Programs, Tools & Resources
to Assist Local Governments
Implementing Your Climate Action Plans
FEBRUARY 2008
EPA 909-K-08-001
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U.S. mayors, city staff and local organizations are taking the lead to address climate
change at the local community level. Cities are signing agreements, setting targets,
and writing climate action plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency has the tools, resources and programs your city needs
to implement those action plans.
First, look to EPA for partnership opportunities.
The first section of this directory lists general resources and a number of grant funding
opportunities for your city to consider. The second section lists EPA programs, tools
and resources that address a number of programs that your city may be considering,
such as green building, environmental preferential purchasing, and bio-diesel.
Next, consider using the Environmental Management System (EMS) continuous
improvement approach to get the job done.
An EMS is superior for implementation of policies and programs that cross departmental
lines and require coordination among several participants. An EAAS will ensure that your
climate action plans get implemented. This management approach assures effective
and efficient implementation of your city's green house gas emissions reduction
strategies. See Chapter II, Programs for Local Governments.
Please consider our agency and the numerous EPA programs that provide grants,
give recognition, and assist local governments.
Our programs are multifaceted and can be selected and combined in any way that
works within your city's plans.
For example, if you are considering energy efficient buildings, please consider our
programs for green buildings, greenscapes, cool roofs, geothermal, the Energy Star
partnership, and more!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
EPA has many resources, tools and funding to support programs that encourage
environmental stewardship through collaboration at the community level. These programs
can assist you in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in your city. Consider each of these
as you write your community-wide Climate Action Plans.
I. Grants and Funding page 3
II. Programs for Local Governments
Implementing Climate Action Plans page 4
(alphabetical listing)
III. Other EPA Resources page 11
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I. Grants and Funding
A Directory of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Environmental
Protection Assistance Programs
Community Action fora Renewed Environment (CARE): competitive grant program
that offers an innovative way for a community to organize and take action to reduce
toxic pollution in its local environment. Through CARE, a community creates a
partnership that implements solutions to reduce releases of toxic pollutants and
minimize people's exposure to them. By providing financial and technical assistance,
EPA helps CARE communities get on the path to a renewed environment.
www.epa.gov/CARE/
NCER, Financial Assistance Programs to Support Collaborative Community and
Regional Environmental Protection: Five grant programs focused on sustainability,
toxics reduction, environmental health, environmental justice, and tribal science, that
emphasize science and community-based collaboration.
http://es.epa.gov/ncer/cns/programs.html
Innovative Approaches: Communities Get Smart Growth Assistance: Communities in
six states will receive $45,000 for customized technical assistance to help them put the
principles of more efficient, affordable, and environmentally sensitive growth into action.
www.epa.gov/innovation/
Funding Sources for Communities: a list of ongoing grant programs that are
available to a variety of recipients (primarily state and local governments, and
nonprofits) within Region 9 (California, Arizona, Hawaii and Nevada).
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Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF): programs provided more than $5 billion
annually in recent years to fund water quality protection projects for wast ewater
treatment, nonpoint source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management.
www.epa.gov/owmitnet/cwfinance/cwsrf/
Additional funding resources: The preceding page is not a complete listing of all
EPA grant programs. EPA's Headquarters and other regional and field offices have
other grant programs that may occur just once, but these grants are not listed here. For
these, check the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance:
www.epa.gov/ogd/grants/cfda.htm
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II. Programs for Local Government
This alphabetical list of programs can assist you in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
(GHG) in your city. Consider incorporating some of these into your city's Climate Action
Plans.
Agriculture
If your city has an agricultural economy, consider reducing your community-wide
greenhouse emissions at confined animal feedlot operations by promoting the use of
biogas recovery systems.
Best Workplaces for Commuters
This program will help communities increase participation in commuting options, reduce
congestion and air pollution, and highlight employers that promote alternatives to
driving alone.
Carbon Sequestering
Agricultural and forestry practices can remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the
atmosphere. The term "sinks" is also used to describe agricultural and forestry lands
that absorb CO2.
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Clean Construction
An innovative program designed to help reduce diesel emissions from construction
equipment and vehicles. www1e|)a.goWcle^^
Clean Ports USA
If yours is a port city, consider reducing your community-wide greenhouse gas
emissions through this program. www.ega^o^gjag/retrofjt/ggjjsjTtm
Clean School Bus USA
Provide the children in your city with the cleanest possible transportation by eliminating
unnecessary school bus idling, retrofitting 1991 and later school buses with advanced
emission control technology; and replacing the oldest school buses (1990 and earlier)
with new ones.
Clean Up/ Clean Air
To encourage, facilitate, and support diesel emissions and greenhouse gas reductions
technologies and practices at cleanup and redevelopment sites within your city.
