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.
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.