Nearly $15 Million in grants in the Pacific Northwest will support clean U.S. manufacturing of steel and other construction materials
Grants from the Inflation Reduction Act will support the renewal of American manufacturing by helping businesses produce low-carbon materials
SEATTLE – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the selection of 38 grant recipients across the country, totaling nearly $160 million, to support efforts to reduce climate pollution from the manufacturing of construction materials and products. Grant selectees include the University of Washington in Seattle and the International Living Future Institute in Portland.
EPA estimates that the construction materials used in buildings and other infrastructure account for more than 15% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Billions of tons of concrete, asphalt, steel and other construction materials and products are required to build, maintain and operate our country’s buildings and infrastructure. The U.S. leads the world in the production of clean construction materials, and this funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will reduce climate pollution by helping businesses measure the carbon emissions associated with extracting, transporting and manufacturing their products.
Pacific Northwest grant selectees:
University of Washington, Seattle
The University of Washington proposal aims to advance robust data for environmental product declarations (EPDs) and provide rigorous lifecycle assessment training to students and professionals. By focusing on these areas, the project will enhance the building and construction industry's ability to effectively comply with procurement-oriented environmental policies related to construction materials and products. (Selected funding amount: $9,990,668.)
International Living Future Institute, Portland, Oregon
The International Living Future Institute proposal will develop the new Declare Environment label, a comprehensive tool to assess and support EPD performance and streamline specifications for climate-friendly products. IFLI anticipates increased EPD adoption, improved environmental product performance, and greater industry awareness. (Selected funding amount: $4,662,182.)
Additional grant selectees in other states will also benefit the Pacific Northwest, including Pioneer Millworks (projects in Oregon and other states), International Code Council (projects in Oregon and Washington), Heidelberg Materials US Inc. (projects in Oregon, Washington and other states), and Oklahoma State University (projects in Oregon, Washington and other states). For more information on these and other grant program selectees, visit the Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Construction Materials and Products grant summaries page.
The grants will support the Federal Buy Clean Initiative, which leverages the U.S. government’s sway as the world’s largest purchaser to support demand for clean construction materials used in federal buildings, highways, and infrastructure projects. Grants will be awarded to businesses, universities and nonprofit organizations serving all 50 states and will help disclose the environmental impacts associated with manufacturing concrete, asphalt, steel, and other materials.
Grant selections are contingent upon completion of legal and administrative requirements and grantees are tentatively expected to receive their funding in late summer.
Learn more about EPA’s Grant Program for Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gases in Construction Materials and Products.