Climate Leaders
Encourage the companies in your city to consider Climate Leaders: a voluntary program
to encourage companies to set greenhouse gas emissions goals.
www.epa.gov/climateleaders
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Combined Heat and Power
Join Honolulu, Chicago and Palo Alto-cities with a Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
operation, also known as cogeneration. An efficient and reliable approach to generating
power and thermal energy from a single fuel source:. www,e,B.i,,flQv/ch|)
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Commuter Choice
Sign a voluntary agreement and offer your city employees some traffic-reducing
commuter benefits.
Conservation Pricing
Consider the potential for water pricing strategies to be used to both stimulate
conservation and raise revenue to meet clean water needs.
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Cool Pavement
Consider reducing your community-wide greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.
Pavement can affect urban heat islands and air quality. Communities can choose
paving materials that lower surface temperature and achieve related objectives:
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Cool Roofs
Cool roofs do more than save your city money - they reduce the demand for electric
power and resulting air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
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Diesel Retrofit
To improve the emissions performance of existing diesel vehicles and equipment by
encouraging the use of newer technology on their engines:
Energy Star
Maximize energy efficiency in your own buildings and promote it for other commercial,
industrial, and residential settings. Check out the city-to-city challenge, and support the
Change a Light, Change the World Campaign with the government pledge and tool kit.
www.energystar.goy/
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Environmental Management Systems
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of processes and practices that
enable your city to increase its operating efficiency, ensuring implementation of your
climate action plans.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP)
Consider passing an EPP policy for your city and its contractors. Purchase products or
services that have a lesser effect on human health and the environment when
compared with competing products or services, www.epa.gov/epp/
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EPEAT
(Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool)
This on-line feature can help your city identify and buy desktop and laptop computers
and monitors that have fewer toxics, save energy, last longer & are easier to recycle!
www.epeat.net
e-Waste; Plug Into Recycling
Increase the number of convenient and low cost opportunities for citizens to recycle
their old electronics and increase awareness and desire to recycle these products.
www.plugintorecYcling.org
Facilities Partnerships
Consider these programs for facility partnership opportunities with the EPA.
www.epa.gov/ebtpages/envipartnerships.html
www.epa.gov/performancetrackwww.epa.gov/partners/programs/index.htm
Geothermal
Consider ground source heating and cooling which can be done anywhere in the US.
The heat pump transfers heat stored in the Earth or in ground water into a building
during the winter, and transferring it out of the building and back into the ground during
the summer.
http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/energy/re geothermal.html
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/tenorm/geothermal.htm
Great American Woodstove Changeout Program
Facilitate the change out of old, dirty, inefficient "conventional" woodstoves
manufactured before 1988 to new, cleaner burning gas, pellet and EPA-certified stoves.
Reduce air toxics, improves energy efficiency and reduces fire hazards.
www.epa.gov/woodstoves/chanQeout.htm
Green Building, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Design,
construction, operation, maintenance, and removal of buildings takes enormous
amounts of energy, water, and materials, and generates large quantities of waste, but it
doesn't have to: wyvwepa^goy/greenbuilding/,
Green Communities
This site includes a five-step planning process that provides tools and goals to help
neighborhoods and municipalities move towards a more sustainable future, as well as
helpful links to sustainlane and greenplaybook.
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Green Fleets
Use this guide when considering purchase of new city vehicles. Updated annually, you
can get both fuel economy and emissions for all new vehicles.
Green Infrastucture
Consider green infrastructure techniques that utilize natural systems, or engineered
systems that mimic natural landscapes, to capture, cleanse and reduce stormwater
runoff using plants, soils and microbes.
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Green Power Partnership
Consider a city pledge to replace a portion of its electricity consumption with green
power within a year of joining the partnership. EPA offers market information, and
recognition and promotion of city purchasers.
Green Roofs
An alternative to traditional roofing materials is a rooftop garden, or "green roof." On hot
summer days, the surface temperature of a vegetated rooftop can be cooler than the air
temperature, whereas the surface of a traditional rooftop can be up to 90°F (50°C)
warmer.
Green Suppliers Network
The Green Suppliers Network is a collaboration among industry and government that
focuses on offering small and medium-sized manufacturers the best available technical
assistance on Lean and Clean manufacturing techniques.
Green Hospitals
The resources on this web site were specifically developed for hospitals. Useful to
communities, hospitals, and their employees, as they try to reduce their environmental
footprint.
Green Meetings
Take key steps in planning and conducting an environmentally aware event, and
require the same of your contractors and the large event planners in your city.
