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This is not the current EPA website. To navigate to the current EPA website, please go to www.epa.gov. This website is historical material reflecting the EPA website as it existed on January 19, 2025. This website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. More information »

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  1. Home
  2. Greening EPA
  3. Energy and Emissions

Greenhouse Gases at EPA

Before there were federal requirements to do so, EPA had developed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and established reduction targets to decrease its GHG footprint.

There are three types of GHG emissions EPA tracks and works to reduce.

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Scope 1 GHG emissions are direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the agency.

  • Scope 1 includes on-site fossil fuel combustion and fleet fuel consumption.

Scope 2 GHG emissions are indirect emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by the agency.

  • Scope 2 includes emissions that result from the generation of electricity, heat or steam purchased by the agency from a utility provider.

Scope 3 GHG emissions are from sources not owned or directly controlled by EPA but related to agency activities.

  • Scope 3 emissions include employee travel and commuting.
  • Scope 3 also includes emissions associated with contracted solid waste disposal and wastewater treatment.
  • Some Scope 3 emissions can also result from transportation and distribution (T&D) losses associated with purchased electricity.

Greening EPA

  • EPA Sustainability Plans
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Contact Us About Greening EPA
Contact Us About Greening EPA to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 7, 2025
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