Partnership Programs
List of Programs
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
- Agriculture
- Air Quality
- Energy Efficiency and Global Climate Change
- Pollution Prevention
- Product Labeling
- Technology
- Transportation Programs
- Waste Management
- Water
- EPA's Regional partnership programs
Agriculture
The AgSTAR Program
Reduce methane emissions at confined animal feedlot operations by promoting the use of biogas recovery systems.
Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program
Reduce risk from the use of pesticides and to go beyond regulatory requirements to a higher level of environmental stewardship.
Air Quality
Clean Diesel Campaign (includes Clean Construction USA, Clean Ports USA, Clean School Bus USA, Diesel Retrofit)
The National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) builds on the success of its regulatory and non-regulatory, innovative efforts to reduce emissions from diesel engines. The NCDC is working to reduce the pollution emitted from diesel engines across the country through the implementation of varied control strategies and the sustained involvement of national, state, and local partners.Combined Heat and Power Partnership
The CHP Partnership is a voluntary program seeking to reduce the environmental impact of power generation by promoting the use of environmentally beneficial combined heat and power (CHP). CHP, also known as cogeneration, is an efficient, clean, and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source. By installing a CHP system designed to meet the thermal and electrical base loads of a facility, CHP can greatly increase the facility's operational efficiency and decrease energy costs. The Partnership works closely with energy users, the CHP industry, state and local governments, and other clean energy stakeholders to facilitate the development of new projects and to promote their environmental and economic benefits.
Community-Based Childhood Asthma Programs
The Community-Based Childhood Asthma Program is a voluntary public-health outreach program designed to reduce adverse health outcomes and the economic burden due to asthma by promoting best practices, which integrate control of environmental triggers as a component of comprehensive asthma management. The Program helps people with asthma, and their families manage environmental triggers in their homes; reduces children's exposure to indoor asthma triggers at schools and day care centers; and promotes the control of environmental triggers in conjunction with medical treatment as a component of a comprehensive asthma management plan.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps American businesses and consumers save money and protect the environment by investing in energy efficient products and practices. Through the ENERGY STAR program, EPA has partnered with thousands of organizations across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors to increase the sales of energy efficient products bearing the ENERGY STAR label, raise energy efficiency standards for new home construction and existing home renovations, and improve the efficiency of commercial and industrial facilities through strategic energy management practices.
Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. Purchasing electricity that is generated from clean, renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and low-impact hydro facilities is one of the easiest ways for an organization to reduce the environmental impact of its electricity use. Through the program, EPA provides partners with expert advice, tools and resources, and opportunities for recognition.
Working with SAE, EPA created a work group that has developed a set of draft voluntary protocols that will turn racing into a laboratory for energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gasses and auto emissions without slowing the cars or spoiling the sport.
High GWP Partnership Programs (Includes- SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership, Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership (VAIP), SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium Industry, EPA's PFC Reduction/Climate Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry)
EPA's Voluntary High Global Warming Potential Programs provide public-private industry partnerships that substantially reduce U.S. emissions of high "global warming potential" (GWP) gases. These partnerships involve various industries that are developing cost-effective improvements in their industrial processes to reduce emissions of perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) - all particularly potent greenhouse gases.
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
Comprehensive program for indoor air in schools.
Labs 21
Labs 21 is a voluntary program that saves money at laboratories while improving our environment. Laboratories require tens of millions of dollars worth of energy to run and add tens of thousands of pounds of pollution to our air, soil and water. EPA and the US Department of Energy are helping new and retrofitted laboratories cut their energy costs and reduce environmental damage. The goal is to create energy self-sufficiency for all EPA labs, modeling these savings for other science labs throughout the country.
The radon program emphasizes reducing radon risks in homes located in identified high radon areas through focusing on key targets of opportunity, such as real estate transactions and new home construction. The program thereby attempts to maximize the number of homes with radon reducing features, thus minimizing the second leading cause of lung cancer.
SmartWay Transport Partnership
To improve the environmental performance and fuel efficiency of the US freight sector (truck & rail) through the use of a voluntary market incentive system, that encourages retailers/end users to choose trucking and/or rail companies that are environmental leaders in their respective industry segments.