Greenscapes
Influence the reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste materials in large-scale
landscaping by providing cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly solutions that
conserve natural resources and energy. www.ega.goWgreenscages/
Heat Island Reduction Initiative
Urban and suburban temperatures are 2 to 10°F hotter than nearby rural areas,
impacting communities by increasing peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air
pollution levels, and heat-related illness and mortality. Communities can
take common sense measures to reduce the negative effects of heat islands.
www.epa.goy/hjrj/
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Labs 21
If your city has laboratories, consider reducing your community wide greenhouse gas
emissions by promoting the Labs 21 program. Laboratories require tens of millions of
dollars worth of energy to run. EPA and DOE are helping new and retrofitted
laboratories cut their energy costs. www.labs21 centurv.gov/
Land Use
Encourages environmentally beneficial land use measures in a State Implementation
Plan (SIP) or conformity determination. Ongoing research on the interaction between
land use and vehicular emissions in different urban designs.
www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/rellinks/docs/fOOQ47.pdf
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Landfill Methane Outreach Program
Consider the use of landfill gas as a renewable, green energy source. Preventing
emissions of methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) through the development of landfill
gas energy projects, helps communities build a sustainable future.
www.eBa.gQy/irnQB
Lawns and the Environment
Develops consensus-based guidelines for responsible lawn and landscaping practices,
and educates and encourages the public to adopt them.
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Municipal Solid Waste Facilities
Information on landfills as well as facts on source reduction, which prevent the
generation of waste in the first place
P3: People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition
This competition focuses on benefiting people, promoting prosperity, and protecting the
planet through innovative designs to address challenges to sustainability.
Pay As You Throw (PYT)
Communities with PYT programs create a direct economic incentive to recycle more
and to generate less waste.
Performance Track
Encourage your city (or the companies in your city) to implement an Environmental
Management System, to make commitments to reduce greenhouse gases and to get
national recognition under EPA Performance Track Program. Cities can also receive
recognition through this innovative program.
PFC Reduction Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry
Encourage the semiconductor companies in your city to consider EPA's
Perfluorocarbon (PFC) Reduction/Climate Partnership to reduce high global warming
potential greenhouse gas emissions.
www.epa.gov/semiconductor-pfc/
Public Involvement
EPA has a number of resources to engage your community in ways friends, family and
the general public can assist in reducing GHG emissions and protect the environment.
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Recycle on The Go
EPA is partnering with government agencies and businesses to introduce recycling
programs in places where large numbers of people gather, such as parks, stadiums,
airports, convention centers, and special events. wvjw^pa.goy/recy^[e^nthego
SF6 Reduction for Electric Power Systems
Encourage the electric power industry companies to identify and implement cost-
effective solutions to reduce sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions- a highly potent
greenhouse gas. www.epa.gov/magnesium-sre/
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Smart Growth
Through research, tools, partnerships, case studies, grants, and technical assistance,
EPA is helping America's communities turn their visions of the future into reality.
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Smartway Partnership Program
Encourage the choice of trucking and/or rail companies that are environmental leaders
in their respective industry. wwwjsgaxjoWsj^^
SunWise Schools
Encourage your school district to adopt an environmental and health education program
to teach children and their caregivers how to protect themselves from overexposure to
the sun. You'll find lots of information including a zip code-searchable UV Index.
www.epa.goy/surjwjse
Superfund/Brownfields Sites and Sustainable Development, Alternative Fuels and
Brightfields
Brightfields encourage economic development on Brownfield sites through solar energy
applications and The Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technology Support Center:
www.epa.gov/Region8/land
www.eere.energY.gov/wip/pdfs/brightfields.pdf
www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/pdf/brightfd.pdf
www.brgwnfieldstsc.org/rgadmap/home.cfm
Transportation
This web page provides information on carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse
gas emissions from transportation and other mobile sources.
The "It all Adds Up to Cleaner Air" program
educates your community about the impact of travel choices on air quality, traffic
congestion, and public health.
Universal Waste
If your city has a collection program for federally designated "universal wastes," which
include batteries, mercu,Q/r^ntMoMg...egyM.O]ent and lamps, EPA can assist
with streamlined hazardous waste management standards.
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Waste Programs for Communities
Waste Prevention, Recycling and Composting Options: Lessons from 30 Communities:
These case studies illustrate: How to Set Up a Local Program to Recycle Used Oil,
Household Hazardous Waste Management: A Manual for One-Day Community
Collection Programs, How to Start or Expand a Recycling Collection Program.
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Pay-As-You-Throw: Throw Away Less and Save: Measuring Recycling: A Guide for
State and Local Governments:
EPA is partnering with government agencies and businesses to introduce recycling
programs in places where large numbers of people gather, such as parks, stadiums,
transportation hubs (for example, airports, bus and train stations, and highway rest
stops), special events, and shopping centers. www.epa.gov/recYcleonthego, or
http://besmart.org/publicplacerecYcling/
Recycling in the 21st Century. Useful tools and examples of successful endeavors
communities have undertaken to bolster their recycling programs.
http://www2.erqweb.com/projects/obd/localQov/
Waste Not / Want Not
By reducing solid waste through food recovery, EPA can work with your city to ensure
good food goes to the dinner table instead of going to waste.
