Climate Change and Building Sustainability

SOURCE www.npr.org
NPR is dedicating a week to stories about climate change solutions for building and living on a hotter planet. Deconstruction is a practice that creates a circular economy of reuse for building materials, reducing carbon footprint. It involves dismantling old buildings for reusable materials instead of demolishing them.

Key Points

  • Deconstruction reduces greenhouse gas emissions from construction materials
  • Embodied carbon from building materials is a significant part of the carbon footprint of buildings
  • Cities like Boulder have implemented deconstruction ordinances to divert building materials from landfills

Pros

  • Deconstruction creates a circular economy for building materials
  • Reduces carbon footprint by reusing materials instead of manufacturing new ones
  • Helps in keeping waste out of landfills

Cons

  • Deconstruction can increase project costs and schedule
  • Requires local infrastructure for processing salvaged materials
  • Economic incentives for deconstruction may not always be present