&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
Washington, DC 20460
June-July 1994
EPA 742-N-94-003
Pollution
Prevention
News
NICE3 AWARDS $3.4M TO INNOVATIVE PROJECTS
INSIDE
Voluntary Programs 2
Updates tin some neii- ami continu-
ing voluntary pollution prevention
programs: Mobility Partners, Green
Lights, WasteWi$e, and more.
Interview: Lynn Goldman 4
The new Assistant Administrator <>f
EPA's Office ol Pollution Prevention
and Toxics discusses her priorities
and the role of pollution prevention.
Transportation 6
Special feature on transportation
issues looks at retrofitting buses, smart
cars and highways, and methods of
moderating travel demand.
Accounting Project 8
EPA's Management Accounting and
Capital Budgeting Project releases
an Action Agenda.
Case Study 9
A close-up look at the new water-
soluble printing ink from Deluxe
Corp.
Greening of the
White House 10
With 50 actions underway or
completed, the Greening of America's
most famous home continues.
A photo look at the process.
Calendar
12
Innovative firms with pollution preven-
tion and energy saving ideas are the
recipients of $3.4 million in grant
funding from the Department of Energy
(DOEland EPA.
Since 1991, DOE and EPA have jointly
administered the NICE1 cost-sharing grant
program, which gets its catchy acronym
from its purpose — to promote National
Industrial Competitiveness through
Energy, Environment, and Economics.
Projects are given seed money through a
one-time grant to help offset start-up risk.
Awardees design, test, demonstrate, and
assess the feasibility of new processes or
equipment with the potential to increase
energy efficiency, reduce pollution, and
improve process economics. After the initial
grant funding period, the awardee is
expected to continue financing the project.
The NICE:1 grant recipients for 1994 are
as follows:
^ Continental Circuits of Arizona,
$220,000, to demonstrate a new technol-
ogy that allows for the copper plating of
printed circuit boards without the use of
harmful chemicals.
^ The Torrington Company, Inc. of
Connecticut, $325,000, to demonstrate an
innovative technique- of relieving stressc.-
in extruded wire by annealing with an
induction coil.
> Chrysler Corp. of Delaware, $400,000.
to demonstrate a new system of spray
painting which relies on electrostatic
attraction between the powder particles
and the surface to be painted. The new-
system eliminates the need for an incinera-
tor and greatly reduces the amount of air
that must be recirculated in the paint booth.
Continued on peg* 8
LEADERSHIP PILOT PROGRAM DUE TO START
Editorial Staff:
Ruth Heikkinen.
Gilah Langner
Joshua Katz
EPA has issued a request for pilot
project proposals for its Environ-
mental Leadership Program, in an
announcement in the Federal Register on
June 21. The pilot projects will explore
ways that EPA and states can encourage
facilities to develop innovative auditing
and compliance programs and reduce
the risk of noncompliance through
pollution prevention.
One of the seven criteria facilities must
address is pollution prevention. Facilities
must describe their existing or proposed
comprehensive, multimedia pollution
prevention program, and how that pro-
gram is integrated into their overall
operations. Facilities must also propose
measures that will track the compliance
improvements and pollution prevention
results that will accrue from their partici-
pation in a pilot project. In addition to
pollution prevention, criteria include:
compliance history, environmental man-
agement/auditing programs, disclosure of
audit results, "setting an example,"
performance measures, and employee and
community involvement.
EPA plans to select three to five pilot
projects from the pool of proposals to be
received. Proposals are due by August 21.
For more information, contact Mike
Schiavo at 202-260-2824.
R«cycl«d/R»cyclabl« • Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Recycled Paper (50% Postconsumer)
-------
2 Rllution Prevention News
June - July 1994
VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS
Led by the successes of the 33/50
program and Green Lights, EPA has
developed a series of new voluntary
programs aimed at encouraging innovation
and involvement of the private sector and
governmental organizations in pollution
prevention and energy efficiency. A confer-
ence on Voluntary Initiatives was held in
Williamsburg, VA on June 1-3 which
highlighted the efforts of numerous compa-
nies and groups. Below are some updates
on new and continuing voluntary programs.
MOBILITY PARTNERS
Mobility Partners is a new joint project
of the Surface Transportation Policy
Project and EPA’s Office of Policy Analysis
which aims at helping practitioners,
business leaders, and citizens exchange
ideas for meeting the challenges of trans-
portation planning and clean air quality.
The program will develop case studies,
technical reports, a
referral line, and a quar-
terly newsletter. Organiza-
tions developing innova-
tive transportation plans
with pollution prevention
goals will be recognized
with an award.
WASTE WI $ E
On July 20, EPA Adminis-
trator Browner will be
honoring the 282 compa-
nies who have signed on as
charter members of the WasteWi Se
program run by EPA’s Office of Solid
Waste. WasteWiSe companies commit to
reduce solid waste in three ways: prevent-
ing waste at the source, collecting materi-
als for recycling, and increasing the
recycled content in the products they buy
or manufacture. As a next step, the
charter members will identify their goals
in each of these areas. More companies are
welcome to join. Call 1-80O-EPAWl E.
o’
WAVE
WAVE partners can look forward to a
new water analysis software program for
tracking and optimizing hotel water use,
scheduled for release in September 1994.