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/reduce/wastenot.htm
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/organics/pubs/food-quide.pdf
Waste Reduction Model (WARM)
WARM was developed to assist solid waste managers in determining the GHG impacts
of their waste management practices. WARM compares GHG and energy impacts of
landfilling, recycling, incineration, composting, and source reduction.
WasteWise Communities
Seeking solutions to climate change with local government action. Promote cost
savings and efficiency with waste prevention, recycling, and purchasing recycled
content products. Cities receive recognition through this innovative program.
www.epa.gov/wastewise
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-w/reduce/wstewise/climate/index.htm
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Wastewater Management
EPA has a range of programs to improve the quality of the nation's waters and
watersheds.
Water Programs
Low Impact Development: www.eBa.gwQw/riBS/iid
Green Infrastructure:
Sustainable Infrastructure:
Local Govt Advisory Committee:
WaterSense, water conservation:
Wastewater tech and financial assistance:
Water Recycling Guidelines & Information:
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Water Use Efficiency Program
Help your community make informed decisions about water use, which can be costly
and extremely energy intensive, which contributes greatly to your city greenhouse gas
emissions.
http://www.enerq vstar.gov/index. cfrn?c=qovemment wastewater drinking water
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West Coast Collaborative
An ambitious partnership between leaders from federal, state, and local government,
the private sector, and environmental groups committed to reducing diesel emissions
along the West Coast. www.westcQastdjeseL.org/
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What You Can Do
Tips for home, school, and office. In addition, EPA and its partners have developed
several tools to help individuals and organizations determine the greenhouse gas
impact of their purchasing, manufacturing, and waste management actions.
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III. Other EPA Resources
Clean Energy Programs are working with state policy makers, electric and gas utilities,
energy customers, and other key stakeholders. By identifying, designing and
implementing clean energy policy and technology solutions, we are delivering important
environmental and economic benefits.
Clean Energy Environment Municipal Network
This is an information-sharing resource that is accessible to all local governments and
other interested parties. It can help municipalities determine whether to formally join
one or more of EPA's partnership programs that support clean energy, and allow a city
to take advantage of the additional resources available to partners in the network.
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Climate Change
The United States government has established a comprehensive policy to address
climate change. In 2002, the United States announced its strategy to reduce the
greenhouse gas intensity of the American economy by 18 percent over the 10-year
period from 2002 to 2012.
Envirofacts
Your city can target potential greenhouse gas reduction partners. Simply type in your
zip code to get information on community-wide environmental activities that affect air,
water, and land. Learn specifics about these environmental activities and generate city
maps. www._ega_jOT/CTyjro/
Environmental Research Programs
EPA's National Center for Environmental Research (NCER) is one of five research
organizations comprising EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). NCER's
mission is to support high-quality extramural research by the nation's leading scientists
to improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help
EPA achieve its goals, www.epa.gov/ncer/
Local Government Advisory Committee
A formal advisory committee composed primarily of elected and appointed local
officials, along with several State representatives, environmental interest groups, and
labor interests, that provides advice and recommendations that assist the EPA in
developing a stronger partnership with local governments.
www.epa.gov/ocir/scas laac/laac index.htm
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National Library Network Program.
EPA has one of the nation's preeminent library networks that provides access to
information about the environment and related scientific, technical, management, and
policy information.
News and Events
Timely social, scientific, and logistic information on global warming and climate change.
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Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Relationships (OCIR) The Office of
Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations (OCIR) serves as EPA's principal point
of contact for Congress, States and local governments.
State and Local Government Clean Energy Program
This program assists state and local governments in their clean energy efforts by
providing technical assistance, analytical tools, and outreach support.
State and Local Climate Change Program to assist in meeting the EPA goal of
reducing greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent by 2012. EPA supports states and
communities by encouraging voluntary approaches and providing technical assistance
and tools.
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State and Local Outreach Kit provides outreach material designed to inform the public
about global warming, with a primary focus on voluntary greenhouse gas reduction
strategies that help states, communities, and individuals save money, improve air
quality, and lower risks to human health.
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Transportation and Air Quality Program protects public health and the environment
by regulating air pollution from motor vehicles, engines, and fuels, by encouraging
travel choices that minimize emissions, www.epa.ggy/otaq/
For questions, comments or additional information contact:
Lynda Deschambault
U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest/Region 9, Sustainability Team
75 Hawthorne WST-2
San Francisco, CA 94105
deschambault.lynda@epa.gov
(415)947-4183
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