Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) Program

The Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) Achievement Award recognizes any applicants completing environmentally beneficial activities. The Achievement Award is open to any business, industry, trade association, professional organization or local government of Ohio. Applications are evaluated using environmental stewardship criteria developed by Ohio EPA. Applications will be accepted on a continual basis throughout the year. Applicants must be in compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Achievement level participants must describe activities completed in one of the following environmental stewardship criteria:

• Sustainable materials and purchasing
• Pollution prevention
• Energy efficiency
• Recycling programs or
• Organics diversion
• Green building
• Renewable energy

Achievement level participants must also describe how the applicant has made some level of progress in at least five of the additional criteria below and submit a general statement indicating the applicant is in compliance with environmental laws and regulations:

• Management commitment
• Employee involvement
• Continuous improvement
• Innovation
• Life cycle assessment
• Sustainable materials and purchasing
• Pollution prevention
• Energy efficiency
• Recycling programs
• Organics diversion
• Green building
• Green infrastructure and storm water best management practices
• Renewable energy
• Economic benefits
• Promotion and dissemination

 Achievement Level Benefits

• A certificate of recognition signed by the Director
• A listing on the Ohio EPA website and
• A decal with the E3 logo to display at the applicant’s location

Application and Scoring

Apply Online or Download Achievement Level Application

Applications will be accepted on a continual basis and recognition will be provided through the mail. Exceptional Achievement Level applicants may be asked to apply for Silver, Gold or Platinum Level recognition.

Questions

Contact Mike Kelley in the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance at (614) 644-2930 (michael.kelley@epa.ohio.gov) or our hotline at (800) 329-7518 if you have any questions.

The Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) Silver Level recognizes an organization’s outstanding achievements in environmental stewardship. The Silver Level is open to any business, industry, trade association, professional organization or local government of Ohio. Applications are evaluated using environmental stewardship criteria developed by Ohio EPA. Applications will be accepted annually and include both written and onsite evaluations. Applicants must be in compliance with environmental laws and regulations for a year prior to submittal of their application and during the application review process.

Silver Level Benefits

• A certificate of recognition signed by the director;
• A listing on the Ohio EPA website and program highlights in Ohio EPA publications;
• An E3 flag to hang at the recipient’s location; and
• An Ohio EPA news release touting the recipient's environmental accomplishments.

Silver Level Site Visit

Applicants receiving the highest scores based on the evaluation of applications may be asked to host a site visit. The purpose of this site visit is to provide reviewers with a better understanding of the application, to view the activities described in the application in operation and to clarify information provided in the application. A team of two or more reviewers will conduct the site visit. Information collected during the site visit will be used to determine who receives awards. Evaluation criteria for the site visit will be the same as that used for the application. 

Compliance Evaluation

Applicants must be in compliance with environmental laws and regulations for a year prior to submittal of their application and during the application review process. Ohio EPA will perform a compliance evaluation. Additional detail on information used to perform this compliance evaluation is located here. 

Environmental Stewardship Criteria

Applicants should provide one narrative incorporating the criteria that apply to their environmental stewardship program. Ohio EPA will evaluate applications using 15 environmental stewardship criteria. Each of the applicable criteria will be evaluated using a six-point scale (0 to 5). Points will be awarded to these criteria based on whether the information meets the requirements of five parameters. An explanation and additional detail of this evaluation method is located here.

Application and Scoring

Apply Online or Download Silver Level Application

The 2020 application cycle will begin in the Fall of 2019.

E3 Silver recipients must score three or higher on seven of the environmental stewardship criteria. The number of nominations receiving Silver Level recognition will vary based on the number of applicants meeting the compliance requirements and evaluation criteria. Exceptional Silver Level applicants may be asked to apply for Gold or Platinum Level recognition.

Applying for Additional Recognition

Organizations receiving E3 program recognition can reapply for the same or different levels of recognition in subsequent years. Applicants need to demonstrate significant improvement if applying for a higher level (for example, E3 Silver to Gold) or complete different or unique activities in their new application (for example, reapplying for E3 Gold in a following year). Applicants interested in receiving additional recognition may only need to submit updated or partial information.

Questions

Contact Bill Narotski in the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance at (614) 728-1264 (william.narotski@epa.ohio.gov) or our hotline at (800) 329-7518 if you have any questions.

The Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) Gold Level recognizes organizations that have comprehensive environmental stewardship programs. The Gold Level is open to any business, industry, trade association, professional organization or local government of Ohio. Applications are evaluated using environmental stewardship criteria developed by Ohio EPA. Applications will be accepted annually and include both written and onsite evaluations. Applicants must be in compliance with environmental laws and regulations for a year prior to submittal of their application and during the application review process.

Gold Level Benefits

• A certificate of recognition signed by the director;
• A listing on the Ohio EPA website and program highlights in Ohio EPA publications;
• An E3 flag to hang at the recipient’s location;
• Ohio EPA news release touting the recipient’s environmental accomplishments; and
• The opportunity to work with Ohio EPA on benefits that include enhanced environmental assistance, Director’s meeting, reporting flexibility, reduced inspection frequency, reduced time to obtain permit modifications, updates on environmental stewardship information, marketing opportunities to highlight environmental accomplishments and other options.

Gold Level Site Visit

Applicants receiving the highest scores based on the evaluation of applications may be asked to host a site visit. The purpose of this site visit is to provide reviewers with a better understanding of the application, to view the activities described in the application in operation and to clarify information provided in the application. A team of two or more reviewers will conduct the site visit. Information collected during the site visit will be used to determine who receives awards. Evaluation criteria for the site visit will be the same as that used for the application. 

Compliance Evaluation

Applicants must be in compliance with environmental laws and regulations for a year prior to submittal of their application and during the application review process. Ohio EPA will perform a compliance evaluation. Additional detail on information used to perform this compliance evaluation is located here. 

Environmental Stewardship Criteria

Applicants should provide one narrative incorporating the criteria that apply to their environmental stewardship program. Ohio EPA will evaluate applications using 15 environmental stewardship criteria. Each of the applicable criteria will be evaluated using a six point scale. Points will be awarded to these criteria based on whether the information meets the requirements of five parameters. An explanation and additional detail of this evaluation method is located here.

Application and Scoring

Apply Online or Download Gold Level Application

The 2020 application cycle will begin in the Fall of 2019.

E3 Gold recipients must score three or higher on 12 of the environmental stewardship criteria. The number of nominations receiving Gold Level recognition will vary based on the number of applicants meeting the compliance requirements and evaluation criteria. Exceptional Gold Level applicants may be asked to apply for Platinum Level recognition.

Applying for Additional Recognition

Organizations receiving E3 program recognition can reapply for the same or different levels of recognition in subsequent years. Applicants need to demonstrate significant improvement if applying for a higher level (for example, E3 Silver to Gold) or complete different or unique activities in their new application (for example, reapplying for E3 Gold in a following year). Applicants interested in receiving additional recognition may only need to submit updated or partial information.

Questions

Contact Bill Narotski in the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance at (614) 728-1264 (william.narotski@epa.ohio.gov) or our hotline at (800) 329-7518 if you have any questions.

The Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) Platinum Level recognizes organizations that demonstrate how their environmental stewardship efforts improve the social well-being of the local community, region and/or a larger geographic area, and how these efforts result in long-term societal benefits. The Platinum Level is open to any business, industry, trade association, professional organization or local government of Ohio. Applications are evaluated using environmental stewardship, and community and regional sustainability criteria developed by Ohio EPA. Applications will be accepted annually and include both written and onsite evaluations. Applicants must be in compliance with environmental laws and regulations for a year prior to submittal of their application and during the application review process.

Platinum Level Benefits

• A certificate of recognition signed by the director;
• A listing on the Ohio EPA website and program highlights in Ohio EPA publications;
• An E3 platinum flag to hang at the recipient’s location;
• Ohio EPA news release touting the recipient’s environmental accomplishments;
• Invitation to an awards ceremony and possibly a site visit by the Ohio EPA director or an award presentation at the recipient's location; and
• The opportunity to work with Ohio EPA on benefits that include enhanced environmental assistance, Director’s meeting, reporting flexibility, reduced inspection frequency, reduced time to obtain permit modifications, updates on environmental stewardship information, marketing opportunities to highlight environmental accomplishments and other options.

Platinum Level Site Visit

Applicants receiving the highest scores based on the evaluation of applications may be asked to host a site visit. The purpose of this site visit is to provide reviewers with a better understanding of the application, to view the activities described in the application in operation and to clarify information provided in the application. A team of two or more reviewers will conduct the site visit. Information collected during the site visit will be used to determine who receives awards. Evaluation criteria for the site visit will be the same as that used for the application. 

