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
Lighting | Sep 1, 2017
Industrial lighting system converts blue light to green, yellow
The SpectraLoc LED blue-spectrum high-bay fixture converts harmful blue light under 500 nanometers to benign green and yellow light.
Products and Materials | Aug 30, 2017
Emergency communications system keeps university students and staff safe
The system provides advanced fire detection and notification, and allows for emergency messages to be transmitted in campus buildings through fire alarm speaker devices.
Products and Materials | Aug 30, 2017
Insulated wall system cuts down installation time
ProGUARD DP is a combined system cuts installation time down to one-third that of traditional wall systems.
Products and Materials | Aug 29, 2017
Product roundup: 12 inventive ceiling + acoustical systems
EchoStar Panels from Kirei, EZ Stab from CertainTeed Ceilings, and Integrity 4200 from Rockfon are three of the products included in BD+C's August Product Roundup.
Products and Materials | Aug 17, 2017
Scuff-resistant paint is tailor-made for high-traffic commercial spaces
SCUFF-X provides the level of scuff-resistance of two-component coatings.
Products and Materials | Jul 24, 2017
Nu-Wood brackets give 110-year-old hotel another level of distinction
One of the goals during the hotel’s 2014 and 2015 refurbishment was to create a low maintenance exterior.
Products and Materials | Jul 21, 2017
Acrylic-infused wood flooring brings durability for commercial spaces
The product incorporates an acrylic-infused top layer.
Sponsored | Products and Materials | Jul 19, 2017
Building community with every structure
Fabcon precast helps take community projects further.
Roofing | Jul 17, 2017
EclipseEdge eases installation of raised roof edges, gravel stops, and full coping caps
The EclipseEdge edge metal profile uses a two-part design with a base and a top cover to eliminate steps often required in traditional installations.
Flooring | Jul 12, 2017
Membrane dials down the sound, while it cranks up the heat
A new membrane from Schluter Systems, Ditra Heat Duo, reduces sound transmission while also warming the floor and supporting the covering to ensure lasting installation.