these 230 projects are responsible for significant reductions in the emission of methane. They also are preventing the emission of carbon dioxide, since using landfill gas for energy offsets the need to use other, more polluting fuels. In 2002, all operational landfill gas energy projects in the U.S. prevented the release of 17.3 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE, the basic unit of measure of greenhouse gases) into the atmosphere. This reduction is the carbon equivalent of removing the emissions from 13.9 million cars on the road for one year.
The National Biofuels Program at the Department of Energy is developing cost-effective technology for producing liquid transportation fuels from biomass -- plant or plant-derived -- materials that are currently unused or used only for low value. The program's Advanced Bioethanol Technology Project researches the conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose to ethanol for use as an additive to gasoline or an alternative fuel for light-duty vehicles. The Program's Renewable Diesel Alternatives Project promotes biodiesel and other renewable additives and alternatives for heavy-duty vehicles. The National Biofuels Program has achieved a number of important research successes in these areas.
The Solar Energy Technology Program at the Department of Energy sponsors research and development that improves the performance and reduces the cost of solar technologies. The three components of the Program -- Photovoltaics, Solar Buildings, and Concentrating Solar Power—make up a comprehensive portfolio that addresses remote, distributed, and central energy markets: Photovoltaics develops semiconductor materials to convert sunlight directly into electricity, through an instantaneous, quiet process that uses no moving parts. Solar Buildings aids industry in developing low-cost solar thermal technologies for water and space heating in buildings. Concentrating Solar Power works with industry to develop reliable, cost-competitive systems that drive steam turbines and systems using heat from concentrated sunlight.
The State Energy Program (SEP) provides funding to states to design and carry out their own energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. In the 20-plus years since its inception, SEP has: modernized more than 69,000 buildings -- including schools, hospitals, and government office buildings -- to make them more energy efficient; carried out more than 8,000 energy projects in the states; supported 6,300 jobs annually in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries; leveraged $4 of investment in energy projects for every $1 of DOE funding; and created community-business partnerships in thousands of local communities.
The Weatherization Assistance Program enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. The program provides a wide variety of cost-effective energy efficiency measures that encompass the building envelope, its heating and cooling systems, its electrical system, and electricity consuming appliances. It is the country's longest running energy efficiency program. During the last 27 years, the program has provided weatherization services to more than 5.2 million low-income families.
The Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program addresses pollution from diesel construction equipment and heavy-duty vehicles that are currently on the road today. The Program is building a market for clean diesel engines by working with state, local and industry partners to create demonstration projects around the country. Sixty thousand retrofits have been installed to date, resulting in a reduction of 141, 670 tons of nitrogen oxide, 17,090 tons of carbon monoxide, 1,660 tons of volatile organic compounds, 1,360 tons of particulate matter, and 1,260 tons of particulate matter.
The Wind Energy Program works with industry to keep U.S. wind energy technology competitive in global markets, thus strengthening the economy. The program includes a comprehensive wind energy research component, wind turbine research and development, and support for utilities, industry, and international wind energy projects. The DOE's Wind Powering America (WPA) initiative aims to power at least 5% of the nation's electricity with wind by 2020, increase the number of states with more than 20 megawatts of wind to 16 by 2005 and 24 by 2010, and increase federal use of wind energy to 5% by 2010.
Bicycle Transportation and Pedestrian projects are eligible for funds under most Federal-aid highway, transit, and safety funding programs. Recent DOT-funded bike/ped projects have constructed sidewalks, installed bicycle parking at transit stations, installed curbs and ramps for wheelchairs, built trails and promoted knowledge about safe bicycling and walking.
The Clean Air Transportation Communities Grants Program supports voluntary cooperative projects that promote transportation efficiency measures within the United States, encourage development patterns that reduce the growth in vehicle miles traveled, and expand the availability of environmentally-sensitive transportation alternatives.
The Clean Cities Program aims to enhance our nation's energy security and air quality by supporting public and private partnerships that deploy clean-burning alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and build their associated fueling infrastructure. At local coalitions across the country, governmental agencies and private companies come together voluntarily under the umbrella of the Clean Cities Program. The Program helps all parties identify mutual interests while meeting their individual objectives -- such as the need to improve air quality, comply with federal fleet regulations, or identify and create markets for vehicles or fuel. More than 4,700 stakeholders in approximately 80 coalitions across the country are taking part in the program.
