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The Greenhouse Gases (GHG) Program Area includes the latest guidance and information resources to aid Federal facilities in managing greenhouse gas emissions. This encompasses current guidance, policies, and trends related to climate change/global warming, calculation of carbon footprints, GHG inventories, and the application of offsets to reduce carbon footprints.
The primary 6 GHGs of concern are: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The main sources of these gases due to human activity are as follows:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2): burning of fossil fuels and deforestation;
- Methane (CH4): livestock enteric fermentation (i.e. cows) and manure management, paddy rice farming, land use and wetland changes, pipeline losses, and covered vented landfill emissions;
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): these items are of concern from the standpoint of global warming and the Kyoto Protocol;
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs): these are being used in refrigerating units as replacements for CFCs;
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O): this is used for its anesthetic and analgesic effects as well as being used as an oxidizer in rocketry and in motor racing to increase the power output of engines;
- Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6): used in the electrical industry as a gaseous dielectric medium for high-voltage (35 kV and above) circuit breakers, switchgear, and other electrical equipment, often referred to as SF6. SF6 is also employed as a contrast agent for ultrasound imaging. See the DOE Safety Bulletin for more information on SF6.
Please use the links below to quickly jump to the information area needed or scroll down to view all items.
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Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance
5 October 2009
This EO sets sustainability goals for Federal agencies and focuses on making improvements in their environmental, energy and economic performance. The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to set a 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target within 90 days; increase energy efficiency; reduce fleet petroleum consumption; conserve water; reduce waste; support sustainable communities; and leverage Federal purchasing power to promote environmentally-responsible products and technologies.
Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management
24 January 2007
Executive Order 13423 "Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management", signed by President Bush on January 24, 2007. The order sets goals in the areas of energy efficiency, acquisition, renewable energy, toxics reductions, recycling, renewable energy, sustainable buildings, electronics stewardship, fleets, and water conservation. In addition the order requires more widespread use of Environmental Management Systems as the framework in which to manage and continually improve these sustainable practices.
This act was signed into law on August 8, 2005. The Act contains a multitude of provisions covering energy production, distribution, storage, efficiency, conservation, and research. Title XVI of the act addresses climate change.
The Design Principles Guidance includes overall guidance on defining inventory boundaries, identifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emission sources, and defining and adjusting a base year. The Design Principles Guidance also defines the minimum level of data a Partner reports under Climate Leaders and various optional emission and reduction sources that a Partner can elect to report.
Suppliers of fossil fuels or industrial greenhouse gases, manufacturers of vehicles and engines, and facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more per year of GHG emissions are required to submit annual reports to EPA. The gases covered by the proposed rule are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and other fluorinated gases including nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and hydrofluorinated ethers (HFE). The final rule was signed by the EPA Administrator on September 22, 2009.
This is a series of information sheets intended to assist potential reporters and others to understand key provisions of the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule. The "General Provisions" information sheet provides an overview of the source categories covered under this rule. The source-specific information sheets and checklists highlight key information on each specific emission category. The monitoring checklist identifies the data needed to monitor starting 1 January 2010.
These guidelines, updated in January 2007 by the DOE's Office of Policy and International Affairs, are divided into General Guidelines and Technical Guidelines. The purpose of the General Guidelines is to establish the procedures and requirements for filing voluntary reports. The purpose of the Technical Guidelines is to define permissible methods of calculating reportable emissions and reductions.
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Issued by ICLE – Local Governments for Sustainability, the protocol consists of the general principles and philosophy that any local government, regardless of location, should adhere to when inventorying GHGs from its internal operations and community as a whole. The emission sources that should be included in a GHG inventory and the methods used to quantify theses sources are generally consistent between local governments, but are unique when compared with any other type of entity.
This standard specifies principles and requirements at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals. It includes requirements for the design, development, management, reporting and verification of an organization's GHG inventory.
This standard specifies principles and requirements and provides guidance at the project level for quantification, monitoring and reporting of activities intended to cause greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions or removal enhancements. It includes requirements for planning a GHG project, identifying and selecting GHG sources, sinks and reservoirs relevant to the project and baseline scenario, monitoring, quantifying, documenting and reporting GHG project performance and managing data quality.