The software is being developed by the
Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California under a cooperative agreement
with EPA’s Water Alliances for Voluntary
Efficiency (WAVE) program. WAVE
participants voluntarily commit to make
profitable upgrades to water efficient
equipment. WAVE is initially targeting the
lodging industry.
The new software is expected to be a
powerful tool for hotel engineers. It will
estimate and allocate hotel water use,
track historical water use and expense,
compare current water use to prior and
target uses, and evaluate the economics of
measures to improve water efficiency. Six
modules will cover all water uses such as
plumbing fixtures, food preparation and
service, laundry, housekeeping, pools,
fountains, cooling towers, and landscape
irrigation. Development of the software
was guided by input from hotel engineers
in workshops in four cities; the software is
now being field tested in hotels. Plans are
underway to adapt the WAVE software for
use in federal office buildings.
BUILDING AIR QUALITY ALLIANCE
EPA’s Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
is preparing to launch a new voluntary
partnership program to help building
owners and managers improve indoor air
quality. With membership from EPA and
key leaders in the indoor air quality (IAQ)
field, including environmental and public
health advocacy groups, trade associa-
tions, government organizations, and
coalitions of IAQ industry groups, the
Building Air Quality Alliance will help
implement actions to improve IAQ which
is vital to health, comfort, and productiv-
ity. Such measures include developing a
ventilation system maintenance schedule,
IPA Ad.i.stv.t.r Car.1 Irow.. ,
“When it comes to the
technological innovation
necessary to make
pollution prevention a
reality, it’s the people
who manufacture a
product who tend to know
best how to redesign the
process to make the
product cheaper, cleaner,
and smarter.”
—Carol Browner
EPA Administrator
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3 Ikllution Prewntion News
June - July 1994
VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS, CONT’D.
controlling pollutants such as pesticides
and tobacco smoke, and making good
indoor air principles part of standard
operating procedures through market-
based incentives.
Why does IAQ warrant a separate
voluntary program? Research shows that
people spend about 9Ø(7 of their time
indoors, and that the air within homes and
buildings can be more seriously polluted
than outdoor air in even the largest and
most industrialized cities. EPA compara-
tive risk studies have consistently ranked
indoor air pollution, including secondhand
smoke, radon, organic compounds, and
biological pollutants, among the top four
environmental threats to public health.
The Building Air Qualit Alliance is
intended to catalyze action on this impor-
tant public health concern. A participants’
manual will be available by Fall 1994
which will outline the program and enlist
the first Building Partners. EPA will
coordinate the Alliance planning effort
with other EPA voluntary programs that
serve the same building customers as well
as other federal IAQ efforts.
GREEN LIGHTS
Green Lights reports several new
milestones on the road toward relighting
America with energy-efficiency lighting:
On April 1, the National Security
Agency became the first federal agency in
the intelligence community to become a
Green Lights Partner.
A 1994 Certificate of Distinction was
awarded to the Southern California Gas
Company, which competed surveys and
upgrades at 70 of its facilities in less than
one year and $200,000 under budget.
The number of Green Lights partici-
pants now stands at over 1,350.
Participants have committed to upgrade
a total of 4 billion square feet of facility
space, up from 3 billion square feet in
1992. The total facility space committed is
more than three times the total office
space of New York, Los Angeles, and
Chicago combined.
Over 430 participants have reported
progress on lighting upgrades, with close
to 18 percent of their total square footage
currently being upgraded.
ENERGY STAR
Energy Star reports the availability of
an Energy Star Fax Line, a 24-hour,
computer-controlled service that provi de
up-to-the-minute information about
Energy Star programs (Green Lights.
Energy Star Buildings, Energy Star
Computers, and Methane Programs) and
ordering of information materials by mail
or fax. The fax number is 202-233-9659.
33/50 PROGRAM
One of the earliest voluntary pollution
prevention efforts, the 33/50 program is in
the process of compiling profiles of partici-
pating companies that have achieved
notable successes. Already available to the
public are fourt.een profiles
of manufacturing firms
with a range of product
lines, from plastic thermos
bottles to custom-printed
circuit boards. Between
1988 and 1992, the
companies featured in
these 14 profiles have
reduced their toxic chemi-
cal releases by a total of
more than 17 million
pounds. Details of how
they did it are included in
the profiles; call the TSCA
Hotline at 2O2-5i i4-1404.
