Three Ways Builders Can Boost Local Economies Through Procurement Decisions: Buy U.S.-Made, Locally Made, and Union-Made Building Products
Builders can amplify the economic impact they have in communities by selecting building products that are made in the U.S., locally sourced, and made by union workers. Products with these specifications support the creation of high-quality jobs, help grow the manufacturing base of the U.S., and more fully realize the socio-economic benefits of investments in making buildings more efficient, healthier, and equitable with high-road labor standards.
The following good, better, best framework is a way to approach purchasing decisions and can serve as a guide in the creation of incentives or requirements related to U.S. made products.
GOOD = Select products manufactured in the U.S.
The U.S. boasts significant manufacturing in product sectors associated with building efficiency and sustainability, offering builders a large and diverse selection of products to meet their project needs. There are currently over 4,000 manufacturing locations in the U.S. producing these products.
BETTER = Select products manufactured in-state or regionally
Every state in the U.S. manufactures building products, providing builders with opportunities to source products made in-state or within a small radius of their project site. Some efficiency programs and green building certifications include language incentivizing or requiring in-state or regional sourcing.
BEST = Select products manufactured in U.S. facilities with union workers
Many of the industries making efficient and healthier building products have union workers. Building Clean has identified union workers at over 350 U.S. manufacturing locations and created a tool to help builders identify them.
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