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To what extent would an Adaptive Reuse Program lessen human impact on the…
To what extent would an Adaptive Reuse Program lessen human impact on the environment in Springfield MA?
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Builders, construction teams and design practitioners can divert construction and demolition (C&D) materials from disposal by buying used and recycled products, practicing source reduction, preserving existing structures, as well as salvaging and reusing existing materials.
The international scientific debate agrees that the renovation of the built environment can lead to a reduction of primary resource use and greenhouse gas emissions as well as a decrease in construction and demolition wastes. According to the scenario outlined in Section 2, a new methodology has been developed and tested to assess the environmental impacts associated with improving the thermal insulation of the building envelope of a former industrial complex, combining the approach based on the circular use of resources with a performance-based approach, and proposing technological solutions based on the downcycling and upcycling of building materials and components.
The research highlights that the rehabilitation project is not always neutral but requires a preliminary careful environmental assessment of the technological alternatives. The environmental data used from the eco-inventory ICE (rel 3.0), allowed an estimation of the impacts associated with the new materials required (negative impacts) that can be balanced with the positive ones due to the conservation and reuse, or dismantling and recycling of the existing ones.
the environmental impact of buildings can be assessed in terms of energy consumption for extraction, transport, processing, installation, and wastes produced, and can be compared to the building's performance throughout its life cycle. Some authors analyzed the costs and benefits resulting from two different intervention strategies—demolition and reconstruction vs. renovation—for buildings that need to be adapted to new use requirements [[19]].
Another circular strategy of the built environment that is considered effective due to its potential of reducing demand is sharing ([ 2]; [ 5]; [10]; [20]; [30]). The environmental benefit of sharing is through reducing space demand, and consequent energy use and carbon impact ([12]; [17]). Positive social impact from shared spaces has been linked to community ([ 7]; [22]; [21]; [27]; [36]), as well as knowledge-sharing and collaboration ([22]; [37]).
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Thus, the absolute results in terms of CO2eshould not be taken as a final data for the specific project, as what is more interesting is the observation of the actual share of CO2e comparing different life-cyclestages and standard materials. In more advanced design stages, LCA showed ahigh potential to provide detailed results which would greatly enhance the decision-making process in terms of design and new uses/functions.
The selected case is a former factory in Malmö, Sweden. The 6800 m building was first built in 1901 and refurbished in 2022 when it was adapted to a new use of offices and workshops for the cultural secto
A positive impact was observed in terms of public commitment to sustainability issues and technology development, which in the S-LCA methodological sheets is considered to impact society as whole. Sustainability awareness training was also considered beneficial to society by Goel et al. ([14]) and was added to the built environment indicators.
Renovating existing buildings, historic or otherwise, is an important approach in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the buildings sectors. A new, green, energy-efficient office building that includes as much as 40 percent recycled materials would nevertheless take approximately 65 years to recover the energy lost in demolishing a comparable existing building.
data
Cities account for between 60 and 80 per cent of energy consumption andgenerate as much as 70% of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions (UnitedNations 2015)
A significant part of this real estate was unused, with percentages exceeding 20% in the Mediterranean area [[ 3]]. In Italy, for instance, data on vacant dwellings show that the percentage significantly increased from 5.37% in 1951 to 20.04% in 1981, and then fluctuated between the latter value and 22.66% in 2011 [[ 3]].
the renovation sector is proving to be steadier and more attractive than new construction (new house building investment variation is +3.1% in 2019, −7.8% in 2020 and +4.8% in 2021; renovation variation is +2.9% in 2019, −3.7% in 2020 and +5.7% in 2021) [[17]].
Considering the original embodied energy (615.84 MJ/kg), the use of the polystyrene panel results in an increase of 76.75% in Embodied Energy and an increase in CO2 emissions of 24.91%, while the solution using the cork panel results in an increase in EE of 6.45% and CO2 emissions of 3.3%. Nonetheless, considering the possibility of conserving and reusing the structural part of the concrete slab, we will have a saving in unspent energy of 525.60 MJ/kg and 46.06 CO2equ/Kg.
The current thermal transmittance value is 1.44 W/(m2⋅K), obtained applying the current formula from literature thus constituting 26% of the required performance. In order to reach the standard values, it is necessary to remove the concrete floor and screed to add an insulating layer; then the screed (50% downcycling) and the floor (100% upcycling) are reinstalled.
background
and social sustainability of buildings through assessments that result in building certification. Karji et al. ([19]) extract social sustainability indicators from existing rating systems such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and apply these in an assessment of mass housing construction. The indicators are predominantly focused on the local community impact.
Several scholars suggest that the most effective circular strategies reduce demand or optimize use with the least possible intervention to the product ([ 5]; [10]; [17]; [20]; [30]). In the built environment context, adaptive reuse has been found to save significant embodied carbon compared with demolition and new construction ([ 3]; [29]; [31]). Huuhka & Vestergaard ([18]) present a relationship between the circular economy and building conservation, where avoiding demolition both conserves the building and delivers circularity. In addition to heritage value, the social impact of adaptive reuse has been linked to the revitalization of neighborhoods and subsequent increased living standards, and even the lessening of crime and unsocial behavior as it typically aims to optimize the use of vacant or underused paces ([23]).
Since it accounts for about 30% of all waste generated in the EU, construction, and demolition waste (CDW) is identified as a priority sector within which recycling emerges as a crucial issue, as well as the challenge to push up the quality of its outputs.
Moreover, if the residual EE of the building element is the amount of matter that has not completed its life cycle, the value of 100% would mean that the building element is in a good state of conservation and all the existing material is effective whether compared to the performance required. A value of 0% would mean that there is no performance or that the building element has to be entirely demolished and replaced.
Whether you’re an aspiring homeowner looking at an unconventional building or a commercial builder ready to turn an old historic landmark into something new, here are the general steps(steps in link under this paragraph)
challenges
A new, green, energy-efficient office building that includes as much as 40 percent recycled materials would nevertheless take approximately 65 years to recover the energy lost in demolishing a comparable existing building.
While many C&D materials can find appropriate uses, it is important to note that a small percentage contains constituents of potential concern that can be harmful to human health and the environment if improperly managed. “Best Practices for Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling Construction and Demolition Materials | US EPA.” US EPA, 20 May 2024
While complete deconstruction is the preferred and most sustainable method for removing or renovating a structure, it is not always possible due to the type of building and/or its components. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, highly deconstructable buildings:
In the case of the historic building considered in this paper, this social cost is estimated around 50,000 €,however this cost should be considered as underestimated both due to the limited materials and technologies considered, than to the lack of operational energy which would substantially increase the amount of carbon emissions over a 60years period (and its social cost).
As per the limitations of this work, it should be highlighted that not all materials and installations were considered for the LCA, as it was performed as an “anticipatory” LCA in a preliminary design phase, in which no detailed information
on the design choices was available.
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