WHERE TO CALL:
Buikhng Air 800-4384388
Quolty Alkance
Energy Star 202-233-9114
Computers
Energy Star 202-233-9146
Build gs
Global Cimate 202-233-9190
Change ACtIOn Plan
Green Lights 202-775-6650
Mobility Partners .... 202-260-1126
33/50 Program 202-554-1404
WasteWi$e 800-EPAWISE
WAVE 202-260-7288
“As we look ahead to the
future of pollution
prevention, we need
companies large and small
to ad as innovators, as
motivators, as leaders. Help
us evaluate what works best,
what doesn’t work, what gets
people on board, what
challenges them to do their
best to protect public health
and our environment.”
—Carol Browner
EPA Administrator
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4 Fbllution Prevention News
June-July 1994
INTERVIEW WITH LYNN GOLDMAN
D r. Lynn R. Goldman assumed the
position of EPA’s Assistant Admin-
istrator for Preten (ion, Pesticides
and Toxic Substances in October 1993.
Previous/v. she served as the Acting Chief
of th.e Di rision of Environ nental and
Occupational Disease Control in
California’s Department of Health Ser-
Lices. A pediatrician and epidemiologist,
Dr. Goldman has published extensively in
the areas of en tzron mental epidemiology
and the prevention of childhood lead
poisoning. She holds master’s degrees in
Health and Medical Sciences from the
University of California, Berkeley as well
as an M.P.H. from Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity. Her M.D. is from the University of
California, San Francisco.
What is your view of this Administra-
tion’s commitment to a pollution
prev.ntion approach and what kinds
of new initiatives or d.velopments
should we .xp.ct?
Most notable to me is that Administrator
Browner has declared pollution prevention
to be the foundation of all the work that
everybody does in the Agency. Without
inculcating that spirit in all our offices, we
could never move to a true pollution pre-
vention agenda at EPA. This commitment
was reflected in the way the reorganization
of the Office of Enforcement was carried out
— very much with pollution prevention and
a multi-media focus in mind.
Looking ahead, a major new develop-
ment is the “Common Sense Initiative.”
Never before has there been a commit-
ment by the Administrator and the entire
leadership of the Age ncv to bring the
program offices together to address
problems with single sectors. This initia-
tive will help us take a careful look at all
the regulations that affect one sector, and
work on improving our collection of data. I
think it’s going to have a major payoff for
us — it’s the only way we can learn how to
move beyond our media-specific statutes
and programs that sometimes don’t allow
us to take care of the whole environment
the way that we should. The recent
doubling of the size of the Toxics Release
Inventory and the planned expansions
that will add facilities and collect informa-
tion about chemical use will also be very
important for expanding our pollution
prevention efforts in the future.
In the past f.w years, EPA has launched a
number of voluntary industry programs to
encourag. pollution prevention. How doss
this approach r.late to maintaining a
strong enforcement orientation?
Clearly our enforcement program and
regulations should form a very strong floor
for everybody — indicating what, at a
minimum, EPA expects. Our voluntary
programs should seek to move people
beyond that. I think it’s clear that volun-
tary partnerships help industry move
forward in a more flexible and more
creative manner. From our perspective, we
need to coordinate our voluntary programs
better — we still tend to focus on one
problem at a time. If we play our voluntary
programs well, they could end up being
“laboratories” for us in the sense of develop-
ing new approaches and innovative ways of
accomplishing environmental protection.
What are your legislativ, priorities? In
your view, how could Congress best
further th. goals of pollution prevention
and environmental protection?
EPA cabinet status is of ver high priority,
although it is stalled at present. My
priorities on the legislative agenda are
food and pesticide safety reforms — the
reform of FFDCA [ the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act] and FIFRA [ the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act]. I consider FIFRA, like TSCA. to be
one of the primary pollution prevention
tools that the Agency has at its disposal.
The decision whether or not to register a
pesticide, reregistration decisions, and
new chemicals — these are the times at
which the Agency has the most capability
of preventing adverse consequences from
Dr. Ly.. Gold....
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5 Ikllution Prewntion News
June-July 1994
chemicals. Once there’s been approval.
once the factories have been built and
production is underway, then you have a
tremendous risk-benefit balancing act to
do before any action is taken.
In FIFRA. we’re trying to clean up the
administrative procedures and respond to
some problems in the pesticide registra-
tion system. Now, each pesticide applica-
tion receives the same amount of atten-
tion, regardless of the risks it is likely to
pose. We are proposing that lower risk
pesticides receive a quicker review and
more years of exclusive use of the data to
provide a real economic incentive to the
indust rv to produce safer pesticides.
We’ve also proposed a sunsetting
provision for pesticide registrations,
which is so important because science
changes so frequently. Risk assessment is
an iterative process. The science moves,
risk assessment and policies move,
testing guidances are going to change —
we cannot look at a pesticide registration
as being “in perpetuity.”
How is risk assessment connected to
pollution prevention, in your view?
For some people in Congress, an ethic has
developed that the use of risk assessment
as a tool is the only way to manage risks.
You take’ one problem at a time, do a risk
assessment, then a cost-benefit analysis,
and then you act. The pollution preven-
tion approach is different. It says: if
industry works more efficiently, they save
money and prevent pollution, and prevent
exposures and risks at the same time.
