As shown in Figure 1, EPA is achieving its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminating 29
MMTCE (105 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) in 1998 alone. The programs are on
track to continue to meet their goals as revised in 1997. Emissions reductions in 1998 are
equivalent to taking more than 22 million cars off the nation's roads.

These programs offer multiple environmental benefits. Not only do they reduce the amount of
greenhouse gases that are released into the environment, but by reducing nitrogen oxides and sulfur
dioxide, these programs help improve air quality. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, EPA's programs are
ahead of the goals for reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide.

FIGURE 3: U.S. SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2) EMISSIONS: ANNUAL REDUCTIONS 1998 SO, reductions were greater than the total emissions from all power plants in the states of California, Nevada, Utah, and Oregon.

EPA's Climate Programs have prevented 275,000 tons of SO, pollution since 1995.

FIGURE 4: ANNUAL ENERGY SAVINGS

In 1998, EPA's climate technology programs saved enough energy to light 35
million homes for the entire year.

As shown in Figure 4, EPA's programs are sizably reducing our nation's demand for energy. In 1998 alone, EPA's programs were responsible for reducing energy consumption by more than 32 billion kWhs, enough energy to light 35 million homes for the entire year. Programs that reduce electricity generation, thereby decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and emissions of other harmful pollutants, are exceeding their goals. In 1998, the goal was exceeded by 3 billion kilowatt hours (kWhs).

EPA is also on target for reducing the energy bills of families, schools, businesses, and other organizations, as shown in Figure 5. In 1998, consumers, businesses and organizations saved $2.9 billion dollars on utility bills. Energy bill savings do not show EPA's programs to be ahead of target to the same degree as are other performance measures. This is because some of EPA's programs are reducing emissions of greenhouses gases other than carbon dioxide (i.e. methane, PFCs, etc.). Reductions in emissions of these gases do not have associated energy bill savings, for the most part.

The final performance measure is number of partners, as shown in Figure 6. Already, EPA has formed partnerships with more than 7,000 schools, state and local governments, companies (large and small), hospitals and other organizations. Through these partnerships EPA is meeting its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While in 1997 and in 1998 EPA fell just short of meeting its partnership goals, EPA has demonstrated that through effective implementation it has been possible to meet and exceed the other goals.

EPA's partnerships with companies, organizations, manufacturers and industries have resulted in a strong record of success across the country. For example:

• Manufacturers of office equipment and electronics are making more energy-efficient products available that reduce energy consumption without sacrificing product performance. For example, since 1991, when the ENERGY STAR label first appeared on office equipment, the penetration rates of the ENERGY STAR label has soared from 0 to 95% on computer monitors, 99% on printers, and 85% on computers. In 1998, EPA formed a new partnership with TV and VCR manufacturers to produce TVs and VCRs that waste less energy, reduce pollution by more than 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year and save consumers up to $500 million per year on their energy bills.

⚫ Schools partnering with EPA in the ENERGY STAR Buildings and Green Lights Partnership are increasing the quality of their lighting and comfort in classrooms while seeing large reductions in energy bills. Since 1995, EPA's programs have helped schools and universities save more than $200 million - enough money to buy 4 million text books or hire 4,000 teachers.

⚫ Home builders have built more than 5,000 new ENERGY STAR Homes that use 30 percent less energy, saving homeowners $400 per year and increasing the performance and comfort of the homes.

⚫ Hundreds of small businesses are lowering their overhead through implementing energy efficiency. In 1998, 1,600 small businesses were working with the Energy Star Small Business program to realize savings on their energy bills. Nearly half of Climate Wise Industrial Partners have fewer than 100 employees. All are receiving technical assistance, and many have documented improvements in both energy efficiency and increases in productivity.

⚫ Large businesses and organizations are protecting the environment and improving worker productivity through their investments in advanced technologies. For example, in the Wisconsin headquarters building of West Bend Mutual Insurance, efficient building design has been documented to save about $125,000 per year on utility bills and has been credited with improved employee productivity on the order of $260,000 per year. Climate Wise Partner, AnheuserBusch has developed a "bio-energy recovery system that turns solid waste into a renewable source of energy that provides 15% of the brewery's fuel supply. By the year 2000, eight facilities are expected to employ the technology and save more than $40 million annually.

♦ Financiers are making mortgages and loans with special terms for energy-efficient products widely available to consumers. The big names on Wall Street as well as smaller financial institutions are seeing the value of promoting energy efficiency. In 1998 five national lenders, including GE Capital, Household Finance, and Chase Manhattan, and more than seven regional lenders offered ENERGY STAR loans and mortgages to purchasers of ENERGY STAR heating and cooling equipment and homes.

• Hundreds of organizations that are part of the Transportation Partners network have contributed to a host of actions that have produced quantifiable reductions in transportation greenhouse gas emissions through measures that reduce VMT. These measures include building more livable communities and involving the public in important transportation and community design issues.