Enacts the "low-carbon building construction act"

• Democratic3

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Brian Kavanagh says this is needed

The building sector is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, not only from building operations but also from the "embodied carbon" associated with the manufacturing and transportation of construction materials. As New York continues to decarbonize building operations, embodied carbon emissions represent a growing share of the sector's overall climate impact that is not currently addressed in the building code. Currently, there is no statewide framework requiring the measurement or reduction of embodied carbon in construction projects. Other jurisdic- tions have begun to incorporate similar approaches. For example, California's CALGreen building code includes compliance pathways that allow projects to demonstrate reduced embodied carbon through material efficiency, reuse, and life-cycle assessment. This legislation establishes a clear and flexible framework to reduce embodied carbon emissions in large building projects by integrating emissions accounting and reduction targets into the state building code. It provides multiple compliance pathways, including reuse of existing structures, use of low-carbon materials, and whole building life-cycle assessments. This bill will help drive demand for low-carbon construction materials, support innovation in the building sector, and reduce lifecycle emissions from buildings.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.