Council Gives Direction to Switch to Low-Carbon Concrete for New City Projects

In another step toward curbing the City of Austin’s carbon emissions, the City Council on Thursday took action to transition to low-carbon concrete on future City construction projects.
 
With the Council’s vote, Austin joins other cities and states across the country in the move toward the use of sustainable concrete and other building materials. In January, New Jersey became the first state in the U.S. to adopt a low-carbon concrete law, which carries incentives for manufacturers.
 
The federal Inflation Reduction Act includes $5.8 billion toward helping municipalities and the construction industry reduce concrete’s carbon footprint with more sustainable building materials.
 
“We know that concrete is one of the four highest contributing construction materials to greenhouse gas emissions,” said Council Member Leslie Pool, who sponsored the resolution. “This action is one of many the Council has taken to be part of the solution toward reducing our carbon footprint.” Council Members Zohaib ''Zo'' Qadri, Alison Alter, Vanessa Fuentes, and José Velásquez co-sponsored the resolution, which passed unanimously.
 
The approved measure directs the City Manager to develop a plan with a clear strategy for transitioning all future City contracts and projects to low-embodied carbon concrete. Concrete producers working with the City will be required to submit Environmental Product Declarations – documents that provide data on the environmental sustainability of their product. City staff will review and approve alternative mix designs proposed by local concrete producers.
 
The Council also passed a second Pool-sponsored resolution urging Congress to enact a multi-year reauthorization of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.
 
Passage of both resolutions followed Pool’s presentation of an Earth Day proclamation thanking local environmentalists on all fronts for their work toward keeping Austin green. Earth Day is Saturday, April 22, with the global theme of Invest in Our Planet.