Reducing Greenhouse Gases

1. Reducing Greenhouse Gases Sarah Rizk U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9 April 15, 2009

2. Overview • Why should we care about diesel and greenhouse gas air pollution? • What is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency doing about it? • What can we do to help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases?

3. Why should we care about diesel and greenhouse gas air pollution?

4. Diesel emissions pose a significant environmental health problem Serious health impacts Asthma, respiratory & cardiac illness Possible human carcinogen Impacts air quality Contributes to climate change Paul Bubbosh (EPA OTAQ), Deborah Jordan (EPA R9), and Michael Antonovich (LA County Supervisor and AQMD Board Member) announce a Smartway project to reduce diesel emissions with children from Horace Mann elementary school in Los Angeles on September 30, 2004.

5. Some Groups Are More at Risk People with heart or lung disease Conditions make them vulnerable Older adults Greater prevalence of heart and lung disease Children More likely to be active Bodies still developing Breathe more per body pound

6. Particulate matter (PM) in diesel exhaust is the driver of risk • Mix of particles and liquid droplets • Considerably smaller in size than human hair • Penetrates deeply into the lungs Hair cross section (70 mm) Human Hair (70 µm diameter) PM10 (10µm) PM2.5 (2.5 µm)

7. Mobile Diesel Emission Sources by Sector FREIGHT 32% FREIGHT 56% Source: Mobile Source Diesel Emissions Inventory by Sector (2004)

8. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Burning Fossil Fuel 2003

9. What is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its Partners doing to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases? Rules and regulations Voluntary programs Grant projects Education

10. What is the West Coast Collaborative? Public-private partnership Aims to reduce diesel emissions in the most impacted communities by: Creating information sharing along major transportation corridors in the West Leveraging new resources Developing and implementing projects Goals: Protect & Improve Public Health Support Energy Security & Greenhouse Gas Reductions

11. West Coast Collaborative Goals • Protect & Improve Public Health by: • Helping to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (PM2.5, Ozone) • Meeting air toxics goals (both federal and state/local partners) • Support Energy Security & Green House Gas Reductions by: • Using cleaner fuels (biodiesel, biogas/natural gas, electric) relative to total diesel fuel • Advancing regional/local production of renewable fuels supporting local agriculture and forestry sectors • Utilizing voluntary programs to eliminate on-road, locomotive, and off-road idling (ports, corridors, distribution locations)

12. What is the West Coast Collaborative? Public-private partnership Aims to reduce diesel emissions in the most impacted communities by: Creating information sharing along major transportation corridors in the West Leveraging new resources Developing and implementing projects Goals: Protect & Improve Public Health Support Energy Security & Greenhouse Gas Reductions

13. Accomplishments demonstrate the effectiveness of Collaboration • $15 million in EPA funding has leveraged over $42 million from our Partners • Funded over 115 diesel emission reduction projects Teri Shore, Matt Haber, Jack Broadbent, Ron Dunfee, Ron Duckhorn and Charlene Haught Johnson announce the Collaborative and its support for the Bay Area Water Transit Authority ferry diesel emissions reduction project on September 30, 2004 in San Francisco.

14. What are other EPA partnership programs to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases?

15. Partnership Programs Break down market barriers impeding deployment of cost-effective technologies and practices that reduce environmental impact Facilitate environmental performance where there is no regulation

16. Some of EPA’s Voluntary Climate Change Programs

17. State and Local Clean Energy-Environment Programs Help States & Locals: • Learn from best practices • Emphasize co-benefits • Integrate planning • Prioritize energy efficiency as a resource

18. Many Local Players

19. Plug-In to eCycling • Encourage people to recycle and reuse old electronic devices • Public recognition, networking and partnerships between retailers and manufactures • Technical assistance and guidance in developing recycling initiatives

20. What can we all do to help reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases: • at home • at school • at the office • on the road

21. … at home • Change 5 lights with Energy STAR light bulbs • Look for Energy STAR qualified products • Clean air filters regularly and have heating and cooling equipment annually tuned • Seal air leaks and insulate your home • Buy green power from your electricity provider • Reduce, reuse and recycle • Use water efficiently • Spread the word of the great things you’re doing!

22. … at school Dorm Rooms • Use Energy STAR products to reduce energy use for lamps, computers, laptops, printers, min-refrigerators, fans, etc. • Set your computer monitor to sleep mode when not in use Energy Efficiency and Less Waste • Encourage building staff to use Energy STAR products • Help create and improve recycling and composting programs Green Renewable Energy • Encourage the school to use green renewable power, such as solar panels or wind turbines Campus Climate Action Plan • Assess your university’s carbon use with our Campus Carbon Calculator and take steps to reduce your carbon footprint

23. … at the office • Manage office equipment energy use • Look for Energy STAR qualified office products • As your building manager if your building as earned the Energy STAR label • Reduce, reuse, recycle

24. … on the road • Drive smart by driving the speed limit, reducing idle time, and go easy on the breaks • Tune your ride and check your tires • Give your car a break and walk more, carpool or take public transportation • Use renewable fuels like E85 or biodiesel • Buy smart by using EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide and buy EPA certified SmartWay vehicles…

25. SmartWay Promotes smart transportation choices when purchasing vehicles and trucks Helps save fuel, $, and your impact on the environment Vehicles that qualify for the SmartWay mark are the cleanest and most fuel-efficient

26. EPA’sGreen Vehicle Guide Contains a comprehensive listing for all vehicles, including: • engine size • cylinders • drive • interior size • environmental scores • city/hwy mpg • emissions • transmission • vehicle type • fuel type

27. SmartWay Contains a comprehensive listing for all vehicles Vehicles receive two environmental scores Greenhouse Gas Score Air Pollution Score

28. For more information about EPA’s programs and what you can do: General Climate Change Information: www.epa.gov/climatechange Buying Green Vehicles: www.epa.gov/greenvehicles Buying Energy Efficiency Products: www.energystar.gov Using Green, Renewable Energy: www.epa.gov/greenpower Creating a Campus Climate Action Plan: www.cleanair-coolplanet.org