Energy and Emissions at EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. To demonstrate its leadership in energy and environmental stewardship, EPA is committed to managing its own facilities and operations in a way that minimizes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy use.
EPA has continued to meet or exceed nearly all federal sustainability goals related to:
Goal 1 :Greenhouse Gases at EPA
Before there were federal requirements to do so, EPA had developed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and established reduction targets to decrease its GHG footprint.
There are three types of GHG emissions EPA tracks and works to reduce
Scope 1 GHG emissions are direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the Agency.
- Scope 1 includes on-site fossil fuel combustion and fleet fuel consumption.
Scope 2 GHG emissions are indirect emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the Agency.
- Scope 2 includes emissions that result from the generation of electricity, heat or steam purchased by the Agency from a utility provider.
Scope 3 GHG emissions are from sources not owned or directly controlled by EPA but related to Agency activities.
- Scope 3 emissions include employee travel and commuting.
- Scope 3 also includes emissions associated with contracted solid waste disposal and wastewater treatment.
- Some Scope 3 emissions can also result from transportation and distribution (T&D) losses associated with purchased electricity.
Goal: 2 Renewable Energy at EPA
Using renewable energy reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution associated with energy production and helps diversify the nation’s energy supply. EPA supports the growing green power market by purchasing and generating renewable energy in a variety of forms.
Sources of renewable energy include:
- Wind power
- Solar power
- Geothermal technologies
- Landfill gas
- Biomass power
- Low-impact small hydropower
EPA acquires green power in one of three ways:
- Onsite generation
- Utility-supplied green power
- Renewable energy certificates (RECs)
These purchases promote growth in the green power marketplace and help the Agency avoid greenhouse gas emissions associated with its energy consumption.
Goal: 3 Energy Efficiency at EPA
In FY 2020, EPA reduced its energy intensity 41.0 percent compared to FY 2003. EPA achieved these savings through a combination of improved space utilization, commissioning and capital investments to upgrade equipment and infrastructure.
More information is available about energy efficiency projects and results at EPA
Source credit www.epa.gov , visit Environmental Protection Agency for more information