USGBC California acquires the ‘Contractor’s Commitment’ from Green Commons

The U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC California) has assumed ownership and management of the “Contractor’s Commitment to Sustainable Building Practices,” a program for leaders in green commercial construction to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and improve their initiatives over time.

The program had previously been under the auspices of Green Commons’ Sustainable Construction Leaders Peer Network. According to USGBC California, the acquisition provides a platform for fully operationalized growth.

“We’re excited to add the Contractor’s Commitment to our stable of programs accelerating sustainability in the construction industry—from advancing zero emission construction equipment to contractor training and workforce development—in California and throughout the United States,” says Ben Stapleton, executive director of USGBC California. “Following four years of successful pilots with two dozen leading general contractors, the Contractor’s Commitment is poised to take off.”

Created by contractors for contractors, the Contractor’s Commitment offers ways to both get started and to measure a company’s ongoing progress in sustainability. The five areas of impact offer these core goals:

• Carbon Reduction: outlines practices that general contractors can implement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their construction activities and corporate operations by advocating for greenhouse gas reductions by their partners and suppliers.
• Jobsite Wellness: ensures the wellness of a contractor’s employees.
• Waste Management: an outline of steps to minimize construction and demolition waste and maximize waste diversion.
• Water Management: promotes responsible use of water.
• Materials: outlines steps general contractors can take to advance the use of healthy and sustainable materials on projects, understanding their varying levels of influence on materials.

“I’m happy that USGBC California has committed to the further growth and development of the Contractor’s Commitment and helping it fulfill its potential as a driver of sustainable construction practices,” says Green Commons CEO Nadav Malin, who has assumed management of the Peer Networks from BuildingGreen Inc. “The Sustainable Construction Leaders Peer Network will continue to share best practices and develop new initiatives in support of our shared mission of a healthier, more sustainable world.”

The Contractor’s Commitment was cited in Engineering News-Record’s introduction to its Top 100 Contractors List. It also informed the development of new credits in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) version 5, helping influence the sustainability programs of many construction companies and frequently referenced in their ESG reporting.

Eden Axelrad, director of climate change and decarbonization for Clayco, a pilot signatory of Contractor’s Commitment, says, “We’ve found it to be an important step in leading to positive changes within the construction industry. The program effectively provides resources and tools to implement a more standardized tracking of environmental impacts.

“This not only helps streamline efforts in the short term but also allows for improved benchmarking and collaboration. We are looking forward to continuing our commitment and encourage others to take this step toward environmental responsibility.”

USGBC California will be launching a new web presence and content for the Contractor’s Commitment, based on industry feedback, and will include increased connection to training, workforce development, education, data collection and industry recognition.
 
To find out more about the Contractor’s Commitment, visit contractorscommitment.org. For inquiries to participate, reach out to Pars Parikh via email at pars@usgbc-ca.org.