This standard specifies principles and requirements and provides guidance for those conducting or managing the validation and/or verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) assertions. It can be applied to organizational or GHG project quantification, including GHG quantification, monitoring and reporting carried out in accordance with ISO 14064-1 or ISO 14064-2. This standard also specifies requirements for selecting GHG validators/verifiers, establishing the level of assurance, objectives, criteria and scope, determining the validation/verification approach, assessing GHG data, information, information systems and controls, evaluating GHG assertions and preparing validation/verification statements.
This standard specifies principles and requirements for bodies that undertake validation or verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) assertions.
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The GRP is an easy-to-follow user's manual that outlines the principles, concepts, calculation methodologies and procedures required for effective participation in the California Registry.
Nine Midwestern governors and two Canadian premiers have signed on to participate or observe in the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (Accord), as first agreed to in November 2007 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
This is a mandatory, market-based effort in the United States to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ten Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states will cap and then reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector 10% by 2018.
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This is a free electronic summary of news in the climate change industry.
A newsletter produced quarterly by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEA GHG). The newsletter aims to provide general information on new developments in the field of greenhouse gas abatement and mitigation.
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ENERGY STAR connects users with a broad range of tools and resources to help them implement a successful energy management strategy, including the reduction of greenhouse gases. Examples of tools in the library include: guidance on energy management, improving building performance, and assessing energy efficiency.
A library of WCI documents and materials.
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A voluntary effort jointly sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program encourages the use of methane recovery (biogas) technologies at the confined animal feeding operations that manage manure as liquids or slurries.
The Registry is a private non-profit organization originally formed by the State of California. The California Registry serves as a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) registry to protect and promote early actions to reduce GHG emissions by organizations.
A multi-agency, planning and coordination entity that assists the government in carrying out the President's National Climate Change Technology Initiative. It is managed by the Department of Energy and organized around five technology areas for which working groups have been established. EPA participates in all of the working groups and chairs the group focused on reducing emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases.
A nonprofit collaboration among North American states, provinces, territories and Native Sovereign Nations that sets consistent and transparent standards to calculate, verify and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions into a single registry.
a voluntary program to reduce the environmental impact of power generation by promoting the use of CHP. CHP is an efficient, clean and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source. The Partnership works closely with energy users, the CHP industry, state and local governments and other stakeholders to support the development of new projects and promote their energy, environmental and economic benefits.
A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. With the help of ENERGY STAR enough energy was saved in 2008 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 29 million cars -- all while saving $19 billion on their utility bills.
An EPA industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies. Partner companies commit to reducing their impact on the global environment by completing a corporate-wide inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions based on a quality management system, setting aggressive reduction goals, and annually reporting their progress to EPA.
Developed by NASA, this site presents the vitals signs for the planet. Vital Signs include measurements of arctic sea ice, carbon dioxide, sea level, global temperature, and the size of the ozone hole. The site also discusses evidence, causes, effects, and solutions to climate change.
GSA's CPES BPA helps agencies achieve their energy, greenhouse gas, and water conservation goals using a streamlined acquisition process.
The IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC doesn't conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
This is a flexible, voluntary partnership between EPA and the oil and natural gas industry. Through the Program, EPA works with companies that produce, process, and transmit and distribute natural gas to identify and promote the implementation of cost-effective technologies and practices to reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
This is a collaborative effort between EPA and the electric power industry to identify and implement cost-effective solutions to reduce sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions.
USGCRP coordinates and integrates federal research on changes in the global environment and their implications for society. Thirteen federal departments and agencies participate in the USGCRP. The site provides access to up-to-date research and publications concerning global warming as well as regional and sector climate information.
The WCI is a collaboration of independent jurisdictions who commit to work together to identify, evaluate, and implement policies to tackle climate change at a regional level.
WRI is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives. AS one of their four programmatic goals, WRI seeks to " Protect the global climate system from further harm due to emissions of greenhouse gases and help humanity and the natural world adapt to unavoidable climate change."