This approach is not driven by risk
assessment, and you don’t have to argue
about whether the researchers used the
right model for the risk assessment. It’s a
win-win situation.
whether for immunizations or regular
examinations or lead screening. Prevent-
ing pollution is so important for children,
because they are often more exposed than
adults and more susceptible to environ-
mental pollutants, and because children
are going to inherit the earth and deserve
an environment that can sustain them.
Children disproportionately live in poverty
compared to adults, and live in communi-
ties where they are more likely to be
exposed to environmental pollution. For
this reason, environmental just ice issues
are also closely linked both to children’s
issues and to prevention.
Going back to the question on risk
assessment, it’s not necessary to have
every piece of information before making a
reasonable judgment to
protect children’s health.
Let me close with an
example that underscores
the importance of informa-
tion for prevention. The
Food and Drug Adminis-
tration found that a
number of epidemiological
studies indicated a pos-
sible association between
children taking aspirin
during viral illnesses (flu, chicken pox)
and developing Reyes syndrome. The
studies certainly didn’t prove cause and
effect and there were no animal studies to
corroborate it. So there was a lot of
skepticism, particularly from the pharma-
ceutical industry, and it took the Fl)A
about five years to require a label Ofl
aspirin bottles warning parents not to give
aspirin to young children especially if they
had influenza or chicken pox. The amazing
thing was that as soon as that label went
on, the Centers for Disease Control began
receiving fewer and fewer reports each
year of cases with Reye’s syndrome. When
I was a pediatric resident, I saw children
who had Reye’s syndrome who were in
intensive care and nearly died. And now,
just that label on the aspirin bottle has
made the disease almost disappear.
uFor some people in
Congress, an ethic has
developed that the use of
risk assessment as a tool
is the only way to manage
risks. The pollution
prevention approach is
different. It’s a win win
situation.”
From your background in children’s health
and environmental protection, how do you
see pollution prevention relating to
children’s issues?
In thinking about the health of children,
prevention is the primary approach —
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6 1k llution Prevention News
June - July 1994
TRANSPORTATION
RESOURCES
Implementing Effective
Demand Management
Measures: Inventory of
Measures and Synthesis of
Experience, (DOT-T-94-2,
September 1993), U.s.
Department of Transporta-
tion. Available from: Tech-
nology Sharing Program,
U.S. DOT, Washington, DC
20590.
Curbing Gridlock: Peak-
Period Fees to Relieve
Traffic Congestion, Special
Report 242 from the Trans-
portation Research Board,
examines methods of
mitigating congestion
problems. Available from:
National Research Council,
Office of News and Public
Information, 2101 Constitu-
tion Avenue, NW, Washing-
ton, DC 20418, Tel: 202-334-
32 14. (Vol. 1: $20, Vol. 2:
$40, Both: $50).
ISTEA AND (MA
REINVIGORATE TRAFFIC
DEMAND MANAGEMENT
I ncreasing concerns over air quality
and traffic congestion have led to a
wide-ranging search for alternatives to
current transportation patterns. The
Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA and the
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990
(CAAA) both have created renewed
interest in Transportation Demand
Management (TDM). States must assure
conformity between their transportation
planning under ISTEA and their air
quality plans under CAAA. The link
between transportation and air quality is
made even stronger by the requirement in
CAAA that regions with the worst air
quality commit to a 15 percent reduction
in urban smog by 1996. Plans for achiev-
ing those reductions must be filed by
November 15, 1994, and a failure to
comply could result in the withholding of
federal highway funding. TDM options
receiving attention include the use of high
occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, cashing-
out parking, and congestion pricing.
HOV traffic lanes are restricted to
vehicles carrying a minimum number of
passengers, such as HOV-3 (three passen-
gers). HOV lanes have been tried, but with
limited success; the percentage of commut-
ers sharing rides fell from 20 percent in
1980 to 13 percent in 1990. However, a
recent study of California commuters
suggests that public acceptance of HOV
lanes may have increased enough to make
them viable options for reducing the
number of vehicles on the road. The survey,
completed by researchers at the University
of California, Davis, indicated that HOV
lane conversion was preferred over other
TDM alternatives, such as congestion
pricing, monthly parking fee, and a higher
gas tax. The researchers believe that
increasing public concerns over air quality
and traffic congestion contributed to the
shift in attitudes.
Under a cash-out parking program, an
employer who pays for employee parking
also must offer the option of an equivalent
cash payment or transit pass. This elimi-
nates the current subsidy for employees
who drive to work. Under a cash-out
program, employees who do not drive are
not disadvantaged. Further, those who do
drive have an incentive to choose an
alternative means of commuting and
recognize a financial benefit.
As part of the Global Climate Change
Plan, the Administration has introduced a
cash-out parking proposal to modify the
tax code under which employer-provided
parking is currently tax-free, up to a value
of S155 per month. Under the proposal, if
the employer did not offer a cash or transit
option, then the parking provided to
employees would be taxable in its entirety.
