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The Associated General Contractors of America has launched a that pushes for the reduction of carbon-intensive projects.

鈥淭here is no doubt that the climate issue is of global importance and that any ultimate solution will need to be addressed on a global scale,鈥� AGC Chief Executive Officer Stephen Sandherr said. 鈥淭hat being said, the construction industry is key to any measures needed to make our economy more efficient, less carbon intensive and more resilient.鈥�

While the construction industry is responsible for approximately 1-2 percent of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, buildings in 2019 accounted for 31 percent. As a result, the bulk of the initiative’s effort is to push public and private project owners to build more efficient projects and discover how to support them in that process.

AGC outlined steps that public officials and the construction industry should take to address the built environment’s impacts on climate change.

One measure calls for a national strategy to invest in physical infrastructure that will make communities more resilient as well as increase investments and funding opportunities for public and private infrastructure.

The association will also push for new federal investments to modernize federal buildings and support government initiatives that encourage sustainability in the built environment. This includes expanding the Section 179D deduction for energy efficiency, a tax dedication of up to $1.80 per square foot for building owners installing energy-efficient systems and buildings.

The initiative also identified steps that contractors could take to reduce their carbon output, such as use of solar-powered trailers and energy-efficient jobsite lighting, and creation of anti-idling policies. For example, the report cited Kiewit Corp., a construction company, estimated fuel savings of more than $800,000 on just one project after introducing an anti-idling policy.

Also, the AGC says contractors should engage with equipment manufacturers to improve construction machines’ fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance.

A special climate change task force created earlier this year crafted the new initiative. Representatives of 18 member firms participated in the task force meetings and helped prepare the recommendations.

鈥淗ow we build is far less of the problem than what we build,鈥� said Les Snyder, chairman of the task force. 鈥淎nd while the construction industry has traditionally had very little say about what our clients 鈥� private and public 鈥� want constructed, it is time for that to change.鈥