The Associated General Contractors of America released a new, first-of-its-kind, decarbonization playbook designed to help firms assess, track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on projects. The AGC Playbook on Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting in the Construction Industry is part of the association’s efforts to make sure construction firms play a leading role in crafting carbon-reduction measures for the industry.
What the new playbook offers
The new resource outlines a four-step process firms can follow to work with partners to confirm who should be accountable for various carbon emissions associated with a construction project.
It also provides guidance on how to document who is accountable for emissions to limit surprises and risks for all the players involved in a project. The playbook includes resources to help firms calculate the carbon footprint of their projects including the carbon emissions related to the manufacture of key materials like concrete, steel, asphalt, and flat glass.
It also lays out ways for firms to track and report emissions related to the construction process such as carbon emissions from transporting materials and operating equipment on the jobsite.
What AGC says
“This new tool will help firms understand the basics of tracking carbon emissions, including who is responsible for those emissions, how to track them and what are the best ways to cut them,” says Jeff Shoaf, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. “This is the first document of its kind written by contractors, for contractors, to help them assess the impacts of the projects they are hired to build.”