Energy Efficiency and Global Climate Change
The AgSTAR Program
Reduce methane emissions at confined animal feedlot operations by promoting the use of biogas recovery systems.
Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP)
The Coalbed Methane Outreach Program (CMOP) is a voluntary program whose goal is to reduce methane emissions from coal mining activities by promoting the profitable recovery and use of coal mine methane (CMM). By working cooperatively with coal companies and related industries, CMOP helps to address barriers to using CMM instead of emitting it to the atmosphere. In turn, these actions mitigate climate change, improve mine safety and productivity, and generate revenues and cost savings.
Combined Heat and Power Partnership
The CHP Partnership is a voluntary program seeking to reduce the environmental impact of power generation by promoting the use of environmentally beneficial combined heat and power (CHP). CHP, also known as cogeneration, is an efficient, clean, and reliable approach to generating power and thermal energy from a single fuel source. By installing a CHP system designed to meet the thermal and electrical base loads of a facility, CHP can greatly increase the facility's operational efficiency and decrease energy costs. The Partnership works closely with energy users, the CHP industry, state and local governments, and other clean energy stakeholders to facilitate the development of new projects and to promote their environmental and economic benefits.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps American businesses and consumers save money and protect the environment by investing in energy efficient products and practices. Through the ENERGY STAR program, EPA has partnered with thousands of organizations across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors to increase the sales of energy efficient products bearing the ENERGY STAR label, raise energy efficiency standards for new home construction and existing home renovations, and improve the efficiency of commercial and industrial facilities through strategic energy management practices.
Burn Wise
This government, non-profit and industry collaborative effort facilitates the change out of old, dirty, inefficient “conventional” (pre-New Source Performance Standards) woodstoves manufactured before 1988 to new, cleaner burning appliances like gas, pellet and EPA-certified stoves. Moving to cleaner technologies reduces Particulate Matter and air toxics (indoor and outdoor), improves energy efficiency and reduces fire hazards.
EPA and the supermarket, refrigeration equipment and chemical refrigerant industries have established the Greenhill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership a voluntary program to promote green technologies, strategies, and practices that protect the stratospheric ozone layer, reduce greenhouse gases, and save money. Partners must pledge to go above and beyond regulatory requirements by establishing an inventory of current refrigerant emissions that may affect climate change and the stratospheric ozone layer, and then setting reduction targets for these emissions. EPA estimates that widespread adoption of advanced refrigeration technologies, best practices, and improved equipment design and service could reduce refrigerant emissions. To counteract the depletion of stratospheric ozone, which protects earth's citizens from the sun's ultraviolet radiation, partners guarantee to use only ozone-friendly alternatives and advanced refrigeration technologies in all new and remodeled stores.
Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. Purchasing electricity that is generated from clean, renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and low-impact hydro facilities is one of the easiest ways for an organization to reduce the environmental impact of its electricity use. Through the program, EPA provides partners with expert advice, tools and resources, and opportunities for recognition.
Working with SAE, EPA created a work group that has developed a set of draft voluntary protocols that will turn racing into a laboratory for energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gasses and auto emissions without slowing the cars or spoiling the sport.
High GWP Partnership Programs (Includes- SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership, Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership (VAIP), SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium Industry, EPA's PFC Reduction/Climate Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry)
EPA's Voluntary High Global Warming Potential Programs provide public-private industry partnerships that substantially reduce U.S. emissions of high "global warming potential" (GWP) gases. These partnerships involve various industries that are developing cost-effective improvements in their industrial processes to reduce emissions of perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) - all particularly potent greenhouse gases.
Labs 21
Labs 21 is a voluntary program that saves money at laboratories while improving our environment. Laboratories require tens of millions of dollars worth of energy to run and add tens of thousands of pounds of pollution to our air, soil and water. EPA and the US Department of Energy are helping new and retrofitted laboratories cut their energy costs and reduce environmental damage. The goal is to create energy self-sufficiency for all EPA labs, modeling these savings for other science labs throughout the country.
Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP)
The U.S. EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a voluntary assistance and partnership program that promotes the use of landfill gas as a renewable, green energy source. Landfill gas is the natural by-product of the decomposition of solid waste in landfills and is comprised primarily of carbon dioxide and methaneboth important greenhouse gases. LMOP forms partnerships with communities, landfill owners, utilities, power marketers, states, project developers, tribes, and non-profit organizations to overcome barriers to project development by helping them assess project feasibility, find financing, and market the benefits of project development to the community.
