Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Alabama will benefit from four grants totaling approximately $20.8 million to support efforts to report and reduce climate pollution from the manufacturing of construction materials. The EPA estimates that construction materials used in buildings and other built infrastructure account for more than 15% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.
Billions of tons of concrete, asphalt, steel, glass, and other construction materials are required to build, maintain, and operate the country's buildings and infrastructure. The United States leads the world in producing clean construction materials, and these transformative awards from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in history—aim to reduce climate pollution by helping businesses measure the carbon emissions associated with extracting, transporting, and manufacturing their products.
The grants will support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative, leveraging 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. These grants will be awarded to businesses, universities, and nonprofit organizations across all 50 states and will help disclose the environmental impacts associated with manufacturing concrete, asphalt, glass, steel, wood, and other materials.
Knauf Insulation Inc. has been selected to receive $3,283,879 for work in Alabama and several other states. Knauf manufactures fiberglass insulation for various applications. The company’s project aims to improve data quality for developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), exemplify best practices related to data disclosure and verification, and spur market demand for low embodied carbon construction products.
HOLCIM US Inc., a leading cement manufacturer in the U.S., will receive $1,371,814 for its work in multiple states including Alabama. HOLCIM’s EPD Accelerator Project seeks to increase transparency regarding environmental emissions associated with construction material production and generate robust EPDs with diverse manufacturers across the country.
The Hemp Building Institute (HBI) has been allocated $6,186,200 for its work in Alabama among other states. HBI focuses on biogenic building materials derived from agricultural crops such as hemp. Their project aims to develop EPDs and life cycle assessments for these materials while creating standardized product category rules (PCRs).
Oklahoma State University will receive $9,990,311 for its initiatives across numerous states including Alabama. The university is spearheading the creation of a National Center for Sustainable Construction Materials to promote low carbon construction materials (LCCMs) and generate comprehensive EPDs.
“These historic investments will expand market access for a new generation of more climate-friendly construction materials,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe.
The grants aim to help businesses develop high-quality EPDs that reveal environmental impacts across a product's life cycle. These efforts will standardize the market for lower greenhouse gas emission construction products making it easier for governments at all levels to ensure climate-friendly products are used in funded projects.
Additionally, EPA is announcing expanded technical assistance opportunities across America initially offering support in EPD development and resources through programs like ENERGY STAR Industrial program.
These initiatives are made possible by the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 which invests significantly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with construction materials' extraction, transport, and manufacturing processes.
Selections are contingent upon completion of legal requirements with funding expected by late summer.
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