As part of the of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative to spur markets for low-carbon products made in America, the U.S. General Services Administration recently issued a request for information to learn more about the availability of domestically manufactured, locally sourced low-carbon construction materials.
Which materials are included?
The Buy Clean Task Force is prioritizing low-carbon selections for the most carbon intensive materials, like concrete, steel, glass, and asphalt, for construction and building projects, which account for 98 percent of what the federal government spends on construction materials. The administration's outreach to industry partners, including small businesses, seeks information on low-embodied-carbon materials in those and five other high-priority categories, including flat glass and window assemblies, as well as structural engineered wood, including mass timber and cross-laminated timber.
How to provide input
GSA encourages industry partners to provide input on the current availability of these materials with substantially lower levels of embodied carbon as compared to industry averages, or other estimates of similar materials. Industry feedback will be shared with other landholding federal agencies to inform governmentwide construction procurement. Responses can be submitted using an online form or by emailing embodiedcarbon@gsa.gov by Thursday, Nov. 3.
President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act provides a boost to these efforts with $3.375 billion that will allow GSA to invest in federal buildings with lower-carbon materials and sustainable technologies, and leverage emerging clean technologies that help achieve greater carbon reductions. These investments help boost the competitiveness of American manufacturers developing sustainable materials and technologies.