Mobile Air Conditioning Climate Protection Partnership
The Mobile Air Conditioning Climate Protection Partnership is a joint voluntary initiative founded by EPA, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Mobile Air Conditioning Society. The partnership is working to reduce the impact of mobile air conditioning units on the environment. The program seeks to improve the energy efficiency of new mobile air-conditioning systems and reduce refrigerant leakage.
Natural Gas STAR Program
Reduce methane emissions from natural gas operations by identifying and promoting the implementation of mitigation technologies and management practices.
SmartWay Transport Partnership
To improve the environmental performance and fuel efficiency of the US freight sector (truck & rail) through the use of a voluntary market incentive system, that encourages retailers/end users to choose trucking and/or rail companies that are environmental leaders in their respective industry segments.
The SunWise School Program
Increases educators sun safety awareness. SunWise's dual focus on health and the environment helps children develop the skills necessary for sustained SunWise behavior and an appreciation for the environment around them.
Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership
An innovative pollution prevention program developed jointly by EPA and the primary aluminum industry. Participating companies (partners) work with EPA to improve aluminum production efficiency while reducing perfluorocarbon (PFC) emissions, potent greenhouse gases that remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years.
Pollution Prevention
2010/15 PFOA Stewardship Program
PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) is a persistent, man-made chemical that is toxic in animal studies, has a half-life of years in humans, and is found widely in low concentrations in human blood and the environment. The goal of the voluntary 2010/15 PFOA Stewardship Program is to reduce emissions and product content of PFOA, PFOA precursors, and related higher homologue chemicals by 95% by 2010 from a year 2000 baseline, and to work toward eliminating emissions and product content by 2015. The eight major companies in the industry with operations in the United States have committed to these goals for their global operations, and will provide annual reports on their progress.
Design for the Environment
DfE's goal is to facilitate the identification, creation and use of products, processes, and technologies that are safer for human health and the environment.
The program convenes Partnership Projects to help manufacturers select safer chemicals for their products. These projects include alternatives assessments that help industries identify green chemistry alternatives to chemicals of concern. When safer chemical alternatives have not yet been identified, DfE collaborates with partners to determine and implement best practices to minimize pollution. DfE's Safer Product Labeling Program helps consumers identify the safest household cleaners and other products. DfE's logo on a product means that an EPA scientific review team has evaluated every ingredient for potential human health and environmental effects and that the product contains only those ingredients that pose the least concern among chemicals in their class. Find DfE-labeled products.
Federal Electronics Challenge
The Federal Electronics Challenge (FEC) is a voluntary partnership program that
encourages federal facilities and agencies to: 1) purchase greener electronic
products, 2) reduce impacts of electronic products during use, and 3) manage
obsolete electronics in an environmentally safe way.
The Green Suppliers Network (GSN)/Economy, Energy and the Environment (E3)
GSN is a collaborative venture between industry, the EPA and the 360vu, a leading provider of assistance to US manufacturers through its national network of Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP), works with all levels of the manufacturing supply chain to achieve environmental and economic benefits. E3 is a coordinated federal
and local technical assistance initiative to help manufacturers by
providing technical assessments of production processes and training in
key areas. The technical assessments manufacturers receive consist of: a
lean review, a clean review, an energy audit, a greenhouse gas
evaluation, and post review recommendations.
Labs 21
Labs 21 is a voluntary program that saves money at laboratories while improving our environment. Laboratories require tens of millions of dollars worth of energy to run and add tens of thousands of pounds of pollution to our air, soil and water. EPA and the US Department of Energy are helping new and retrofitted laboratories cut their energy costs and reduce environmental damage. The goal is to create energy self-sufficiency for all EPA labs, modeling these savings for other science labs throughout the country.
