US proposes first carbon standard for concrete to cut building sector emissions

The United States General Services Administration (GSA) proposed new limits on high-carbon-emitting building materials for all of its major projects. The decision is expected to have a significant impact on billions of dollars in federal infrastructure investment.

GSA, the federal government’s procurement arm, manages US$75 billion in annual contracts and has a real estate portfolio of approximately 370 million square feet.

The agency issued the new requirement on Wednesday, forcing federal contractors to utilize environmentally friendly concrete and asphalt in all the agency's major projects.