U.S. General Services Administration
GSA Announces $3.2 Million from Inflation Reduction Act for Courthouse Renovation Using Low-Embodied Carbon Materials and Emerging Technologies in Portland, Maine
BOSTON – The U.S. General Services Administration announced $3.2 million from the Inflation Reduction Act will be allocated for work at the Edward T. Gignoux U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Maine.
This project is part of the first set of Inflation Reduction Act projects - totaling more than $300 million - announced by GSA that aim to catalyze clean energy innovation and spur domestic clean manufacturing by incorporating low-embodied carbon materials in GSA construction projects and by converting federal facilities into high-performance green buildings.
These projects, the first of $3.4 billion in GSA investments under the new law, will accelerate efforts to achieve the President’s goal of a net-zero emissions federal building real estate portfolio by 2045.
The project at the Gignoux U.S. Courthouse will repair and replace the building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system with a new system that reduces fossil fuel consumption and saves energy. A new fresh air duct chase, located in the courtyard area will use low embodied carbon materials in its construction. GSA plans to install air-to-water heat pumps which will help convert the building’s HVAC system to all-electric power.
“The Inflation Reduction Act gives us a historic opportunity to supercharge GSA’s efforts to spur clean energy innovation and boost demand for cleaner, more sustainable construction materials manufactured right here in the United States,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “These projects will create good jobs in communities and put us another step closer to turning federal facilities across the country into high-tech, high-efficiency models of clean energy innovation.”
“Thanks to President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, we’re moving forward on the clean, electrified federal buildings of tomorrow,” said White House Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Mayock. “As our country’s largest energy consumer, taking bold action to modernize the way we build, buy and manage federal operations creates good paying jobs in places that need them and helps us reach our nation’s climate goals.”
“Modernizing heating and air conditioning in aging buildings across our state is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption,” said Senator King and Congresswoman Pingree. “This investment in the Gignoux U.S. Courthouse is a win-win that will save taxpayer dollars, improve air quality in an important state facility, and reduce emissions. We’re glad to see funds from the Inflation Reduction Act being put to good use in Maine communities.”
These first Inflation Reduction Act projects were selected based on their potential to maximize the use of low-embodied carbon asphalt, concrete, glass and steel -- as well as funds to convert the Courthouse to a high-performing green building -- in previously approved construction projects. GSA estimates that this first round of projects will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 120,000 metric tons while reducing energy costs by $35 million over the next 20 years.
Overall, the Inflation Reduction Act provides GSA with $2.15 billion for low-embodied carbon materials for construction projects; $975 million to support emerging and sustainable technologies; and $250 million for measures to convert federal facilities into high-performance green buildings.
GSA estimates that the $3.4 billion it will invest will create over 9,500 average annual economy-wide jobs across the length of the projects, support $2.8 billion in labor income, and generate nearly $1 billion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments. In total, Inflation Reduction Act investments from GSA are expected to help drive an estimated avoidance of more than 2.5 million metric tons of emissions and $720 million in cost avoidance over the next 20 years.
To read more about GSA and the Inflation Reduction Act visit: www.gsa.gov/InflationReductionAct
About GSA:
GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet and overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services across government, in support of the Biden-Harris administration’s priorities. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.