Product Labeling
Consumers can choose safer products such as laundry detergents and cleaners by looking for products with EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) logo. EPA allows the logo to be displayed on products that work well and meet the Agency's high environmental and human health standards. Find DfE-labeled products. The DfE logo means that an EPA scientific review team has evaluated every chemical in the product for potential human health and environmental effects and that the product contains only those chemicals that pose the least concern in their class. The evaluation is based on the best currently available information, EPA predictive models, and expert judgment.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps American businesses and consumers save money and protect the environment by investing in energy efficient products and practices. Through the ENERGY STAR program, EPA has partnered with thousands of organizations across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors to increase the sales of energy efficient products bearing the ENERGY STAR label, raise energy efficiency standards for new home construction and existing home renovations, and improve the efficiency of commercial and industrial facilities through strategic energy management practices.
WaterSense
Focusing on creating a market enhancement program for water efficient products. This site also
provides a wide variety of information on other water efficiency topics,
publications (many in down-loadable format), and links to other very
useful water efficiency web sites.
Technology
Environmental Technology Verification Program
Provide 3rd party objective testing information on the performance of environmental technologies to vendors, purchasers, and permitters in sales, purchasing and permitting decision making.
Transportation Programs
Clean Diesel Campaign (includes Clean Construction USA, Clean Ports USA, Clean School Bus USA, Diesel Retrofit)
The National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) builds on the success of its regulatory and non-regulatory, innovative efforts to reduce emissions from diesel engines. The NCDC is working to reduce the pollution emitted from diesel engines across the country through the implementation of varied control strategies and the sustained involvement of national, state, and local partners.Environmental Technology Verification Program
Provide 3rd party objective testing information on the performance of environmental technologies to vendors, purchasers, and permitters in sales, purchasing and permitting decision making.
The Green Suppliers Network (GSN)/Economy, Energy and the Environment (E3) 
GSN is a collaborative venture between industry, the EPA and the 360vu, a leading provider of assistance to US manufacturers through its national network of Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEP), works with all levels of the manufacturing supply chain to achieve environmental and economic benefits. E3 is a coordinated federal
and local technical assistance initiative to help manufacturers by
providing technical assessments of production processes and training in
key areas. The technical assessments manufacturers receive consist of: a
lean review, a clean review, an energy audit, a greenhouse gas
evaluation, and post review recommendations.
High GWP Partnership Programs (Includes- SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership, Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership (VAIP), SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium Industry, EPA's PFC Reduction/Climate Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry)
EPA's Voluntary High Global Warming Potential Programs provide public-private industry partnerships that substantially reduce U.S. emissions of high "global warming potential" (GWP) gases. These partnerships involve various industries that are developing cost-effective improvements in their industrial processes to reduce emissions of perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) - all particularly potent greenhouse gases.
Mobile Air Conditioning Climate Protection Partnership
The Mobile Air Conditioning Climate Protection Partnership is a joint voluntary initiative founded by EPA, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Mobile Air Conditioning Society. The partnership is working to reduce the impact of mobile air conditioning units on the environment. The program seeks to improve the energy efficiency of new mobile air-conditioning systems and reduce refrigerant leakage.
SmartWay Transport Partnership
To improve the environmental performance and fuel efficiency of the US freight sector (truck & rail) through the use of a voluntary market incentive system, that encourages retailers/end users to choose trucking and/or rail companies that are environmental leaders in their respective industry segments.
Waste Management
Sustainable Materials Management
By examining the entire product life cycle, SMM holds the promise to conserve vital resources, reduce waste, and minimize the environmental footprint of the materials we use. EPA is playing a leadership role in advancing SMM by convening dialogues with key SMM stakeholders, providing sound science and information to the public, and establishing challenges to specific sectors to achieve shared goals.
Water
Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems Program (Septic Systems)
This Program provides national direction and support to improve the performance of decentralized systems by promoting the concept of continuous management and facilitating professional standards of practice.
Labs 21
Labs 21 is a voluntary program that saves money at laboratories while improving our environment. Laboratories require tens of millions of dollars worth of energy to run and add tens of thousands of pounds of pollution to our air, soil and water. EPA and the US Department of Energy are helping new and retrofitted laboratories cut their energy costs and reduce environmental damage. The goal is to create energy self-sufficiency for all EPA labs, modeling these savings for other science labs throughout the country.
WaterSense
Focusing on creating a market enhancement program for water efficient products. This site also
provides a wide variety of information on other water efficiency topics,
publications (many in down-loadable format), and links to other very
useful water efficiency web sites.