EPA Sustainability
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (January 2010) |
EPA | |
Agency overview | |
---|---|
Formed | December 2, 1962 |
Employees | 17,964 (2009) |
Annual budget | $10.5 billion (2010) |
Agency executive | |
Website | www.epa.gov |
Footnotes | |
[1] |
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in July 1970 when the White House and the United States Congress came together due to the public's demand for cleaner natural resources. The purpose of the EPA is to repair the damage done to the environment and to set up new criteria to allow Americans to make a clean environment a reality. The ultimate goal of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment.[2]
Since the 1980s sustainability has become a term used in reference to environmental and human issues. Sustainability is typically defined as, the ability of current generations to meet their own needs without compromising the needs of future generations. This concept has recently been adopted by the EPA as they have dedicated an entire sector solely to sustainability. Environmental, social, and economic demands are the main components that stand behind the concept of sustainability.[3]
As previously mentioned, the EPA has taken the initiative to establish a sector dedicated to promoting and practicing sustainability. This sector has been broken down into four broad categories: Urban Sustainability and the Built Environment; Water and Ecosystem Services; Energy, Biofuels, and Climate Change; and Material Management and Human Health.
Urban sustainability and the built environment
With almost 80% of all US residents inhabiting urban areas and a constant increase in urban growth, the EPA has worked with many types of council to create a sector based solely on urban sustainability and the built environment. Changing how and where urban development takes place can greatly affect habitat protection, water resources, energy consumption, the quality and services provided by an ecosystem, and indoor and outdoor air quality. With recent findings showing more than 40% of energy consumption comes from buildings, the
Policies and programs
The EPA has created over 25 policies and programs to help with urban sustainability, ranging from "Building America" which works with the residential building industry to develop and implement building processes that save builders and homeowners millions; to "Smart Growth and Schools" which gives information on the principals of smart growth to plan educational facilities; to "Watershed" which shows how using a watershed approach can help to protect our water resources. One of the more successful programs the EPA utilizes is the "Green Building" program. Green Building is the practice of building structures and using methods that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. Many aspects go into
Research, tools and technology
The sustainability sector of the EPA has helped with research, tools and technology of the built environment in many ways. One of the many tools they have helped to create is the Tools of
Assessments and performance measures
One of the many ways the EPA measures environmental performance is with the Smart Growth Index (SGI). The Smart Growth Index is a GIS sketch model that is used to model alternative land use and transportation settings and assess their outcomes using signs of environmental performance. The EPA alone has worked with over 30 partners using the Smart Growth Index to produce land use and transportation decisions that arouse economic development, reduce monetary expenditures, protect the environment and improve quality of life.[7]
Water and ecosystem services
The water and
Under EPA Administrator William K. Reilly, President’s George H. Bush’s appointee, so-called placed-based initiatives focused on interconnected land and water systems gained in importance because places resonated with the public in a way that parts-per-million just do not. [10]
Policies and programs
The EPA has several programs ranging from agriculture to
Research, tools and technology
The sustainability sector of the EPA has also conducted a wide range of research to identify problem areas and identify essential tools to manage ecosystems that need to be protected. Monitoring is the key to success for any program implementation. The EPA has created the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) which works to discover the appropriate tools to assess the efficiency of ecological resources. This program is designed to increase understanding of the risks involved with current natural resources.[12]
Assessments and performance measures
The EPA also releases reports on current trends of environmental resources and advisories for issues such as chemical contaminant levels. EPA has set up fish advisories, landscape ecological projects, national coastal condition reports and reports on the quality of American lakes. The fish advisories inform the public about possible health[
Energy, biofuels, and climate change
With one of our country's chief provider of energy being one of the main contributors to climate change along with many other environmental issues, the EPA has come up with many ways to help combat our reliance on
Policies and programs
The EPA has created over 40 programs and policies towards helping to deal with
Research, tools and technology
The Distributed Energy Program is a highly successful program utilized by the EPA to support cost-effective research and development aimed towards costs and emission reduction, as well as improving the reliability and performance of the US electric energy infrastructure. The Distributed Energy Program presents solutions to many of the most critical energy and electrical problems such as brownouts, blackouts, energy security problems, issues with power quality, stricter emissions standards, transmission bottlenecks, and a better control on energy costs.[17]
