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[JACK AYLMER]
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AREN’T JUST THE FOUNDATION OF OUR BUILDINGS — THEY’RE ALSO A MAJOR SOURCE OF GLOBAL POLLUTION AND RESPONSIBLE FOR 15-PERCENT OF THE WORLD’S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ACCORDING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
THAT’S SEVEN TIMES MORE THAN what THE ENTIRE AVIATION SECTOR EMITS ANNUALLY. PARTICULARLY PROBLEMATIC ARE CONCRETE AND STEEL, WITH CONCRETE RANKING AS THE WORLD’S MOST-USED RESOURCE AFTER WATER.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS SET ON TRANSFORMING THE BUILDING INDUSTRY WITH A MAJOR PUSH TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
THROUGH A NEW EPA INITIATIVE, THEY’RE ROLLING OUT $160 MILLION IN GRANTS TO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CUTTING-EDGE MATERIALS—THINK HEMP, BAMBOO, AND RECYCLED STEEL—MOVING US TOWARDS A GREENER FUTURE.
FUNDED BY THE 2022 INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO SLASH CLIMATE POLLUTION BY FINDING ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL, HIGH-EMISSION MATERIALS. IT’S A STEP TOWARDS NOT ONLY REDUCING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT BUT ALSO PIONEERING NEW, ECO-FRIENDLY BUILDING PRACTICES.
THESE GRANTS ARE GOING TO 38 DIFFERENT COMPANIES, UNIVERSITIES, AND TRADE ORGANIZATIONS. THEIR GOAL? TO BOOST ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPARENCY AND PROMOTE SMARTER, MORE CLIMATE-FRIENDLY PURCHASING. THEY’RE DOING THIS BY ROLLING OUT “HIGH-QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS,” OR EPDS FOR SHORT. THESE EPDS OFFER A DEEP DIVE INTO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE, HELPING BUYERS—LIKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT—MAKE WELL-INFORMED CHOICES.
THIS INITIATIVE IS A KEY PIECE OF THE BROADER FEDERAL BUY CLEAN INITIATIVE, WHICH USES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT’S PURCHASING POWER TO HELP DEVELOP A MARKET FOR CLEANER CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. IT’S DESIGNED TO NOT ONLY BOOST THE PRODUCTION OF ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS HERE IN THE STATES BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN AMERICA’S ROLE AS A LEADER IN CLEAN CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY.
i’m jack aylmer for straight arrow news. for more stories that matter to you — download the straight arrow news app or visit us at san dot com.