As the federal government pushes infrastructure investment through the ‘Build Canada Strong’ mantra, a new report says simple changes can limit the climate impact of construction at little to no extra cost.

The report, Build Canada Clean, from Clean Energy Canada says design improvements and lower-carbon materials can significantly reduce emissions.

Through case studies from across the country—from apartment buildings to roads to wastewater facilities—it finds that builders can procure lower-carbon construction materials with little or no increase in costs.

A case study of an apartment building in Quebec found that smarter design changes and lower-carbon materials cut construction emissions by 30 per cent. Overall construction costs also fell by 12 per cent.

The review of nine roadway case studies found lifetime emissions reductions range from 17 per cent to 31 per cent, while per-meter costs dropped by up to 16 per cent.

Canadian manufacturers already produce many of the required lower-carbon alternatives, the report says. These include steel produced in electric arc furnaces, concrete that uses industrial byproducts to replace cement, and reclaimed asphalt.

The report suggests governments should promote a ‘Buy Clean’ policy alongside the ‘Buy Canadian’ policy. This approach would support domestic producers while also incentivizing industries to become more climate competitive, the report adds. It would also help Canadian companies gain an advantage in a global trade environment that increasingly prioritizes cleaner materials. The global low-carbon construction materials market is expected to reach US$579 billion by 2032, according to Clean Energy Canada.

The report says some infrastructure construction codes and standards unnecessarily limit the use of lower-carbon materials and design practices. Stronger procurement guidance could also increase the use of recycled and lower-carbon materials.