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EPA Sustainability Programs
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Multimedia Highlights
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P3 Research Project Search
Office of Research and Development - Thinking Sustainably
at EPA
http://www.epa.gov/ord/archives/2003/august/htm/article2.htm
This site describes the Office of Research and Development’s activities and grants aimed at fostering Sustainable Development
Green Chemistry
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenchemistry/
This program promotes innovative chemical technologies that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture, and use of chemical products.
Green Engineering
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenengineering/
Green engineering is the design, commercialization, and use of processes and products that are feasible and economical while minimizing the generation of pollution at the source and any risks to human health and the environment. The discipline embraces the concept that decisions to protect human health and the environment can have the greatest impact and cost effectiveness when applied early to the design and development phase of a process or product. Instead of: Green engineering is the design, commercialization, and use of processes and products, which are feasible and economical while minimizing 1) generation of pollution at the source and 2) risk to human health and the environment. The discipline embraces the concept that decisions to protect human health and the environment can have the greatest impact and cost effectiveness when applied early to the design and development phase of a process or product.
Product Stewardship
http://www.epa.gov/epr/index.htm
This Web site is designed to serve as a resource for products that support Sustainable Development. It highlights the latest developments in Product Stewardship, both in the United States and abroad, and provides numerous links to other sources of information.
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/about/about.htm
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) is a federal-wide program that encourages and assists executive agencies in the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.
Green Communities Assistance Kit
http://www.epa.gov/greenkit/
Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a step-by-step guide for identifying and resolving community needs, and planning and implementing sustainable actions. Also identifies useful tools, case studies, and other resources.
ENERGY STAR
http://www.energystar.gov/ 
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A government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
The Design for the Environment (DfE)
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/dfe/
The Design for the Environment (DfE) partnership projects promote integrating cleaner, cheaper, and smarter solutions into everyday business practices.
Green Buildings
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/greenbuilding/
Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition.
Smart Reuse: a Guide to Sustainable Redevelopment of Brownfield Properties
http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/bfs/smart_reuse/
This program is managed by the Mid-Atlantic Brownfields Program Office within EPA's Region III. The site contains information to minimize the environmental impact of brownfield redevelopment projects. Brownfields revitalization returns abandoned or underutilized properties to productive use, cleans up the enviroment, creates jobs and strenghthens the social fabric of communities.
Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment Homepage
http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/index.html
This site links to information on abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.
Sustainable Urban Environment
http://www.epa.gov/Region5/sue/index.htm
As urban areas grow and age, the current patterns of development and redevelopment can cause environmental degradation. Air quality is degraded through increased mobile, area and point source emissions. Water quality is degraded through increased runoff volume, decreased infiltration, poor runoff quality, and increased discharge from point sources. Farmland and open space is converted to factories, commercial, and residential use, often leaving abandoned contaminated brownfields in the urban core. The manner in which development or redevelopment takes place can significantly increase or decrease these impacts. The Sustainable Urban Environments Regional Team aims to lessen these impacts through a range of activities.
Community-based Environmental Protection
http://www.epa.gov/ecocommunity/
CBEP integrates environmental management with human needs, considers long-term ecosystem health and highlights the positive correlations between economic prosperity and environmental well-being.
Project XL
http://www.epa.gov/projectxl/
XL projects give the regulated community an opportunity to demonstrate eXcellence and Leadership... the flexibility to replace the requirements of the current system with an alternative strategy developed by a company or a community.
Sustainable Landscaping
http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/
Landscaping with native wildflowers and grasses improves the environment. Natural landscaping brings a taste of wilderness to urban, suburban, and corporate settings by attracting a variety of birds, butterflies and other animals. Once established, native plants do not need fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or watering, thus benefiting the environment and reducing maintenance costs. Gardeners and admirers enjoy the variety of colors, shapes, and seasonal beauty of these plants.
EPA/OPPT - Environmentally Preferred Purchasing
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp/
The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) web site provides guidance, case studies, tools and other resources to help procure environmentally preferable products and services with reduced effects on human health and the environment compared to others serving the same purpose. Instead of: The Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) web site provides guidance, case studies, tools and other resources to help in procuring environmentally preferable products and services that have lesser or reduced effects on human health and the environment when compared to others serving the same purpose.
EPA/OPPT - Green Meetings
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings/index.htm
Green meetings help meet your meetings planning needs while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. By using this site, you can access information that can assist you in organizing your conference to be "greener."
Environmental Labeling
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/epp/documents/labeling.htm
The term "environmental labeling" covers a broad range of activities from business-to-business transfers of product-specific environmental information to environmental labeling in retail markets. Labels, as well as other labeling program activities, serve a variety of purposes and target a number of different audiences. Environmental labels provide an opportunity to inform consumers about product characteristics that may not be readily apparent.
Environmental Accounting
http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/acctg/
EPA's Environmental Accounting Project has partnered with the Tellus Institute to maintain and further develop tools and documentation on Environmental Accounting.