In 2020, GLY became one of 12 signatory companies nationwide of the Building Green Contractor’s Commitment. This voluntary program asserts that contractors can and should apply a yardstick to how they use their control over the jobsite to progress sustainable building practices. Last September I wrote about how the 2021 pilot year unfolded, both the program as a whole and as a formal initiative at GLY. I’d like to keep the conversation going and share our progress as we continue this journey of transformation.

We finished our second year of putting better practices into place and we're working on more for 2023. Fuel use was a key focus.

Tracking our Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions* per the Contractor's Commitment was highly instructive, along with Scope 3. It's glaringly clear that our biggest operational emissions are due to fossil fuel, from company vehicles to generators and forklifts. We need to address this dependency.

That's why we're in the process of switching from regular diesel to renewable diesel (R-99) in our Yard-based truck fleet. R-99 meets the same ASTM quality standards as regular diesel but burns cleaner and has 91% less carbon emissions. Switching is extremely convenient because you don’t have to change engines. You can even mix regular and renewable diesel! Since renewable diesel is only available through commercial distributors, we have a designated tank at our equipment facility for our fleet vehicles to easily fill up and go.

GLY is also looking at incorporating electric vehicles into our fleet as we work through supply chain and availability issues, and testing electric equipment and tools to further reduce emissions. Last week, we tested out an electric forklift.

GLY tests out an electric forklift.

Have questions about renewable diesel or the Contractor’s Commitment? Please reach out!

*Scope 1 is Direct Emissions – burning of fuel, fugitive emissions, and chemical processes. Scope 2 is Indirect Emissions – such as electricity and steam. Scope 3 Carbon Emissions are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by GLY. Learn more about the three scopes here.