Dallas 2024 Bond Demands Embodied Carbon Proof
Dallas voters green-lit a $1.25 billion bond package that now comes with a sharp new string attached: every library, fire station, trail, and skatepark built with those dollars must track embodied carbon through product-specific EPDs. If your concrete, steel, or glass can’t show its numbers, expect to sit out the next five years of city work.
The Resolution in Plain English
On August 28, 2024 the Dallas City Council folded its Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) into the 2024 bond program. The motion locks in two targets: cut city-wide greenhouse gases 43 percent from 2015 levels and hit net-zero energy for new municipal buildings by 2030 (City of Dallas Press Release, 2024). To stay honest, the city will ask every supplier to hand over third-party verified Environmental Product Declarations.
Which Materials Face Scrutiny First?
Bond guidance singles out three heavy hitters: structural steel, ready-mix concrete, and flat or processed glass. Together they account for roughly 60 percent of a typical civic project’s embodied carbon (NRMCA Benchmark, 2024). Dallas will require product-specific, Type III EPDs that list global warming potential for cradle-to-gate stages A1–A3. Facility-specific data earns bonus points.
No EPD? No Bid
Procurement staff confirm that bids missing compliant EPDs will be deemed “non-responsive” starting with design packages released after March 1, 2025 (Dallas BCM Briefing, 2025). That leaves just a few quarters for manufacturers to collect utility datas, vet upstream inputs, and clear third-party review.
Speed Matters Because the Clock Is Tight
Bond projects are scheduled to break ground continuously through 2029. Early award waves cover $345 million in parks and $90 million in public safety buildings (Dallas Bond Proposition Summary, 2024). Firms that can float EPDs in 2025 lock in specification lists that ripple through the program’s whole lifespan.
The ROI: More Than Dallas
Texas’ two other mega-cities—Austin and Houston—are both drafting Buy Clean ordinances built on similar EPD language (TX Legislative Council Draft, 2025). Nail the Dallas format now and you are halfway to statewide compliance without extra cost.
Data Tips for First-Timers
- Pick a recent 12-month production window; Dallas will reject data older than two years.
- Harvest metered energy by process line rather than plantwide totals; it cleans up audit questions.
- Trace cement, slab, or cullet inputs back to their factories. Dallas mirrors GSA’s push for supply-chain transparency (GSA LEC Requirements, 2025).
- Budget four to six months for third-party verification if your team is new to the drill—yes, faster is possible but only with rock-solid datasets.
Choosing an LCA Partner
Look for a group that:
- Handles onsite data collection instead of emailing templates and waiting.
- Has published under multiple program operators; Dallas will accept any ISO 14025-compliant EPD, not just UL or Environdec.
- Can update the EPD annually at minimal friction, because bond specs may tighten as the city reports progress.
Wrap-Up
Dallas just turned environmental paperwork into a hard gate for a billion-dollar spend. Manufacturers who treat EPDs as tomorrow’s task will watch rivals win today’s bids. Get your numbers, print the declaration, and keep the Lone Star’s biggest market firmly in play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dallas accept industry-average EPDs for bond projects?
No. The resolution explicitly calls for product-specific, third-party verified Type III EPDs tied to the exact manufacturing facility (City of Dallas Press Release, 2024).
What life-cycle stages must the EPD cover?
At minimum, cradle-to-gate (A1–A3). Including A4–A5 shipping and construction impacts is optional but has marketing value.
Will Dallas set numeric GWP thresholds like GSA?
Not yet. The city is collecting baseline data through submitted EPDs before it drafts caps, likely in 2027 (Dallas OEQS Memo, 2025).
Are PCR expiry dates a deal breaker?
No. Dallas follows ISO 14025: as long as the PCR was valid on the EPD’s issue date, the declaration stands until its own five-year renewal.
Can suppliers batch multiple SKUs under one EPD?
Yes, if the underlying material recipe and energy profile differ by less than 10 percent, per EN 15804+A2 guidance (CEN, 2024).
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
