What is the potential of circular economy in the construction industry? We are trying to understand current circular economic awareness in the design stage of the construction industry for end of life repurpose.
https://bcu.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/current-circular-economic-awareness-in-the-design-stage-of
#circulareconomy #construction #waste #lean
Thank you very much for asking this question. It's a very nice topic
It is an interesting idea, I've never though about this. Buildings, roads, bridges, etc. all have a useful life like any other product. However, their lifespans are much longer compared to consumer products. What do you do when they reach their useful life? There are structures more than a thousand years old and still standing. I guess we just preserve them. For more recent structures that reach their useful life, we demolish them and construct a new one. The casino hotels in Las Vegas and Atlantic City are very good examples of this. Urban renovation projects, too. What do you do to reclaim as much value as you can, and reduce the waste in the process in this context? It is an important subject that should be studied.
The impact of construction on the environment and economy is determined by the use of specific construction technologies, building materials, taking into account the issues of pro-environmental policy and the implementation of sustainable development goals. In a situation where the pro-ecological transformation of the classic economy towards a sustainable, green circular economy is carried out, then pro-environmental construction technologies and pro-ecological building materials limiting the loss of thermal energy are used. pro-environmental, sustainable, green construction is about building zero-energy or almost zero-energy buildings and powered by renewable energy sources.
Regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
Thanks all for your insights. We are also looking at the potential of doughnut economics in the construction sector, as it contributes to 40% of CO2 emissions and has also a considerable impact in terms of waste.
Dear Monica,
We have published a paper exploring the links between CE strategies and the built environment, where we present some savings potentials and discuss some challenges.
Perhaps, it could be of value:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652620311628
All the best,
Joan Manuel
I was especially interested to read Joan Manuel F. Mendoza contribution, and his article with colleagues on link between CE and climate change - including slowing (reuse), closing (recycling) and narrowing (use less) material and energy loops.
Most global focus is on reuse and recycling, but the need to REDUCE and BUILD LESS, including SUFFICIENCY, hardly rates a mention. This will need far more attention if we are to attain goals such as net zero carbon by 2050, especially in wealthier societies that already have comparatively well developed facilities and infrastructure when compared to poorer countries.
In its 2019 report 'Bringing Embodied Carbon Upfront', The World Green Building Council highlights (p. 20) that 'build nothing' and 'build less' options have greatest carbon reduction potential. https://www.worldgbc.org/sites/default/files/WorldGBC_Bringing_Embodied_Carbon_Upfront.pdf
As mentioned in Joan Manuel F. Mendoza article, "Demand for construction materials and associated emissions can be reduced through more intensive use of buildings (reducing per capita floor area)...' and other strategies. I also highlighted this in my article 'Growth in floor area: the blind spot in cutting carbon' (Emerald, 2020) https://emeraldopenresearch.com/articles/2-2 . I have also written a book about 'The impact on overbuilding on people and the planet' (2019), link can be found on my ResearchGate.
Hope this helps answer your question Monica Mateo-Garcia, especially circular economic awareness in the design stage.
Dear David Ness
Very relevant comment and very interesting articles and reports.
Glad you found our research interesting as well. Thank you for highlighting it.
All the best,
Joan
Thanks all for your responses. I have revised some of the articles suggested and they include interesting viewpoints for our research.
Also, interesting discussion into how circular economy most global focus is on reuse and recycling and less about building less. This idea would imply longer building lifespans, when we architects design dwellings for a lifespan of around 50 years, at least, in terms of liabilities.
Funny enough, UK has the older building stock in Europe, which would be good in terms of building less, but, the downside is that it is one of the worst performing in terms of energy efficiency. This means higher carbon footprint from heating. Deep retrofit is therefore needed to meet the net zero carbon targets for 2050, but that implies some sort of construction (installing insulation, making houses more airtight, installing clean heat such as air source heat pumps and offestting carbon with solar panels).
Monica Mateo-Garcia, my reference to 'building less' was meant to apply to new building i.e. avoiding new additions to the existing stock where possible. A key element of the circular economy is stock management and stewardship, while adapting and reusing existing buildings - where carbon is already spent - saves on carbon associated with new projects.
Of course, retrofit is the way to go and I wrote article for Architects' Journal 'Retrofirst' Campaign https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion/architectures-love-affair-with-extravagant-new-build-must-end
Sure, deep retrofit is necessary to meet net zero, but arguably this should be integrated with adaptation to suit changed uses. No point having a highly energy efficient building when it is unsuitable for its function.
Much existing stock is difficult to adapt, as it was not designed with this in mind. So design for longer lifespans should include design for change and ease of disassembly, whereby building elements such as fit-out can be changed and reused within a longer life structure. This is the idea behind 'Open Building' and Stewart Brand's 'layers of change'. You may wish to refer to my book where I expand on this and stock management https://www.cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-2402-6
In response to this discussion and the very insightful articles shared by David Ness , how circular is the end-of-life management of wastes produced as a result of renovations or deep retrofits?
Retrofitting and adaptive reuse activities are on the rise to improve efficiency, but the waste flows from such activities are not accounted for in most research studies. What role can architects/ contractors/ demolition agents play in this respect?