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This FEMP guidance provides and overview of the basic of greenhouse gases, the goals and requirements for agency GHG management, ongoing guidance activities conducted by FEMP and common protocols for calculating greenhouse gas inventories. Also addressed are FEMP services, technical assistance, and training available to help Federal agencies calculate and manage their greenhouse gas emissions. Lastly, the site includes FEMP and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory contacts related to Federal greenhouse gas.
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EPA's Climate Protection Awards are presented to companies, NGOs, and individuals each year to recognize exceptional leadership, outstanding innovation, personal dedication, and technical achievements in protecting the Earth's climate.
The ENERGY STAR CHP Award recognizes projects that require at least 5 percent less fuel than state-of-the-art separate heat and power generation.
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Issued April 18, 2008, this document summarizes the results of DOE research concerning biofuels and greenhouse gases.
The intent of the guide is to help states save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by adopting clean energy practices in their facilities, operations and vehicle fleets. The guide was created as part of EPA's State Climate and Clean Energy Program, which assists states in developing and implementing clean energy policies and climate change solutions.
This GAO report, issued 7 October 2009, includes several case studies and examples of how federal, local, state and even international governments can effectively move forward to protect coastlines, infrastructure, and citizens from rising sea levels, intensifying storms, droughts, and other impacts from global warming. The report number is GAO-10-113.
This report, dated 2007 from the World Resources Institute (WRI), examines the feasibility of achieving significant emissions reductions from the proliferation of biofuels and concludes that biofuels are not a complete, nor even the primary, solution to our transport fuel needs.
Developed by the Canadian Institute for Research on Public Policy, this article outlines Canadian successes in reducing greenhouse gases.
EPA has established several voluntary programs to provide technical assistance to companies wishing to reduce their waste and GHG emissions. A sampling of innovative GHG partnerships forged through WasteWise and other voluntary programs is presented below.
Published March 19, 2008, this European Environment Agency report outlines six successful examples of greenhouse gas reduction in the road transport sector.
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Prepared annually by EPA, the national greenhouse gas inventory report presents estimates of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks for the years 1990 through 2007. This report also discusses the methods and data used to calculate the emission estimates.
Developed by the Energy Information Administration of the DOE, this annual report reviews greenhouse gas intensity, greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. economy, measuring greenhouse gases, and methodologies.
This report presents WRI's CO2 inventory for specific calendar years. Reports are available for 2003 and forward. It details emission sources included and excluded from the inventory, describes how emissions data were collected and calculated, summarizes how emissions have changed over time, and describes WRI's GHG management activities.
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Offered by EPA Region 4, this course describes the policy approaches being evaluated on a national level regarding the regulation of climate change, primarily through potential legislation. A survey of ongoing state actions will be compared to the potential federal approach and the preemption issues federal legislation would raise.
This seminar provides an update on new greenhouse gas (GHG) regulatory requirements and guidance, as well as strategies, models, and technology tools to measure GHG emissions. This is the fourth seminar in a series offered by the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP).
EPA Powerpoint presentation providing an overview of the mandatory reporting rule.
Presented at the June 2009 Federal Environmental Symposium – East. Several top-down GHG inventory approaches have been developed within the Federal community. Bottom-up GHG inventory efforts are also emerging at Federal facilities. Together, they ultimately can produce more robust and comprehensive institutional GHG management.
In 2007, the Forest Service was the first federal land management agency to join the EPA Climate Leaders program. As part of this affiliation, the Forest Service spent a year developing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the six National Forests in the Greater Yellowstone Area, which is one of the largest intact ecosystems in the continental U.S. This inventory, which focuses on anthropogenic emissions from the agency's operations, is the first of its kind in the nation. This was presented at the June 2009 Federal Environmental Symposium – East.
Presented at the June 2009 Federal Environmental Symposium – East. This presentation will explore the process of quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and calculating the carbon footprint and ecological footprint of a large, industrial government facility. Skills and tools to complete your own calculation will be introduced to a user model developed by Sandia National Laboratories to calculate the carbon and ecological footprint of their facility.
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Feb 18, 2010
Feb 11, 2010
Feb 3, 2010
Jan 29, 2010
Dec 28, 2009
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FedCenter membership required.
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Executive Order 13514
