Here is the background. The Inflation Reduction Act empowered the federal agencies to explore the use of construction materials that have a lower embodied carbon (lower emissions associated with their life cycle). On August 7, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a new carbon labeling program for construction materials. AGC provided feedback earlier this year on the draft.
What construction materials does this apply to? The new labeling program is intended to help federal agencies identify and source lower embodied carbon construction materials. EPA has identified four initial materials based on the amounts purchased with federal funds: steel, glass, asphalt, and concrete.
Do I need EPDs for federally funded projects? It depends. EPA will use a phased approach beginning with improving data, setting thresholds based on benchmarks, and then labeling. Materials within the labeling program will be divided into tiers to distinguish those materials with less associated embodied carbon. Manufacturers will provide the requisite information through environmental product declarations (EPDs). EPA has also provided additional guidance on EPDs. Some agencies, like the General Services Administration, already have requirements for EPDs or low-embodied carbon materials.
AGC provided feedback on the draft approach earlier this year that encouraged the agency to work with manufacturers, reduce impact to the materials market (e.g., phased approach, tiering), and limit to common materials to avoid overwhelming the process. AGC also met with EPA last year and shared feedback related to EPD use within construction, see related article with AGC’s comments.
Check out this AGC resource. If you are looking for a primer on the embodied carbon of materials and construction related greenhouse gas emissions, take a look at AGC’s Decarbonization and Carbon Reporting Playbook, available for free download at www.agc.org/climate-change-playbook.
For more information, contact Melinda Tomaino.