Biden’s executive order for a carbon-neutral government includes green materials mandate

President Biden’s recent executive order to make the federal government’s operations carbon-neutral by 2050 could have a significant impact on the adoption of more sustainable construction materials.

The order call for all projects in federally owned buildings to use only green construction materials. The action, leveraging the purchasing power of the government to increase demand, could jumpstart sustainable construction products manufacturing and spur more private-sector organizations to buy them.

The federal government spends about $650 billion annually for goods and services. The White House says that the purchasing power of the government will drive down the cost of green products and services, making them more affordable for families and businesses in the private sector.

Biden’s plan also ends federal purchases of gas-powered vehicles, and calls for facilities owned or leased by the federal government to be powered by wind, solar, and nuclear energy.