The Greening Government Strategy includes a number of industry-leading requirements that federal construction projects (including projects by federal Crown Corporations) are required to follow. The Strategy includes several requirements related to the following:
- Net-zero emissions, including renewable energy
- Embodied carbon management and reporting (low carbon materials)
- Climate risk assessment and management
- Total cost of ownership (GHG reduction life cycle cost analysis)
- Building and infrastructure certification (for some projects)
To implement this vision, the government has created the Policy on Green Procurement, which includes two operational standards:
- The Standard on Embodied Carbon in Construction. This standard requires the use of low-carbon ready-mix concrete on most projects and the purchasing of low carbon steel (structural and rebar).
- The Standard on the Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Setting of Reduction Targets. This standard requires major suppliers to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and set reduction targets.
Additionally, the Policy on Prioritizing Canadian Materials in Federal Procurements (also called the “Buy Canadian Policy”) requires the use of Canadian-produced steel, aluminum, and wood products. This requirement can be managed alongside the low-carbon material procurement requirements set out in the above Embodied Carbon standard.
Understanding, managing, and reporting on these green procurement requirements is Mantle’s specialty. Reach out today so we can discuss how Mantle can support your next bid on major federal construction contracts.