Assessments and performance measures
The EPA assesses and measures energy, biofuels, and climate change many different ways. One very effective measure used by numerous environmental programs is the Environmental Indicators Initiative (EII) which was developed in 2001 to help the EPA in improving their reporting on the standing and tendencies of environmental conditions.[18] As part of the EII, the EPA developed the Report on the Environment (ROE) project as a national report for the public and policy makers on the conditions of the United States' environment. The report is used to answer 23 questions about new developments in land, water and ecological systems with potential connections to human health that are related to their mission.[19]
Material management and human health
The EPA has also dedicated their time toward materials management & human health. Within the definition of sustainability lies the facets of many generations and therefore the long-term impacts created by man must be taken into consideration. The EPA has been involved in the promotion of the use of more environmentally friendly materials and chemicals since the development of its mission. Toxic chemicals pose threats to both the environment and people, but the EPA is working to lessen these impacts.[20] EPA programs involved in the materials management & human health sector work to promote greener and cleaner products and production processes. These objectives not only benefit the environment, but they often result in costs that are less than traditional techniques.[20]
Policies and programs
One of EPA’s most emphasized programs in this sector is called Children’s Health. Children are more vulnerable to effects of toxins or chemicals in the environment and the EPA has a priority for children’s health.[21] The EPA has conducted much research in areas related to materials management and human health. They have studied air toxics, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, life cycle assessments, and more. There are over 20 other policies and programs in place for material management and human health. These include, but are not limited to environmental management systems, green suppliers network, national waste minimization program, pollution prevention partnerships, and sustainable futures. Each of aforementioned not only emphasize a greener environment, but they promote collaborative efforts among the target audiences.
Research, tools and technology
Several programs are dedicated to helping businesses and the larger industries to use more
Assessments and performance measures
Assessments and performance measures are also conducted by the EPA through reports, programs, and promotion of acceptable practices. For example, the EPA has a push for life cycle assessments. The
References
- ^ "FY 2010 EPA Budget in Brief". V/Ocfo/Budget/2010/2010bib.PDF. Environmental Protection Agency. May 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-09.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "About EPA". Epa.gov. 2008-12-22. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "About EPA | About EPA | US EPA". Epa.gov. 2008-12-22. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Urban Sustainability & the Built Environment". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Urban Sustainability & the Built Environment: Policies & Programs". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Urban Sustainability & the Built Environment: Research, Tools & Technologies". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Urban Sustainability & the Built Environment: Research, Tools & Technologies". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Water & Ecosystem Services". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Ecosystems Services Research In Communities: Developing Tools To Support Sustainability And Good Stewardship" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ EPA Alumni Association: EPA Administrator William K. Reilly describes his agency’s reasons for pursuing place-based initiatives. Reflections on US Environmental Policy: An Interview with William K. Reilly Video, Transcript (see p4).
- ^ [1] Archived October 26, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Environmental Monitoring & Assessment Program". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Assessments & Performance Measures - Water & Ecosystem Services". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Energy & the Environment | Sustainability". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Energy & the Environment | Sustainability | US EPA". Epa.gov. 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Policies & Programs - Energy, Biofuels, & Climate Change". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Research, Tools & Technologies - Energy, Biofuels, & Climate Change". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Assessments & Performance Measures - Energy, Biofuels, & Climate Change". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ http://www.epa.gov/OEI/proceedings/2005/pdfs/wentworth.pdf. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
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(help)[dead link] - ^ a b "Materials Management & Human Health". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Children's Health Protection". epa.gov. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Processes". Epa.gov. October 17, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-09.
- ^ "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)". Epa.gov. October 17, 2008. Retrieved 2010-05-09.