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) is a Federal transportation grant program that has since 1992 provided over $8.1 billion dollars in funds to State DOTs, MPOs, and transit agencies to invest in projects that reduce criteria air pollutants from transportation-related sources. The program addresses both air quality and congestions problems, improving both the efficiency of the transportation network and the quality of life for people in affected regions. The main goal of the CMAQ Program is to fund transportation projects that reduce emissions in nonattainment and maintenance areas.
The Inherently Low-Emission Airport Vehicle (ILEAV) Pilot Program is a Federal grant program that covers half the incremental cost of purchasing low emission vehicles for certain airports. The ILEAV Pilot Program demonstrates how airports can improve local air quality through the use of low emission vehicles to service aircraft and move passengers within the airport. The alternative fuels used in the 2,200 vehicles purchased under this program are cleaner and less GHG intensive than traditional fuels. The emission reductions from the program have the potential to improve local air quality significantly. Ozone is the biggest problem nationally, and, therefore, all 10 ILEAV airports are in ozone non-attainment areas.
Federal Energy Management Program's SAVEnergy Program. FEMP's SAVEnergy Program offers assistance to Federal agencies to help identify and implement energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation measures. The SAVEnergy Team assists with water conservation audits, a more comprehensive study of water use at a facility. This audit covers a facility's water supply, major water-using processes and equipment, and more.
Green Chemistry Program promotes the research, development, and implementation of innovative chemical technologies that prevent pollution in both a scientifically sound and cost-effective manner. One of Green Chemistry's program areas is the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge, which recognizes outstanding accomplishments in green chemistry through an annual awards program. The combined achievements of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award winners from 1996 to 2003 include: eliminating 320 million pounds of hazardous materials (including hazardous feedstocks, hazardous solvents, and hazardous waste), saving 390 million gallons of water, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 120 million pounds.
The Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program is a voluntary program that forms partnerships with pesticide users to reduce the health and environmental risks associated with pesticide use and implement pollution prevention strategies. EPA started the program in 1994. All PESP members make a commitment to reduce pesticide risk and develop activities to achieve risk reduction.
Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards establish minimum efficiency levels for vehicles sold in the United States. In April 2003. the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced new fuel economy standards for light trucks Model Years '05 through '07. The standards will save approximately 2.5 billion gallons of gasoline over the life of these fleets. The new standards would gradually increase the standard from the current 20.7 mpg up to 22.2 mpg for MY 2007, and will cover minivans, pickup trucks, SUVs, and other light trucks. Further work is under way on future changes to the CAFE program.
Forest Products is one of nine energy- and waste-intensive industries that is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) in a research and development program called "Industries of the Future." Each year, OIT provides approximately $3 million to new projects and about $8 million to on-going projects in OIT's forest products portfolio. To date, OIT's Forest Products Team has awarded a total of $78 million in OIT funding to over 100 projects, while the industry has provided over $33 million in project funding in addition to specialized expertise, materials, and facilities. Eight technologies funded through OIT have completed development and are currently in the demonstration phase.
FreedomBUS funds the development of fuel cell transit buses in order to achieve commercialization of fuel cell technology for full size buses. DOT funds research in advanced technology buses that utilize low polluting fuels and provides assistance to local transit systems seeking to acquire fuel cell buses. Fuel cell buses are an ideal first step in the push for a hydrogen economy due to their fixed routes, limited infrastructure requirements, and unique operating characteristics.
The Industries of the Future Program at the Department of Energy aims to realize national energy and environmental goals by providing cost-shared funding to selected R&D projects in nine energy- and waste- intensive industry sectors. The projects focus on potentially high-payoff technologies that are too risky or costly to attract adequate private funding. The targeted industries include agriculture, aluminum, chemicals, forest products, glass, metal casting, mining, petroleum, and steel.
SmartWay Transport is a partnership with various freight industry sectors that establishes incentives for fuel efficiency improvements and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The partnership, which is currently in preliminary stages, has eliminated 83,000 tons of carbon dioxide and 1,300 tons of nitrogen oxide each year through anti-idling initiatives. Once it is in full operation, the program will eliminate between nine and 18 million metric tons of carbon-equivalent and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions per year by 2012, which is the equivalent of saving 150 million barrels of oil a year.
The Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program at EPA develops testing protocols and verifies the performance of innovative technologies that have the potential to improve protection of human health and the environment. Since 1995 ETV has verified 208 private sector environmental technologies and developed 73 testing protocols in such areas as drinking water systems for small communities, air pollution control technologies that reduce smog causing nitrogen oxide and lower greenhouse gases, new technologies that lower emissions and costs for metal finishing shops and industrial coatings operations, and innovative monitoring technologies of all types. An additional 108 technologies are in testing or evaluation and 127 applications are pending.
The Cooperative Water Program is a partnership between the USGS and 1,400 non-Federal agencies. The program jointly funds water-resources projects in every State, Puerto Rico, and several U.S. Trust territories. Most work in the program is directed toward potential and emerging long-term problems, such as water supply, waste disposal, ground-water quality, effects of agricultural chemicals, floods, droughts, and environmental protection. The program currently funds approximately 750 projects targeted at specific water-resources issues, such as the effects of urbanization, agricultural practices, and energy development on water quality. Data collected by the program are incorporated into the National Water Information System (NWIS). NWIS contains hydrologic information collected by the USGS during the past 120 years, and includes streamflow data from 21,000 sites, water levels from over 1,000,000 wells, and chemical data from rivers, streams, lakes, springs, and ground water at 338,000 sites.
AgStar encourages the use of methane recovery (biogas) technologies at concentrated animal feeding operations that manage manure as liquids or slurries. The technologies reduce methane concentrations while achieving environmental benefits. In the last 2 years, the number of methane recovery technologies has increased by nearly 30%, from 31 to 40, with an additional seven currently in start-up or under construction.
The Building America Program works with the residential building industry to develop and implement innovative building processes and technologies -- innovations that save builders and homeowners millions of dollars in construction and energy costs. The Building America approach has been used in the design of more than 2,000 houses in 24 states. This success is due to the efforts of more than 60 builders implementing projects in 48 different cities across the United States. Building America homes use 30% to 70% less energy than conventional homes and are more comfortable. The research conducted by Building America teams increases the quality and performance of today's homes and provides valuable information for homes of the future. By supporting industry-driven systems engineering research, the program provides the feedback required to develop critical "next generation" building systems.
The Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) is an effort to find innovative ways to conserve our valuable resources through waste reduction and energy recovery activities that will improve public health and the environment. The RCC challenges all Americans - makers of goods, sellers of goods, and buyers of goods to: prevent pollution and promote recycling and reuse; reduce priority chemicals at all life cycle stages; and conserve energy and materials. This umbrella program encompasses a variety of EPA sustainability activities, such as WasteWise, the National Waste Minimization Partnership Program, and the Coal Combustion Products Partnership Program. Overall, this program is aimed at boosting the national recycling rate from 30 percent to at least 35 percent by 2005, and at curbing by 50 percent the generation of 30 harmful chemicals normally found in hazardous waste.
It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air is a public education and partnership-building initiative developed collaboratively by several federal agencies to help regional, state and community efforts to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. It All Adds Up seeks to inform the public about the connection between their transportation choices, traffic congestion and air pollution, and emphasizes simple, convenient actions people can take to improve air quality and reduce congestion. During the first five years of the initiative, more than one dozen communities implemented the initiative locally and more than 60 others requested materials and information from the federal partner agencies for use in their regions. The voluntary initiative is sponsored by DOT and EPA.
The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx) is a consortium of eight regional pollution prevention information centers, funded in part through grants from EPA. The centers lay the groundwork for a seamless national network of easy-to-access, high quality pollution prevention information that promotes waste reduction throughout the country. The centers provide pollution prevention information, networking opportunities and other services to States, local governments and technical assistance providers in their region. The centers represent a broad constituency, including state and local pollution prevention programs, manufacturing extension partnerships, cooperative extension and nonprofit organizations. Since 1993 in the Pacific Northwest region alone, such efforts have saved more than 1 billion gallons of water, eliminated 840 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, reduced solid waste by about 242 million pounds, saved about 636 million KWh of electricity, avoided 15.3 million vehicle miles of travel, and reduced operating costs by more than $243 million.
