EPA grants to promote low-carbon construction materials

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced nearly $160 million (£124 million) in grants aimed at reducing climate pollution from the manufacturing of construction materials. These grants, funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, are intended to enhance the production of low-carbon materials such as concrete, steel, and glass, which are essential for building infrastructure.

On July 16, the EPA revealed that 38 recipients across the US will share these grants. The selected projects are designed to help businesses report and reduce the carbon emissions associated with extracting, transporting, and manufacturing construction products. The EPA estimates that construction materials contribute over 15% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions.

These grants support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Federal Buy Clean Initiative, which leverages the US government’s purchasing power to drive demand for environmentally friendly construction materials. Recipients include businesses, universities, and non-profits from all 50 states.

One of the largest grants was awarded to The Hemp Building Institute, which received $6.2 million (£4.8 million) to develop Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for biogenic materials like those made from hemp or other crops, including soy or straw.

Heidelberg Materials US will receive $3 million (£2.4 million) to report emissions savings from substituting high-carbon components with recycled materials.

Elsewhere, Holcim US will use $2.5 million (£1.9 million) to develop EPDs for their concrete products, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of their production processes.

While Oldcastle Infrastructure will use $1.8 million (£1.4 million) to innovate and implement low-carbon solutions in their manufacturing processes for various construction materials.

Several projects will also support workforce development, increasing the number of sustainable construction professionals.

The EPA said they will offer expanded technical assistance opportunities, helping businesses and organisations develop EPDs and measure embodied carbon. This initiative will make it easier for federal, state, and local governments to choose climate-friendly construction materials.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which funds these grants, allocates over $4 billion to promote the use of low-carbon materials in federal building and transportation projects. The grants are contingent upon completing legal and administrative requirements, with recipients expected to receive funding by late summer.

For further details on the funded projects and organisations, visit the EPA’s Grant Program for Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gases in Construction Materials and Products.