Congestion pricing seeks to alleviate
traffic congestion by imposing user fees on
road use to encourage carpooling, alterna-
tive means of transportation, or alternative
hours of driving. Typically tolls are im-
posed, or increased, during periods of peak
demand during the day, usually commuting
hours. Automated vehicle identification
techniques could make toll collection
possible without motorists stopping.
Interest in congestion pricing has been
limited although several areas in California
are experimenting with the possibility.
If congestion pricing were combined with
a cash-out program, employees would
receive toll vouchers that could be converted
to cash. Employees then could carpool and
save money, or find alternative means of
transportation and keep the money.
A new study by the Transportation
Research Board finds that peak-period fees
averaging 10-15 cents per mile (or $2-3 per
daily round trip) would reduce total peak-
period travel by 10-15 percent, and cut
average commute times by about 20 percent.
According to a Department of Transporta-
tion survey of TDM practices, effective TDM
employer programs usually employ multiple
measures, offering time or financial advan-
tages to commuters who do not drive alone.
Parking price and availability are critical to
the decision on how to travel.
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7 Pbllution Prevention News
June-July 1994
TRANSPORTATION, CONT’D.
CHATTANOOGA CHOO
CHOOSES ELECTRIC BUSES
T he Chattanooga Choo Choo may not
be the most famous transportation in
Tennessee much longer. The City of
Chattanooga has begun using state-of-the-
art electric buses as part of its downtown
shuttle fleet. The Chattanooga Area
Regional Transit Authority (CARTA)
currently has eight electric buses in
service, with nine more on order. The first
two buses were manufactured by Specialty
Vehicle Manufacturers (SVM), a California
company. The rest are being manufactured
by Advanced Vehicle Systems, a company
set up in Chattanooga as a joint venture
with SVM.
In addition to a decrease in pollution,
the electric buses save on operating costs.
Although the initial cost is 10 to 15
percent more than comparable diesel
buses, the electric buses cost only about
five cents per mile to run compared with
18.5 cents for diesels. In addition, long
term maintenance for the new buses is
expected to be half that for the diesels.
The buses are popular with passengers
because they have low floors which make
making entering and exiting easier. They
are quieter and smoother, and they
operate more cleanly than the buses they
replaced. Drivers like the new buses
because they are easy to handle and can
accelerate faster than diesel vehicles.
CARTA is committed to the new tech-
nology and has earmarked $20 million for
the construction of three parking facilities
and other infrastructure to support the
use of the downtown shuttle fleet. In
addition, CARTA has set up the non-profit
Electric Vehicle Technology Institute in
Chattanooga to help design and create
better vehicles.
“We have created a living laboratory,”
said (‘ARTA chairman Rick Hitchcock.
Rather than simply use the vehicles that
are available, CARTA is involved in
designing the vehicles it needs, and
modifies the specifications based on its
experience. Hitchcock said that CARTA is
currently testing an advanced battery
system, two types of AC motors, and two
types of controller systems for the buses.
CARTA belongs to the Southern Coali-
tion for Advanced Transportation (SCAT),
a coalition of over 40 manufacturers,
utilities, governments, and universities
committed to electric transportation.
SCAT coordinates research activities and
promotes the use of electric vehicles
through public demonstrations. In order to
help build public support for electric
vehicles, SCAT recently established the
Electric Vehicle Research Center in
SCITREK, a science and technology
museum located in Atlanta.
Hitchcock believes that as new develop-
ments in batteries, motors, and charging
systems are put into use, “electric buses will
be able to do everything a diesel bus can do,
and do it better, cheaper and cleaner.”
CAITA’. fl..t of .1.drk v.hkl.s I.d.4.
a 31 •foo$ h.s ..d. 224..t abetif..
MR. PAUL’S POLLUTION
PREVENTION IDEA
In response to tough new
federal air quality require-
ments, New Jersey plans to
require employers of over
100 people to cut back on
solo workplace commuting
by 25”?, presumably through
increased carpooling. At a
cost of $350 million annually,
the plan would reduce air
emissions by 3 percent.
Stephen Paul, a physicist
at the Princeton Plasma
Physics Laboratory (PPPL)
has another idea for New
Jersey. He proposes CNG
retrofits for the heaviest
polluting cars on the road.
CNG (compressed natural
gas) burns cleaner and
pollutes less. Paul estimates
that his plan could reduce
New Jersey’s mobile emis-
sions by 11 percent.
Key to the success of the
program is converting
vehicles that are heavy
polluters but in good condi-
tion. Paul has proposed a
pilot demonstration program
to state regulators. For more
details he can be reached at
609-243-37M 1.
Etf _____
SHUTTLE p
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8 Fbllution Prevention News
June - July 1994
EPA NEWS
ACCOUNTING
Stake holders’ Action
Agenda:A Report of the
Workshop on Accounting
and Capital Budgeting for
Environ,nental Costs (EPA
742-R-94-003) and Project
Updates on the Management
Accounting and Capital
Budgeting for Environmen-
tal Costs Project are avail-
able through the Pollution
Prevention Information
Clearinghouse, 202-260-1023.
