Researchers in the Construction Services Group of Marcum LLP, a leading accounting and advisory firm in New York, paint an overall positive view of current and future market trends in their just-released 2024 Marcum National Construction Survey. Key findings gleaned from responses to a 27-point survey of executives in building and nonbuilding markets include: “Despite the challenges facing the…
Read MoreTag: Inflation Reduction Act
Energy Department powers promotion of low carbon construction materials
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) authors’ recognition of technology transfer hurdles and risk-averse specification tendencies in construction is evident in a slew of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office and National Laboratories initiatives supporting low carbon materials awareness and procurement. The DOE Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) is eyeing a National Laboratory-led Cement and Concrete Center of Excellence to accelerate…
Read MoreAdapting to Change
A visit with American Concrete Pipe Association Chair Tom Hartley Few are better suited than Tom Hartley to take the reins as 2024 American Concrete Pipe Association chair while members and staff execute a new strategic plan. With a tenure spanning 29 years at Rinker Materials, he has played a pivotal role across the enterprise, including tours in finance, mergers…
Read MoreConstruction outlook survey: ‘Optimism tempered by uncertainty’
Sources: Marcum LLP, New York; CP staff Researchers for the Construction Services Group of Marcum LLP, a leading accounting and advisory firm, paint an overall positive view of current and future market trends in their just-released 2024 Marcum National Construction Survey. Key findings gleaned from responses to a 27-point survey of executives in building and nonbuilding markets include: “Despite the…
Read MoreConcrete producers lead the way in federal agency’s Buy Clean agenda
The White House and General Services Administration have marked the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-funded low embodied carbon (LEC) construction materials procurement program pilot, noting “a dramatic increase of thousands more environmental product declarations used to identify sustainably-manufactured construction materials over the past year. EPDs are a key tool for gaining visibility into a product’s environmental impacts…
Read MoreEPA weighs comments on low carbon materials, product labeling
The Environmental Protection Agency is set to review feedback from a February-March public comment period involving a draft approach for implementing an Inflation Reduction Act-funded Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials. The $100 million undertaking will support the White House Buy Clean Initiative, applicable to Departments of Defense and Transportation and General Services Administration procurement, by helping define…
Read MoreGSA backs low embodied carbon material spec commitment
The General Services Administration has released a list of more than 150 federal building construction or upgrade projects across 39 states and District of Columbia where low embodied carbon (LEC) material specifications will be supported by $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding. Contract language will favor LEC material use, net estimated deliveries totaling: The funding advances the Buy Clean…
Read MoreGSA stipulates low-carbon materials for Homeland Security contracts
The U.S. General Services Administration and Department of Homeland Security will steer nearly $288 million in Inflation Reduction Act funds to make the latter agency’s new headquarters campus buildings models for sustainability, starting with procurement prioritizing low-embodied carbon concrete, steel, and asphalt. The funding will enable GSA to complete the construction of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Headquarters, Immigration…
Read MoreEPA opens $100 million grant program for construction material EPDs
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting through January 8 applications for grants under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-funded Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Construction Materials and Products program. Budgeted at $100 million, it will support a) businesses that process or manufacture, remanufacture or refurbish construction materials or products in development and verification…
Read MoreGreenbuild 2023 highlight: Circles of Sustainability Networking Activities
Sources: Informa Connect, New York; U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, D.C. This year at Greenbuild 2023 in Washington, DC, the Greenbuild team has made communicating with sustainability leaders easier and more valuable through new, customized Circles of Sustainability Networking Activities – providing exciting ways to meet with the right partners. As the U.S. recently passed the billion-dollar Inflation Reduction Act,…
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