General Information
(Creation Year & Reason)

April 1994
Reason: In response to President Clinton's "Climate Change Action Plan", one of a group of initiatives designed to help the US honor its international commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000.

Initiator(s)

Sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with technical support from the US Department of Energy (DOE).

Objectives(s)

Program has 4 broad objectives:

• Encourage immediate reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector through comprehensive set of cost-effective actions

• Change way companies view and manage environmental performance by demonstrating economic and productivity gains associated with "lean and clean" manufacturing

• Foster innovation by allowing participants to identify the actions that make the most sense for their organizations

• Develop productive and flexible partnerships within government and between government and industry

Timeframes and Milestones

2000 - Goal is to eliminate more than 30 million metric tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Implementation Process

The process by which Climate Wise works is for a company to agree to:

1. Complete a one-page partnership agreement.

2. Submit a Climate Wise Action Plan within six months that identifies specific cost-effective energy efficiency and pollution prevention measures.

3. Report results annually and strive for continuous improvement.

Once a company becomes a Climate Wise Partner, it is assigned an account rep who can help customize assistance to meet the organization's specific needs. Through the rep, a company may:

• Be eligible for an energy and waste assessment audit through one of the 30 nationwide Industrial Assessment Centers.

• Utilize regional resources available through our state, city and county Pilot Programs.

• Get involved in the Climate Wise Business-to-Business and Peer Exchange workshops underway throughout the country.

• Call the "WISE-LINE" for technical support in filing your Climate Wise Action Plan and Form EIA-1605 at 1(800)459-WISE (9473).

Tools supplied by the Climate Wise Program are:

• A Welcome Aboard Kit that highlights all of the Program's technical and financial resources and provides tools for promoting a company's Climate Wise participation and internally selling your energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects.

• The Climate Wise Opportunities Assessment Guide, which provides hundreds of practical and proven ways your company can improve efficiency and reduce waste.

• A Case Study Compendium, which is a compilation of energy efficiency and pollution prevention success stories representing many diverse industrial companies.

• Wise Rules for Industrial Efficiency, which is a toolkit for estimating energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Climate Wise has developed a user-friendly software package that will aid in preparing the company's Action Plan and quantifying the results of its activities. State-level resource guides are also available for many geographical areas or are presently in the process of being developed.

Monitoring Process & Parties

Climate Wise Partner companies annually report their achievements to the US-DOE Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program.

The program provides a comprehensive reporting structure that offers extensive use support, facilitates data compatibility, and avoids duplication of effort.

The user-friendly software makes the reporting quick and easy.

Climate Wise Partners report emissions and reductions achieved from 1991 through 1995.

Success in Achieving Stated Objectives

In Fiscal Year (FY) 1996, the Program saw over a 700% increase in company Partners.

May 1997, Program noted the 300^th Partner to join. By end of FY97, Climate Wise enrolled 400^th Partner

In 1997, Climate Wise Partners have started or completed more than 1000 energy efficiency and emissions reduction projects eliminating almost 3.3 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

As of August 1998, participating companies represented about 12% of US industrial energy use.

Public Education & Information Components

Has toll free Climate Wise Wise Line 800/459-WISE and...

Provides free technical assistance from US Department of Energy

Web page: http://www.epa.gov/climatewise

Program also works with companies to hold media briefings, provide articles for business and trade publications, and public service announcements.

Replication Potential

High, though this Program does seem to have more support services than many other initiatives.

Mechanisms for Improvement

Climate Wise has identified the next steps for the program. This year it is placing an emphasis on Action Plan development activities and reporting in order to fully realize the benefits of the program and reach the program's goals of eliminating more than 30 million metric tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere by the year 2000.

The Program is also developing a strategy to help companies cost-effectively use carbon offsets to either avoid the release of CO₂ somewhere else or remove existing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Climate Wise is assisting in the development of a Climate Neutral Network of environmentally friendly products and business practices.

The Program is also working to advance Solar and Wind Technologies.

Contacts for Further Information