The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will provide 38 grant recipients with nearly $160 million to support efforts to report and reduce climate pollution from the manufacturing of construction materials and products.
The grants will be awarded to businesses, universities, and nonprofit organizations to help disclose the environmental impacts associated with manufacturing concrete, asphalt, glass, steel, wood, and other materials. The grants will support the Federal Buy Clean Initiative, which leverages the U.S. government’s position as the largest purchaser on Earth to catalyze demand for clean construction materials used in federal buildings, highways, and infrastructure projects.
Ranging from $250,000 to $10 million, the grants will help businesses develop environmental product declarations (EPDs) that show environmental impacts across the life of a product and can catalyze more sustainable purchasing decisions by allowing buyers to compare products. Investments in data and tools will make high-quality EPDs available for 14 material categories, which include both new and salvaged or reused materials.
Grant recipients include:
• A company in Georgia that will report the emissions savings gained by switching from higher-carbon components in cement and concrete to recycled and innovative materials.
• A company in Maine that manufactures insulation made from wood fiber will track the quantity of energy and raw materials used in each of their processes.
• A nonprofit organization in Illinois that sells reused architectural materials will measure how much the salvaged materials reduce carbon emissions.
• A large insulation manufacturer based in Indiana will use grant funding to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions for their full product portfolio.
• A major university will use grant funds to research and document carbon emissions savings from reusing structural steel.
Related Stories
AEC Tech | May 10, 2016
Thornton Tomasetti launches new tech company
TTWiiN initially features six products and will add more via its own incubator.
Products and Materials | Dec 1, 2015
Valspar launches new website for architectural coatings
Same domain, colorful new look
Multifamily Housing | Mar 27, 2015
Bathroom fixtures get a starchitect makeover by Bjarke Ingels
This Danish starchitect elevates the toilet paper holder (and other bathroom accessories).
Sponsored | Walls and Partitions | Mar 25, 2015
Metl-Span systems meet design needs in cost effective manner
The goal from the beginning was to construct an energy efficient building with insulated metal panels.
BIM and Information Technology | Feb 10, 2015
Google's 3D scanning camera leaves the lab
Google is said to be partnering with LG to create a version of the technology for public release sometime this year.
Brick and Masonry | Feb 5, 2015
3D-printed 'cool brick' may provide cooling solution for arid locations
Cool Brick is made of porous ceramic bricks set in mortar. The bricks absorb water, which cools the air as it passes through the unit.
Sponsored | Products and Materials | Feb 2, 2015
What should you consider when reviewing paint warranties?
Warranties can appear to be the same, but as a starting point, you should find out what paint technology your warranty is based on—polyester, silicon-modified polyester or PVDF. Once you’ve established an “apples to apples” comparison with the technologies, you must consider the color palette and its impact on warranty longevity. Review this with your builder, manufacturer or paint company representative.
| Nov 21, 2014
Must see: Furniture designer recreates Koolhaas' CCTV Headquarters in wood for storage cabinet line
For her latest addition to the I Am a Monument furniture series, designer and architect Naihan Li recreated, in meticulous detail, the OMA-designed Chinese Central Television Tower Headquarters located in Beijing.
| Oct 16, 2014
Perkins+Will white paper examines alternatives to flame retardant building materials
The white paper includes a list of 193 flame retardants, including 29 discovered in building and household products, 50 found in the indoor environment, and 33 in human blood, milk, and tissues.
Sponsored | | Oct 13, 2014
Liberty Utilities protects installers with Viega MegaPress
Liberty Utilities of New Hampshire wanted a way to keep its installers safe without compromising the quality of their installations, which is why the utility provider decided to start installing Viega MegaPress. SPONSORED CONTENT
