About Janet McCabe

Posts by Janet McCabe:

Feb 4, 2014

Partnerships Show Huge Potential to Address Climate Change

Air, Climate Action Plan, climate change, energy star, Green Power Partnership, greenchill, janet mccabe 1 Comment

Last Friday, EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs (OAP) released its annual report on its climate partnership programs. The report is notable not just because some of these voluntary programs started more than 20 years ago, but also because it shows just how much partnerships can accomplish.

In 2012, more than 21,000 organizations and millions of Americans partnered with EPA through OAP’s climate partnerships and prevented more than 365 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to the annual electricity use of over 50 million homes. That’s one million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per day.

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Jan 30, 2014

EPA and Freddie Mac: Saving Families Money and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Pollution

Air, carbon pollution, Climate Action Plan, climate change, energy star, freddie mac, janet mccabe 2 Comments

Energy efficiency is one of the clearest and most cost-effective ways to save families money, make our businesses more competitive, and reduce greenhouse gas pollution that contributes to climate change.

This is one of the reasons I am excited to have just signed a memorandum of understanding with Freddie Mac, one of the largest lenders in the U.S. Freddie Mac and EPA’s Energy Star program have agreed to focus together on improving the energy efficiency of multifamily buildings, like apartment buildings, condos and co-ops. This is truly a win-win for the environment and for families all across the country.

The agreement outlines strategies to save energy, water, and money for multifamily property owners and residents. This is one important step toward fulfilling the President’s Climate Action Plan goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.

Jan 21, 2014

Radon Action Month – Test, Fix, Save a Life

Air, janet mccabe, radon, radon action month 3 Comments

If you’re like most people that make New Year’s resolutions, you’re probably trying to start the year off on the right foot by doing things to improve your health. Just go to nearly any gym during the first few weeks of January and you’ll see what I mean! Whether or not you resolved to be healthier in 2014, there is one easy-to-do step that you can take to protect the health of you and your family: test your home for radon.

Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of natural uranium deposits in soil and it can seep into homes through their foundation. High levels have been found in homes all across the country. EPA estimates that one in fifteen U.S. homes has elevated radon levels – but in some areas, the number can be as high as one out of every two.

And why is radon a health issue? Because it can be deadly. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Only smoking causes more. EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die from radon-induced lung cancer each year. It’s a very serious problem, but luckily there are simple solutions.

Nov 15, 2013

The Proposed 2014 Renewable Fuels Standards: Considering Options and Seeking Input

Air, Biofuel, blend wall, Energy Independence and Security Act, janet mccabe, renewable fuels standard 1 Comment

Today, EPA released the 2014 Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) Proposal, and we’re asking for your input on how to encourage the production and use of renewable energy while balancing practical constraints on the pace at which the market is currently accommodating ethanol above a threshold known as the ethanol “blend wall.”

If you don’t think about energy policy every day, you might be asking yourself, “what’s a ‘blend wall’?”

The answer to that question goes back to 2007, when Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act. That legislation created the RFS program, which lays the foundation for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing America’s dependence on oil by growing our nation’s renewable fuels sector.

The RFS program set a target for the renewable fuels to be blended into transportation fuel that rises each year until 2022. Ethanol generally goes into the nation’s supply of E10, gasoline with up to 10 percent ethanol that is sold across the Unites States. In the years between when Congress created that program and today, production of renewable fuels has grown rapidly, but at the same time, fuel economy improvements and other factors have pushed gasoline consumption far lower than what was expected.

Nov 7, 2013

Save Energy by Doing 1 Thing ENERGY STAR

Air, energy star, epa, janet mccabe 0 Comments

Ever heard that saying “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step?”

This adage rings true for EPA’s ENERGY STAR program. ENERGY STAR makes it easy to take simple energy-saving steps that add up to some pretty big results. Just by switching out one bulb with an ENERGY STAR certified LED bulb, you can use 75% less energy and save $135 over the product’s lifetime. How’s that for motivation?

That’s what this week’s launch of the “Do 1 Thing ENERGY STAR” social media campaign is all about. Each week through Facebook and Twitter, EPA will provide tips to make it easy to save energy. From washing laundry with cold water, to sealing and insulating your home, to staying in ENERGY STAR certified hotels, or even giving ENERGY STAR labeled electronics for holiday gifts – there are tips for every budget and situation. And, the more you do, the more energy and money you will save.

Nov 1, 2013

Vigorous Public Outreach to Cut Carbon Pollution and Fight Climate Change

Air, Climate Action Plan, climate change, Gina McCarthy, janet mccabe, listening sessions, President Obama 3 Comments

In carrying out President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, EPA is conducting unprecedented and vigorous outreach and public engagement with key stakeholders and the general public. That’s especially true with our proposed commonsense standards to cut carbon pollution from new power plants—and it’s the case leading up to next year when we propose guidelines for states to use in addressing carbon pollution from existing power plants.

In preparing the guidelines for existing power plants, EPA leadership, including Administrator McCarthy, has been meeting with industry leaders and CEOs from the coal, oil, and natural gas sectors. We’ve been working with everyone from governors, mayors, Members of Congress, state and local government officials – from every region of the country — to environmental groups, health organizations, faith groups, and many others. We’re doing this because we know that carbon pollution guidelines for existing power plants require flexibility and sensitivity to state and regional differences. We want to be open to any and all information about what is important to each state and stakeholders. That’s what this process is all about.

Sep 17, 2013

Introducing… The Breathe Easies

ad council, Air, asthma, breathe easies, janet mccabe 4 Comments

In my job I don’t usually have the pleasure of introducing rock bands. And, I may not get this chance again. So, today allow me the pleasure of welcoming The Breathe Easies!

The Breathe Easies are an asthma-centric rock band of colorful puppet characters, who are one-of-their-kind originals in the world. They are part of a new PSA campaign we launched today with the Ad Council to help raise awareness of the simple steps parents and young children with asthma can take to help prevent asthma attacks.

Sep 12, 2013

Click and Print– New Labels for Used Vehicles

Air, climate change, DOE, DOT, epa, Fuel Economy, used cars 3 Comments

The test of a good idea is if you hear yourself saying – “Why didn’t I think of that?” The new fuel economy and emission labels for used cars and trucks just announced by EPA and the Department of Energy pass that test.

When you consider that buying a car is the second biggest purchase most people make and that used cars outsell new cars by a ratio of roughly 3 to 1 – it’s an idea whose time has come. Fuel economy has always been of interest to consumers, but it is becoming increasingly important now that there is such a range of fuel efficient cars available and car buyers are thinking more about their environmental footprint.

If you want to save money by buying a used car, wouldn’t you also want to know what it’s likely going to cost you at the pump?

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