Contractor’s Commitment
Contractor’s Commitment to Sustainable Building Practices
Building A Revolution, One Commitment At A Time.
Contractors have power. Let’s use it for good.
As professional contractors, there’s power in how we manage budgets and procurement, determining what products and materials are purchased, how and from whom they are sourced, and how responsibly they are used on the job site. There’s also power in how we oversee impacts on air and water quality, soil health, landfill waste, and the ability for workers to advance high-performance outcomes.
Are we using all the power of our work and expertise to advance sustainability?
Well, it’s hard to know. There have been few guidelines and no standards for tracking progress until now.
The Contractor’s Commitment is the industry’s benchmark for assessing what it means to be a green contractor. Created by contractors for contractors, it’s a smart way to get started on your sustainability journey. Or, if you’re already well along on your path, to apply a yardstick to measure and further your progress. It also offers an option to gain public recognition for your green building work.
Get started today by committing to sustainability goals on just 30% of your projects.
Signatories
Areas of Impact
Carbon Reduction
The goal of this category is to outline practices that General Contractors can implement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (“carbon”) from our construction activities and our corporate operations, to advocate for greenhouse gas reductions by our partners and suppliers. The best management practices (BMPs) outlined in this category generally align with three themes:
Plan, Implement, and Advocate
Track and Reduce
Report and Disclose
Jobsite Wellness
The goal of this category is to ensure the wellness of a contractor’s employees. Jobsites can be dangerous places, and the materials that we use to construct buildings can be harmful if not handled properly. This section is designed to help ensure that the sustainability of our buildings does not come at the expense of the health of our employees.
Water Management
The goal of this category is to promote responsible use of water. It is understood that each construction project is unique, and project-specific water plans are required to ensure success on a project-by-project basis. This plan has been created to give all contractors the ability to participate in this section of the commitment, regardless of their sphere of influence.
For Complete Guidelines, Download the Guide to The Contractor’s Commitment
Testimonials
Laura Soma, Sustainability Manager of GLY Construction:
“The information sharing and collaboration among signatories on issues affecting workers and the environment are having a positive impact across the construction industry.”
Waste Management
The goal of this category is to outline steps General Contractors can take to minimize construction and demolition waste and maximize waste diversion. It is understood that each construction project is unique, and project-specific waste management plans are required to ensure success on a project-by-project basis.
Material Selection
The goal of this category is to outline steps General Contractors can take to advance the use of healthy and sustainable materials on projects. Each contractor has varying levels of influence with materials, from almost no control with bid-build to moderate control with self-perform, and significant control with design-build projects.
Definition: Healthy and sustainable materials are those that minimize adverse impacts on human health and ecological systems while promoting social equity and transparency regarding their ingredients and impacts. Healthy materials are, as much as possible, harmless during their manufacture, installation, application, operation, maintenance, and end-of-life processes.
Eden Axelrad, Director, Climate Change & Decarbonization for Clayco:
“Clayco is excited to be one of the pilot signatories of the Contractor’s Commitment. 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 this journey and encourage others to take this step toward environmental responsibility.”
Stay In the Loop!
Learn more about USGBC California and the Clean Construction Platform, and sign up for our newsletter.
A special thank you to Building Green and Green Commons for their leadership and contribution to the Contractor’s Commitment.
Sign the Commitment
Get started today by committing to sustainability goals on just 30% of your projects.
Angi Rivera, Director of Sustainability of Sellen Construction:
“At Sellen Construction, we are proud to support the Contractor’s Commitment and its mission to drive meaningful, measurable sustainability in our industry. Our experience with the Commitment has been incredibly positive. The industry-specific metrics and thresholds in the framework not only align closely with our values but also have bolstered our roadmap for strengthening our environmental practices and fostering greater accountability. We look forward to continuing this journey with USGBC-CA and encourage others in the industry to join us.”
Contact Us!
Please contact us at info@contractorscommitment.org to get engaged with us.