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EPA Sustainability Programs

Green Chemistry
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenchemistry/

This program promotes innovative chemical technologies that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture, and use of chemical products.

Green Engineering
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenengineering/

Green engineering is the design, commercialization, and use of processes and products that are feasible and economical while minimizing the generation of pollution at the source and any risks to human health and the environment. The discipline embraces the concept that decisions to protect human health and the environment can have the greatest impact and cost effectiveness when applied early to the design and development phase of a process or product. Instead of: Green engineering is the design, commercialization, and use of processes and products, which are feasible and economical while minimizing 1) generation of pollution at the source and 2) risk to human health and the environment. The discipline embraces the concept that decisions to protect human health and the environment can have the greatest impact and cost effectiveness when applied early to the design and development phase of a process or product.

Product Stewardship
http://www.epa.gov/epr/index.htm

This Web site is designed to serve as a resource for products that support Sustainable Development. It highlights the latest developments in Product Stewardship, both in the United States and abroad, and provides numerous links to other sources of information.

Environmentally Preferred Purchasing
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/about/about.htm

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) is a federal-wide program that encourages and assists executive agencies in the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.

Green Communities Assistance Kit
http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/

Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a step-by-step guide for identifying and resolving community needs, and planning and implementing sustainable actions. Also identifies useful tools, case studies, and other resources.

ENERGY STAR
http://www.energystar.gov/ exit EPA.

A government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.

The Design for the Environment (DfE)
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/dfe/

The Design for the Environment (DfE) partnership projects promote integrating cleaner, cheaper, and smarter solutions into everyday business practices.

Green Buildings
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenbuilding/

Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition.

Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Homepage
http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/index.html

This site links to information on abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.

Sustainable Urban Environment
http://www.epa.gov/region5/osea/index.htm

As urban areas grow and age, the current patterns of development and redevelopment can cause environmental degradation. Air quality is degraded through increased mobile, area and point source emissions. Water quality is degraded through increased runoff volume, decreased infiltration, poor runoff quality, and increased discharge from point sources. Farmland and open space is converted to factories, commercial, and residential use, often leaving abandoned contaminated brownfields in the urban core. The manner in which development or redevelopment takes place can significantly increase or decrease these impacts. The Sustainable Urban Environments Regional Team aims to lessen these impacts through a range of activities.

Community-based Environmental Protection
http://www.epa.gov/ecocommunity/

CBEP integrates environmental management with human needs, considers long-term ecosystem health and highlights the positive correlations between economic prosperity and environmental well-being.

Project XL
http://www.epa.gov/projectxl/

XL projects give the regulated community an opportunity to demonstrate eXcellence and Leadership... the flexibility to replace the requirements of the current system with an alternative strategy developed by a company or a community.

Sustainable Landscaping
http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/

Landscaping with native wildflowers and grasses improves the environment. Natural landscaping brings a taste of wilderness to urban, suburban, and corporate settings by attracting a variety of birds, butterflies and other animals. Once established, native plants do not need fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or watering, thus benefiting the environment and reducing maintenance costs. Gardeners and admirers enjoy the variety of colors, shapes, and seasonal beauty of these plants.

EPA/OPPT - Environmentally Preferred Purchasing
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/

The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) web site provides guidance, case studies, tools and other resources to help procure environmentally preferable products and services with reduced effects on human health and the environment compared to others serving the same purpose. Instead of: The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) web site provides guidance, case studies, tools and other resources to help in procuring environmentally preferable products and services that have lesser or reduced effects on human health and the environment when compared to others serving the same purpose.

EPA/OPPT - Green Meetings
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings/index.htm

Green meetings help meet your meetings planning needs while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. By using this site, you can access information that can assist you in organizing your conference to be "greener."

Environmental Labeling
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/documents/labeling.htm

The term "environmental labeling" covers a broad range of activities from business-to-business transfers of product-specific environmental information to environmental labeling in retail markets. Labels, as well as other labeling program activities, serve a variety of purposes and target a number of different audiences. Environmental labels provide an opportunity to inform consumers about product characteristics that may not be readily apparent.

Environmental Accounting
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/acctg/

EPA's Environmental Accounting Project has partnered with the Tellus Institute to maintain and further develop tools and documentation on Environmental Accounting.

 

Other Federal, National, and International Programs

Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development
http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/ exit EPA.

Created by the U.S. Department of Energy, this Web site helps communities design and implement innovative strategies that enhance the local economy as well as the local environment and quality of life.

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
http://www.eere.energy.gov/ exit EPA.

This site provides links to information on the whole spectrum of energy-efficiency and renewable energy topics, information on the latest news, as well as a list of key contacts. EERE offers access to DOE’s national laboratory data bases on a host of topics, such as solar access and wind regimes. There are also lists of discussion groups on various energy-related topics.

US Agency for International Development
http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/presidential_initiative/ exit EPA.

The United States Agency for International Development USAID provides information concerning initiatives for sustainable development in 18 countries worldwide.

USDA - Forest Service - Sustainable Development
http://www.fs.fed.us/land/sustain_dev/ exit EPA.

This site contains details concerning the rationale for Forest Service involvement in Sustainable Development.

US Dept of Housing and Urban Development - Healthy Communities
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cio/emaps/index.cfm exit EPA.

Healthy Communities Environmental Mapping -HUD E-MAPS- is a free Internet service that combines information on HUD's community development and housing programs with EPA's environmental data.

Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES)
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/tools/bees.htm

Developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Building and Fire Research Laboratory with support from the U.S. EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program, the tool is based on consensus standards and designed to assit users in making informed decisions related to sustainable development.

Sustainable Communities Network (SCN)
http://www.sustainable.org/ exit EPA.

Developed by the Sustainable Communities Network Partnership, this site encourages the exchange of information to help make communities more livable and increases the visibility of successful community projects. A wide range of issues related to community sustainability are addressed, including: creating communities, smart growth, growing a sustainable economy, protecting natural resources, living sustainably, and governing community.

World Business Council for Sustainable Development
http://www.wbcsd.org exit EPA.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a coalition of 170 international companies united by a shared commitment to sustainable development via the three pillars of economic growth, ecological balance and social progress.

Renewable Resource Institute
http://www.rri.org/ exit EPA.

RRI, a nonprofit organization, promotes the use of Green Plans to achieve a sustainable environment and economy.

International Institute for Sustainable Development (Canadian)
http://www.iisd.org/ exit EPA.

This Web site provides strategies and tools that companies can draw on to translate an aspiration of sustainability into practical, effective solutions. Case studies from around the world are provided as an example of each measure.

Developmental Center for Appropriate Technology
http://www.dcat.net/ exit EPA.

Founded in 1991 as a non-profit organization, DCAT draws on extensive experience in traditional and alternative building and development, providing strategic support for the shift to sustainable building practices.

Institute for Local Self-Reliance
http://www.ilsr.org/ exit EPA.

ILSR is a nonprofit education and research organization that provides information and assistance on topics related to sustainable development.

The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
http://www.iclei.org/ exit EPA.

ICLEI is an international association of local governments implementing sustainable development.

Local Government Commission
http://www.lgc.org/ exit EPA.

The Local Government Commission provides peer networking opportunities, acts as an interface between city and county officials, and provides practical policy ideas for addressing serious environmental and social problems such as sustainable development.

NextStep
http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/index.cfm exit EPA.

A project of the Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network, NextStep offers a host of useful information to promote community sustainable development.

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