Description
New construction and major renovations can lock in emissions for decades—not just from energy use, but from the “embodied carbon” in materials like concrete, steel, insulation, and finishes. This action brings embodied carbon into Plymouth’s development review process using Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which are standardized, third-party verified disclosures of a product’s lifecycle impacts. By asking for EPD-backed information during plan review, Plymouth can encourage designers and builders to compare material options, prioritize lower-carbon alternatives, and make carbon-conscious choices without sacrificing performance. Over time, this creates a clearer market signal, supports transparency, and helps the Town track progress toward emissions reductions in the building sector. Success looks like routine use of EPDs in submittals, more projects selecting lower-carbon materials, and a gradual reduction in the embodied emissions associated with new development.