12 WAYS TO ACT LOCALLY TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
CLIMATE CHANGE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
INFORMATION AND CONTACTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
U.S. EPA REGION 5
EPA has a variety of programs that can help local governments achieve their sustainability and
greenhouse gas reduction goals. For most programs, Regional staff contacts are available to assist your
community. Learn about the different steps you can take below.
1. Find and Receive Information on Clean
Energy through the Clean EnergyEnvironment Municipal Network.
The Clean Energy-Environment Municipal Network is an informational network that supports local
governments' efforts to use clean energy strategies to advance a number of community priorities. The
network includes access to a searchable database of best practices and tools, a State and Local assistance list
serv, web training, peer to peer exchange, etc.
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/local.html
Contact: Andrea Denny, Municipal Clean Energy Program Manager, U.S. EPA Headquarters,
denny.andrea@epa.gov, 202-343-9268
2. Take the Energy Star Challenge and Improve your Facilities’ Energy Performance through
ENERGY STAR.
Energy Star maximizes energy efficiency in commercial, industrial, and residential
settings by promoting new building and product design and practices. Local
governments are encouraged to take the Energy Star Challenge and improve energy
efficiency by 10% or more. Resources include Portfolio Manager (energy
benchmarking tool), training, guidelines for energy management, and public
recognition and promotional materials.
www.energystar.gov
Energy Star for Local Governments:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=government.bus_government_local
Take the Energy Star Challenge
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=challenge.bus_challenge
Change the World, Start with Energy Star
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=globalwarming.showPledgeHome
Contact: Audrie Washington, R5 Air and Radiation Division, washington.audrie@epa.gov, 312-886-0669
3. Increase Energy Efficiency and Decrease Energy Costs through
the Combined Heat and Power Partnership.
Combined Heat and Power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, is an efficient
and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single
fuel source. The Combined Heat and Power Partnership seeks to reduce the environmental impact of power
generation by fostering the use of cleaner, cost-effective CHP. CHP application opportunities for local
governments include wastewater treatment facilities, schools, and district heating systems.
http://www.epa.gov/chp/
Contact: Alexis Cain, R5 Air and Radiation Division, cain.alexis@epa.gov, 312-886-7018
4. Purchase Green Power for Your Operations with the Green Power Partnership.
Green power can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the
environmental impacts associated with your organization’s electricity use. By
partnering with EPA, you can receive technical support in identifying green power
products that meet your needs and goals, as well as valuable public recognition.
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/
Green Power Communities
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/communities.htm
Contact: Alexis Cain, R5 Air and Radiation Division, cain.alexis@epa.gov, 312-886-7018
5. Make Your Community Events more Sustainable with Green Venues.
EPA Region 5 has a new Green Venues program. We’ll be establishing best practices recommendations and
providing technical assistance to venues—generally defined as having capacity of over 2000 and capable of
hosting a public event—seeking to green their practices. Convention centers, large banquet halls, sporting
arenas, outdoor festivals, and even smaller venues like theaters, zoos and parks offer many opportunities to
reduce their carbon footprint.
Contact: Briana Bill, R5 Land and Chemicals Division, bill.briana@epa.gov, 312-353-6646
6. Create Power from Landfill Gas with the Landfill Methane Outreach Program.
The Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) helps to reduce methane emissions
from landfills by encouraging the recovery and use of landfill gas as an energy
resource. LMOP forms partnerships with communities, landfill owners, utilities, power
marketers, states, project developers, tribes, and non-profit organizations to
overcome barriers to project development by helping them assess project feasibility,
find financing, and market the benefits of project development to the community.
http://www.epa.gov/lmop/
Contact: Swarupa Ganguli, U.S. EPA Headquarters, ganguli.swarupa@epa.gov, 202-343-9732
7. Improve Fuel Economy and Reduce Emissions
from Your Fleets with the Midwest Clean Diesel
Initiative.
The Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative is a public-private partnership to accelerate diesel emission reductions in
the Midwest and includes access to competitive grant funding. Engines are impacted through retrofit, repair,
replacement, and/or operational strategies including idle reduction and improved aerodynamics and logistics.