Compliance Evaluation

Applicants must be in compliance with environmental laws and regulations for a year prior to submittal of their application and during the application review process. Ohio EPA will perform a compliance evaluation. Additional detail on information used to perform this compliance evaluation is located here. 

Environmental Stewardship and Community and regional Sustainability Criteria

Applicants need to submit a narrative incorporating the criteria that apply to their environmental stewardship program. They also need to provide additional information describing how their overall environmental stewardship program addresses six community and regional sustainability criteria or indicate why one or more of the criteria are not applicable.

• Product or service design
• Community education
• Improving the supply and delivery chain
• Community and regional environmental priorities
• Habitat and biodiversity improvements
• Community support

Ohio EPA will evaluate applications using 15 environmental stewardship and six community and regional sustainability criteria. Each of the applicable criteria will be evaluated using a six-point scale (0 to 5). Points will be awarded to these criteria based on whether the information meets the requirements of five parameters. An explanation and additional detail of this evaluation method for environmental stewardship criteria is located here. An explanation and additional detail of this evaluation method for community and regional sustainability criteria is located here.

Application and Scoring

Apply Online or Download Platinum Level Application

The 2020 application cycle will begin in the Fall of 2019.

E3 Platinum recipients must score three or higher on 12 of the environmental stewardship criteria, and address the six community and regional sustainability criteria.

Applying for Additional Recognition

Organizations receiving E3 program recognition can reapply for the same or different levels of recognition in subsequent years. Applicants need to demonstrate significant improvement if applying for a higher level (for example, E3 Silver to Gold) or complete different or unique activities in their new application for example, reapplying for E3 Gold in a following year). Applicants interested in receiving additional recognition may only need to submit updated or partial information.

Questions

Contact Bill Narotski in the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance at (614) 728-1264 (william.narotski@epa.ohio.gov) or our hotline at (800) 329-7518 if you have any questions.

The Encouraging Environmental Excellence in Education Level (E4) recognizes any K – 12 public or private school for their achievements in environmental stewardship and their efforts to educate their students on environmental topics.

Recognition Classes

In recognition of their efforts and accomplishments, all three classes will receive a certificate of recognition signed by the Director and recognition on Ohio EPA’s website. Those in the branch class will also receive an E4 window sticker decal. The leaf class will also receive an E4 flag and, schedule permitting, an award ceremony at the school.

Root – School demonstrates activities in one of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle); environmental education and stewardship is included in the curriculum; students have opportunities to participate in environmental activities.

Branch - School demonstrates activities at least two of the 3Rs; environmental education and stewardship is interdisciplinary through all grade levels; students have opportunities to participate in STEM programs or green clubs.

Leaf - School demonstrates activities in all 3Rs; environmental education and stewardship is interdisciplinary and curriculum is progressive; student-led environmental initiatives; the community beyond the school is encouraged to participate in environmental activities.

How to apply

Applicants should submit a completed application which includes a description of the school’s activities related to the three guiding principles: reduce, reuse and recycle. Emphasis will be given to activities that provide students with the opportunity to become environmental leaders through learning and encouraging others around them to participate. Schools graduate from each class by adding additional activities – see examples below. Those with activities in all three principles qualify for Leaf – the highest class available. 

Reduce

• Energy conservation and reduction efforts.
• Efforts to reduce water consumption.
• Efforts to reduce solid waste.
• Avoiding single-use items in the cafeteria (plastic straws, polystyrene trays/containers).
• Reducing paper waste by sending emails and printing double-sided. 

Reuse

• Providing refillable water stations.
• Use of products made from recycled or bio-based materials.
• Facilitating reuse opportunities for school supplies, sporting equipment, clothing, etc.
• Encourage students and staff to pack their lunch in reusable containers. 

Recycle

• Any type of recycling program in school buildings.
• Recycling efforts with the local community during school events.
• Efforts to encourage recycling at home.
• Establish a food waste composting program.

Submitting your application and questions

E4 applications (Word or PDF) are accepted at any time. Schools are encouraged to call (614) 644-3469 or (800) 329-7518 with questions. An individual school, school system or portion of a school system can apply.