Contractors Pledge Greener Construction in New Commitment

How does a general contractor track and measure its firm-wide sustainability? The Sustainable Construction Leaders group (a BuildingGreen-supported peer network) is trying to work that out. Its new initiative, the Contractor’s Commitment, provides a framework, and building contractors can soon sign on for the 2021 pilot.

“What we’re filling right now is a void in the industry,” said Patty Lloyd, director of sustainability at Leopardo Companies. “This is a cohesive framework that can be adopted by contractors of all levels,” from small, family-owned firms to those with a global reach, she said. To get started, companies make a good-faith effort to meet the commitment’s goals on at least 30% of projects. Going public as a signatory is optional.

The framework has five categories, each of which is divided into a “good,” “better,” and “best” tier (see the graphic for an example).

• Carbon reduction—The focus here is on emissions from equipment.
• Jobsite wellness—Wellness for laborers as well as those working in jobsite offices is emphasized.
• Waste management—This category encourages waste diversion even on projects that aren’t pursuing green building certification.
• Water management—Here, contractors are asked to assess risks and prevent water pollution.
• Material selection—This category encourages assessment and selection of healthy and sustainable materials.

“I think that there’s a lot of excitement out in the industry, a lot of movement,” said Lloyd. “Things that are not on the radar of contractors … I think it’s going to push them onto the radar.”

For more information:

BuildingGreen
buildinggreen.com/contractors-commitment