NICE 3
Two-page proposals from
state agencies are being
accepted until Oct. 15, 1994.
The FY 1995 solicitation is
expected to be available on
Nov. 1, 1994.
ACCOUNTING PROJECT
RELEASES ACTION AGENDA
E PA has released an Action Agenda to
promote full cost environmental
accounting by business. The agenda
identifies concrete steps the business
community, accounting and other profes-
sional societies, academia, and govern-
ments need to take to promote full cost
accounting.
As long as businesses treat environ-
mental costs as overhead and thereby
succeed in hiding them from management
decision-making, businesses will not see
the financial advantages of preventive
technologies and practices. Better ac-
counting practices will help businesses
identify and allocate direct and indirect
environmental costs, including potential
future liabilities, to the products and
processes responsible for them.
A prospective rather than retrospective
tool, full cost accounting helps integrate
environmental cost information into
decisions on product design, costing and
pricing, capital budgeting, performance
evaluation, and managers’ compensation,
among others. Seen as a way to link
environmental protection and economic
development, the Agenda is a product of
several focus group meetings and an
experts workshop co-sponsored by the
Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce, the Institute of Management
Accountants, American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants, AACE
International, (Association for Total Cost
Management), and EPA’s Design for the
Environment Program.
The Action Agenda recommends action
on four fronts: (1) further clarifying terms,
concepts, and the roles of key stakehold-
ers; (2) creating and sustaining internal
and external management incentives; (3)
promoting education and outreach and
developing and distributing guidance; and
(4) developing and disseminating tools,
methods, and management systems.
For more information on the project,
contact Dr. Martin Spitzer, 202-260-4342.
Conthw.d from peg. 1
Altex Technologies Corp.,
Weyerhauser Corp., and J.C. Steele,
Inc. of Georgia, $408,033, to utilize the
Advanced Mineral Calciner to recover lime
from spent lime waste generated by the
pulp and paper industry. The recovered
lime can be reused by the pulp and paper
industry or secondary markets such as
sugar refining, and soda production.
Erving Paper Mills, Inc. of Massa-
chusetts, $425,000, to modernize the
tissue paper manufacturing process to
increase the efficiency of paper recycling
while eliminating chlorine bleach.
Westinghouse Electric Corp. of
Maryland, $399,398, to develop a solid-
state radio frequency power source to
make highly efficient lighting work on a
demonstration scale.
Brush Wellman, Inc. of Ohio,
$425,000, to replace solvent vapor
degreasing and a wash tank process to
clean beryllium alloyed materials using
CO 2 under very high pressures and
temperatures as the cleaning solvent.
Pegasus Technologies Corp. of Ohio,
$100,000, to adapt an existing off-line
neural (computer) network control unit to
optimize combustion control settings to
minimize NOx, SOx and CO 2 emissions and
improve power plant thermal efficiency.
Techmetals, Inc. of Ohio, $316,500, to
demonstrate the application of an engi-
neered insulating layer to the inside of
injection molds for plastics. This proposed
technology improves the surface appear-
ance directly from the mold and reduces
the number of processing steps.
Osmotek, Inc. of Oregon, $395,194, to
remove water from tomato puree by direct
osmosis concentration. This new process
will replace the common industry practice
of using evaporators powered by natural
gas or diesel fuel.
To find out more about NICE grants,
contact your state energy office or the
Department of Energy’s Golden Field
Office at 303-275-4728.
NICE 3 AWARDS $3.4M
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9 Pollution Prevention News
June - July 1994
CASE STUDY
DELUXE’S PRINTWISE TM
ELIMINATES VOCS FROM
LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING
PROCESS
O ne of the nation’s largest printers,
the St. Paul-based Deluxe Corpora-
tion, has developed a new printing
system that includes a water-washable
lithographic ink and a press cleaning
solution that is free of volatile organic
compounds (VOC5). Deluxe began using
the new printing system, called Printwise,
late last year in its more than 50 printing
plants and has already reduced its VOC
emissions by more than 50 percent. Deluxe
also recently began marketing the
Printwise system to other printers.
Key to the Printwise system is that it
eliminates petroleum-based solvents and
their related VOCs from the lithographic
printing process. These solvents — gener-
ally consisting of 100 percent VOCs —
have traditionally been used to clean ink
from press components. The resulting
“press washes” are considered by EPA as a
significant source of VOC emissions. EPA’s
proposed Control Technique Guidelines
call for press washes with VOC levels
below 30 percent by weight. Deluxe
believes its Printwise system is an effec-
tive response to the emission challenges
facing the industry.
The Printwise ink is 100 percent
vegetable oil-based and matches or
exceeds conventional inks in press and
printing performance. Most important, the
ink includes a solubility conversion
mechanism that enables it to be cleaned
with a simple, VOC-free water solution.
