In an effort to substantially lower the levels of embodied carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions associated with the construction materials and products, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on the design of Inflation Reduction Act Programs focused on lower carbon construction materials. The EPA will hold three public webinars in March and April 2023 to solicit feedback on the programs, which are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, aims to bolster U.S. energy security and help families save money on energy costs, among other goals. As an outcome, the EPA received $41.5 billion in appropriations to develop and support 24 new and existing programs that monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, protect health, and advance environmental justice.
EPA’s new programs — intended to build upon EPA’s work in the ENERGY STAR Industrial Program and the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program, among others — will provide grants, technical assistance, and tools to measure, report, and substantially lower the levels of embodied carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions associated with the “production, use, and disposal of construction materials and products.”
The three public engagement webinars seek feedback from experts and stakeholders, who include institutional buyers, developers, builders, manufacturers, and representatives from states, non-profit organizations, trade associations, and others. Feedback will guide the development and implementation of the EPA programs.
Register for the following webinars:
- “Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Construction Materials Prioritization and Environmental Data Improvement” on March 2, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET will seek feedback on how to prioritize construction materials and products and how to improve data on embodied greenhouse gas emissions through measurement, standardization, transparency, and reporting criteria.
- “Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Grants and Technical Assistance for Environmental Product Declarations” on March 22, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET will seek feedback on new grant and technical assistance programs to help businesses calculate and report the greenhouse gas emissions data for construction materials and products through Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
- “Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Carbon Labeling,” on April 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. ET will seek feedback on how the EPA could develop a carbon labeling program for construction materials and products with substantially lower embodied greenhouse gas emissions.
The EPA is also issuing a Request for Information to solicit written comments on the design of the new programs. Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, comments on any of the questions outlined should be submitted to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2022-0924 on www.regulations.gov by May 1, 2023.
ANSI supports adding value, trust, and transparency to emissions claims via the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), which accredits organizations providing third-party validation and verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and removals.
