P2 Measurement Tools
March 18, 2013
Pollution Prevention Measurement Tools
RELEVANCE OF POLLUTION PREVENTION MEASURES - THINK CLIMATE CHANGE
Pollution prevention and climate change? You may be sure that pollution prevention can successfully tackle climate change–but can you prove it? Thanks to the U.S. EPA’s new pollution prevention calculators, you now can provide the numbers you need to convincingly make your case.
In our society, measurement is empowerment. From corporate managers to baseball fans, measurement bring credibility to discussions, informs us of where we are allows us to set goals for where we want to be. It allows us to evaluate the status quo, benchmark, and make changes. Whether you are in business, government agencies, and public institutions or at home–numbers inform good decisions. Among environmental solutions, pollution prevention solutions tend to have the strongest track record for delivering environmental benefits while preventing an economic burden on the marketplace. These calculators can empower those marketing pollution prevention solutions and making connections between P2 and positive environmental change for problems like climate change.
Suite of P2 Performance Measures
- Pounds of hazardous materials reduced;
- Gallons of water saved;
- Million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (greenhouse gas emissions) that are reduced or avoided;
- Dollars saved by businesses and institutions through P2 practices.
Background
The tools were reviewed by a panel from the P2 community and were showcased in national webinars and conferences reaching over 600 participants. Based on feedback the U.S. EPA reworked the tools to be more robust, user friendly, with better training elements. All of the P2 tools are in an Excel format and finalized as of November 2011. U.S. EPA will periodically update the tools as new information and data sources become available.
Please note: The U.S. EPA revised the tools based on new data sources on November 2012.
Who should use the tools?
Anyone can use the tools. The U.S. EPA designed them with state and local governments, business facilities, grantees, and project managers in mind.
What is the purpose and benefits of the tools?
They are designed to help calculate GHG emissions and cost savings from P2 activities, and to help convert gallons of hazardous materials into pounds. The tools help to convert standard business units into environmental measurement units, increase transparency of reported data, and make reference sources clear.