Breakthrough in Development
Deluxe’s breakthrough resulted when
corporate scientist Tom Pennaz began
regarding lithography as a system in
which ink and solvents act as interdepen-
dent, not independent, elements. Pennaz
next developed a solubility conversion
mechanism that he incorporated into
traditional ink formulations. Acting as a
“key,” the solubility mechanism
locks the oil-based Deluxe ink
during printing but can be
unlocked and converted to a
water-soluble state during
cleanup. As a result, although the Deluxe
ink remains truly lithographic, it requires
a water-based, VOC-free solution for
cleanup.
Other benefits of the system are that it
uses existing printing technology and
requires minor procedural adjustments. In
addition to cutting VOC emissions, other
benefits of the Printwise system include
eliminating hazardous air pollutants, fire
__________________________ hazards, and
storage at
printing
plants
related to the
use of
solvents.
Because the
solubility
conversion
mechanism
can be
reversed, ink
can be
by filtration.
waste water
“Remarkably, our
scientific team found a
way to dissolve high
performance vegetable
oil based ink with a
simple water solution.
Now water and oil
do mix.”
— Tom Rif kin,
Director of
Communications
Deluxe Corporation,
Ink Division
removed from waste water
Deluxe is developing these
treatment methods.
“The key points are that Printwise will
enable printers to comply easily with
tougher environmental regulations
without compromising press performance,”
stresses Mike Hangge, vice president of
Deluxe’s ink division. will also allow
print buyers to make a strong environmen-
tal statement without sacrificing print
quality. We believe consumers will begin to
look for the Printwise logo as a sign of
environmentally responsible printing.”
Deluxe will begin marketing inks for
commercial sheetfed, business forms, and
non-heatset web applications.
For more information, contact Tom
Rifkin, Deluxe Corporation, 612-483-7500.
DESIGN FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT
EPA’s Design for the Envi-
ronment Printing Project is
currently evaluating the
risk, cost, and performance
of lithographic blanket
washes. Alternative blanket
wash systems, such as the
PrintwiseTNl system devel-
oped by Deluxe Corporation,
provide printers with an
opportunity to reduce risk
and prevent pollution in the
workplace. Beginning this
summer, DfE will be demon-
strating the performance
effectiveness of alternative
blanket washes at volunteer
printing facilities across the
country. A Cleaner Technolo-
gies Substitutes Assessment
for Lithographic Blanket
Washes will be available in
late 1994, with subsequent
information on products
geared towards printers to
follow in early 1995.
(Contact: Stephanie
Bergman, 202-260-1828.
Prmtwise’
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10 F 1 bllution Prevention News
June - July 1994
GREENING THE WHITE HOUSE
A nnounced in April 1993 as part of
President Clinton’s Earth Day
Address, and a year in the plan-
ning, the Greening of the White House is
well underway with some 50 actions
already completed to make the nation’s
most symbolic home a showcase of
environmental design. Many more actions
will be undertaken in the next phases of
the project.
Over the past year, an Interagency Task
Group, with the advice of 18 energy and
environmental organizations, conducted
feasibility studies and developed recom-
mendations. An energy audit was per-
formed by a Department of Energy team
with support from the National Laborato-
ries. An environmental audit led by EPA
focused on environmental compliance,
I WATER
CONSERVATION
The White House,
like the rest of the
country, can save
money and pre-
cious water
resources by
practicing good
water manage-
ment. Water conservation devices are
being installed in restrooms, kitchens, and
other areas. For landscaping water uses,
the strategy is to adjust or replace sprin-
kler heads, install moisture sensors to
measure and evaluate water use, and
continue watering in the early morning
hours as much as possible. Over the long
term, the strategy is to have cascading”
uses for water, i.e., multiple uses for each
gallon of water, such as using old drinking
water as lawn water.
oJ
pollution prevention, solid waste, and
management systems. A third multi-
disciplinary volunteer team of 100 experts
in architecture, design and engineering,
building operations, and environmental
concerns was assembled by the American
Institute of Architects with support from
the National Wildlife Federation’s Corpo-
rate Conservation Council.
The Greening the White House is
preparing an extensive outreach and
education component, including video
materials, to highlight steps that all
homeowners and business people can take
in their homes and offices. Below are a few
of the steps being taken in the
comprehensive plan to green the
White House.
PEST
MANAGEMENT
The White House
complex is estab-
lishing a ground
maintenance plan
to reduce outdoor
pesticide and
fertilizer use, adjust mowing practices,
improve irrigation, and reduce runoff.
Native plants will be used more extensively
on the grounds and in floral displays.
Integrated Pest Management Plans will be
implemented to reduce the amount and
toxicity of pesticides used; grass cutting
blades will be adjusted to optimal height
and mulching mowers will continue to be
used to self-nourish the lawn.
“1 want to make the
White House a model for
other federal agencies,
for state and local gov-
ernments, for business,
and for families in their
homes.”