Reductions of CO2 come primarily through technologies and strategies that reduce idling, which also saves on
high diesel fuel costs.
http://www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/
Clean Diesel State and Local Toolkit
http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/slt/basicinfo.htm
Contact: Steve Marquardt, R5 Air and Radiation Division, marquardt.steve@epa.gov, 312-353-3214
8. Save Water and Energy at Your Water Utility and in Your Community with Sustainable
Infrastructure and WaterSense.
EPA is working with the water industry to identify and promote best practices, including efficient water use,
rates that reflect full cost pricing, and water-related energy efficiency. An estimated 3% of national energy
consumption, equivalent to approximately 56 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), is used for drinking water and
wastewater services.
http://www.epa.gov/waterinfrastructure/index.html
Water Treatment and Energy
http://www.epa.gov/waterinfrastructure/bettermanagement_energy.html
EPA is building WaterSense as a national brand for water efficiency. Local governments can become
WaterSense partners to help encourage use of water-efficient behaviors and products.
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/
Contact: Joan Karnauskas, R5 Water Division, karnauskas.joan@epa.gov, 312-886-6090
9. Increase Recycling and Reuse and Measure the Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Benefits of Your Waste Reduction Efforts Through
WasteWise.
WasteWise helps organizations reduce municipal solid waste and select industrial
wastes. WasteWise is a flexible program that allows partners to design their own waste reduction programs
tailored to their needs. WasteWise offers a free helpline, and reporting partners receive a profile that
quantifies the climate benefits of their waste reduction efforts.
http://www.epa.gov/wastewise/
WAste Reduction Model (WARM)
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/calculators/Warm_home.html
Contact: Susan Mooney, R5 Land and Chemicals Division, mooney.susan@epa.gov, 312-886-3585
10. Encourage Healthier Indoor Environments and Reduce Waste and Energy and Water Use in
Your Community by Promoting Green Buildings.
Addressing the long-term quality of air, water, ecosystems, land, and public health through sustainable
development and green buildings is a topic of increasing importance and concern. In the United States,
buildings account for 68 percent of electricity use and 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. While the
knowledge and ability to construct more environmentally friendly buildings exists, many developers and
builders continue to apply conventional design and practices to their projects. Local governments play an
important role in promoting and quantifying the benefits of green buildings.
http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/
Contact: Jim Van der Kloot, R5 Superfund Division, vanderkloot.james@epa.gov, 312-353-3161
11. Manage Stormwater, Improve Air and Water Quality, and Cool Down Your
Community through Green Infrastructure and Heat Island Reduction.
Green infrastructure practices include rain gardens, porous pavements, green roofs,
infiltration planters, trees and tree boxes, and rainwater harvesting for non-potable uses
such as toilet flushing and landscape irrigation. Green infrastructure helps reduce
stormwater runoff, sequester carbon dioxide, reduce heat island effects and
associated energy use, and thus helps to mitigate climate change.
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298
http://www.epa.gov/hiri/
Contact: Green Infrastructure, Bob Newport, R5 Water Division, newport.bob@epa.gov, 312-886-1513
Heat Island Reduction, Neelam-R Patel, U.S. EPA Headquarters, patel.neelam-r@epa.gov, 202-343-9384
12. Encourage Local Companies to Reduce their Carbon Footprint
by Becoming Climate Leaders.
Encourage companies in your community to develop a credible greenhouse gas reduction strategy, reduce
costs through energy efficiency, and receive public recognition through EPA’s Climate Leaders program.
Since the program was launched in 2002, 200 partners have joined representing 10% of the U.S. GDP. EPA
estimates that the GHG reductions by Climate Leaders Partners will prevent more than 13 million metric tons
of carbon equivalents per year, equal to the equivalent emissions of 9 million cars. Partner companies receive
up to 60 hours of free technical assistance.
www.epa.gov/climateleaders/
Contact: Melissa Hulting, R5 Air and Radiation Division, hulting.melissa@epa.gov, 312-886-2265
Other links
EPA Climate Change Website: www.epa.gov/climatechange/
EPA Partnership Programs: http://www.epa.gov/partners/
Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: http://www.eere.energy.gov/
For general information, contact the R5 Climate Change Coordinator:
Melissa Hulting, hulting.melissa@epa.gov, 312-886-2265