Healthy Building Practices In Qualified Allocation Plans

Data from October 2020.

The BlueGreen Alliance Foundation’s Building Clean initiative believes that encouraging local purchasing within state procurement policies boosts the local economy and supports domestic manufacturing. Manufacturing jobs often have higher pay and better benefits than similar jobs in other sectors and are vital for rural areas within manufacturing states. Structuring policies that support the purchase of locally-made energy-efficient products not only helps maintain quality jobs, it generates local economic activity and drives economic innovation.

A handful of states use the power of procurement within state QAPs to incentivize sourcing materials in-state or within a radius of the project. Michigan—the only state that requires in-state sourcing—mandates that all projects must “demonstrate the use of products and goods that are manufactured by Michigan-based corporations and incorporate them into the proposed development.” To assist builders and developers, Michigan’s QAP also provides a list of recommended in-state suppliers.

Massachusetts, Montana, and Nevada all provide points for projects that include locally sourced materials and products. Vermont contains regional sourcing as an option for meeting state requirements for sustainable materials and products, but it is not required. While Washington’s QAP doesn’t mention local sourcing, its state specific certification—the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard—awards points for the use of environmentally preferable materials or materials that are produced within 500 miles of the construction site.