—Pr.sid.nt Clinton
April 21, 1993
M d-d.y w.t.d.1 Is
oa hi way out.
A no smoking policy is in effect in the
Residence. East and %S ’st Wings. and
the Old Executite Office Building.
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11 Fbllution Pre ntion News
June - July 1994
GREENING THE WHITE HOUSE, CONT’D.
ELIMINATING CFCs
Renovating HVAC (heating,
ventilating, and air-condition-
ing) systems is a good target
because these systems are big
energy users and the refriger-
ants typically used are a
source of ozone-depleting
CFCs. Plans for renovating
the HVAC system in the
Executive Residence have
been approved; the three-year
project will eliminate CFCs,
centralize cooling operations,
install small efficient chillers
for part-load requirements in the spring
and fall, and replace electric reheat
functions with hot water coils. A more
comprehensive HVAC system upgrade will
require Congressional authorization and
may take seven years to complete.
REFRIGERATION
White House
refrigerators have
been replaced with
“Golden Carrot”
refrigerators.
“Golden Carrot”
refers to the design
competition that
recently resulted
in the commercial
production of
super-efficient
refrigerators that are designed to use 25-
50% of the energy used by existing models.
No CFCs are used in the refrigeration
cycle or foam insulation.
Consolidation of the White House and
OEOB painting facilities will allow for safer
and more efficient operations. Other
initiatives: using latex pain that do not
contain (or emit) volatile organic
compounds, and the reuse of cleaning
solvents in a closed loop to prevent
volatilization, spillage, or discharge.
o’
A INSULATION
Before: Windows in the Old Executive
Office Building were scheduled to be
replaced with single-paned windows.
After: The Greening project changed the
specifications to double glazings in order to
increase the thermal performance of the
building.
ENERGY
EFFICIENT
LIGHTING
Energy efficient
lighting is an
obvious choice
for greening the
White House. From table lamps to fluores-
cent office lighting, the White House is
upgrading fixtures and bulbs to the most
energy-efficient designs, yielding from 20
to 75 percent energy savings per action.
Because they reduce electricity bills, these
upgrades pay for themselves in six
months.
For more information
on the Greening the
White House project,
contact: Green
Development Services,
Rocky Mountain
Institute, 303-927-3851
THE WHITE HOUSE
IN ACTION:
Complex consists of East and
West Wings, Executive
Residence, Old Executive Office
Building
One half million square feet of
office space
‘ Office and home of the
President and his family; office
of the Vice President
1.2 million visitors annually to
museum spaces, public tours
Three restaurants (two fast
food, one four-star)
Ceremonial spaces, special
events rooms, theater
18-acre botanic garden, tennis
courts, swimming pool, running
track
Maintenance facilities,
laundries, paint shop
Four agencies manage opera-
tions: the General Services
Administration, National Park
Service, Office of Administra-
tion, Executive Residence staff.
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12 Pollution Prevention News
June-July 1994
CAIENDAR
TITLE
32nd Annual Solid Waste
Exposition
Pollution Prevention Training
Workshops
Third Annual Air Force Worldwide
Pollution Prevention Conference
and Exhibition
Emerging Clean Air Technologies
and Business Opportunities
Sustainable Transportation
Symposium
Turf, Ornamental, and Structural
Integrated Pest Management
1994 Rhode Island P2
Conference and Expo
Changing the Course
of Production
1994 Poultry Waste Symposium
SPONSOR
Solid Waste Assn.
of North America
Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission
Air Force Center for
Environmental Excellence
EPA, SEDESOL,
Environment Canada
International Pedestrian Conference GO Boulder
Northeast Sustainable
Energy Association
EPA Region 1
Narragansett Bay Comm. and
Rhode Island Dep't of Env. Mgmt.
P2 Consortium of New England
Universities / EPA / DOE
USDA Cooperative Extension
System
DATE/LOCATION
August 1-4, 1994
San Antonio, TX
CONTACT
301-585-2898
Aug. 4 - Corpus Christi, TX 512-475-2218
Sept. 21 -Dallas, TX
Oct.5-6 - S. Padre Is!., TX
Nov. 15 - Houston, TX
Aug. 29 - Sept. 1. 1994
San Antonio, TX
Sept. 26 - 30, 1994
Toronto, Canada
Sept. 26-28, 1994
Boulder, CO
Oct. 3-5, 1994
Boston, MA
October 13, 1994
Marlborough MA
Oct. 19-20, 1994
Providence, RI
October 22-23, 1994
Cambridge, MA
Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 1994
Athens, GA
703-247-2580
819-953-8717
303-441-4260
413-774-6051
Allan Christensen
617-565-4968
617-565-4939 (fax)
401-277-6680
617-367-8558
617-367-0449 (fax)
Richard Reynells
202-720-4087
202-720-7714 (fax)
Moving? Please enclose mailing label.'
United States Environmental
Protection Agency (MC7409)
Washington, DC 20460
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