The big General Services Administration is now the recipient of just under $3.4 billion in federal funding to be used for low-carbon materials in construction projects.
That funding is folded into the just-approved Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and centers on incentives in the construction of both government-owned structures, as well as public infrastructure projects.
Altogether, the legislation comes with a $485 billion price tag, and is primarily concerned with both reducing inflation and countering climate change challenges. Through Congressional negotiations, the legislation, signed into law by President Biden, was reduced from the $550 billion originally proposed in early 2021.
The bill, additionally mandating lower drug prices among other goals, aims to decrease the country’s carbon footprint by the end of the decade by some 40%.
The General Services Administration currently owns more than 1,500 buildings across the country. In a statement, Robin Carnahan, administrator of the agency, said the GSA “looks forward to working with our partners in government and industry to seize this once-in-a generation opportunity to move the federal government forward to a cleaner, greener future that will provide better value for taxpayers and a healthier planet for the next generation.”
Low-carbon materials can include everything from green ceramic tiles to low carbon bricks and any variety of recycled metals for building purposes.
GSA facilities, located across the country, include court houses, office buildings, data processing centers and post offices.
The GSA is also receiving $250 million in an effort to convert more of its structures into High Performance Buildings. Such buildings have at least a 23% lower energy use and 28% lower water use than the average GSA structure.
Tying in with projects funded by the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the legislation also promotes utilizing low-carbon materials for Federal Highway Administration projects in the form of Low-Carbon Transportation Grants with a total value of $2 billion.
By Garry Boulard
