Buy Clean California Act
The Buy Clean California Act (BCCA) states the California Department of General Services (DGS), in consultation with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), is required to establish and publish the maximum acceptable Global Warming Potential (GWP) limit for four eligible materials. The BCCA targets carbon emissions associated with the production of structural steel (hot-rolled sections, hollow structural sections, and plate), concrete reinforcing steel, flat glass, and mineral wool board insulation. When used in public works projects, these eligible materials must have a GWP that does not exceed the limit set by DGS.
NGA’s Forming Committee issued public comments on California AB262 in 2018, voicing concerns about the bill’s technical flaws which will affect the flat glass manufacturers and the industry. NGA also responded regarding facility specific data in 2019 for the implementation of CA AB262, now known as the Buy Clean California Act.
Implementation Dates of Buy Clean California Act
Key legislation dates include:
- January 1, 2022: DGS published the maximum acceptable GWP for eligible materials. The CA DGS GWP established a limit for flat glass of 1.430 kg CO2-eq. (equivalent to 1.43 MT CO2 eq./MT. Note MT refers to metric ton.)
- July 1, 2022: Awarding authorities will gauge GWP compliance of eligible materials with the required Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
See our GWP one-pager on this topic.
The Buy Clean California Act asks bidders on public works projects in California to submit an EPD, or Environmental Product Declaration, for specified flat glass products. NGA continues to work with CA DGS to clarify the language, ensure they understand the effects, and educate them about the glass and glazing industry.
To learn more about EPDs and their potential impact on your glass company, watch “The Why, How and Business Value of LCA and EPDs.”
Download NGA's Building Compliance FAQs to learn more about the use of glass as it relates to the Buy Clean California Act, EPDs, PCRs and more. Refer to the California DGS webpage for general information and awarding authority contacts.
NYC's Green Deal
In April 2019, the glass industry witnessed this jarring headline coming out of New York City: "NYC’s ‘Green New Deal’ to Ban Glass, Steel Skyscrapers." And while research revealed the mayor was not actually announcing a ban on glass and steel buildings in New York City, his anti-glass statements and over-simplistic labeling of glass as a poor energy performer were harmful to the glass industry. Since then, the NGA, relying on voices from the code, architect, and glazing contractor communities, has addressed how initiatives like the Green New Deal can hurt the glass industry, and educated the industry on what glass companies can do to comply with this requirement. Read, “Did NYC Really Ban Glass Buildings?”
Advocacy Resources for Stakeholders and Legislators
NGA provides advocacy one-pagers to format advocacy requests related to glass industry issues into a quick-reference format to help stakeholders and legislators easily understand issues at hand. Download NGA's advocacy one-pagers below.