Why Deconstruct and Reuse
Updated Oct 12
The following summarize reasons to deconstruct and reuse. [Click to jump to the appropriate section on this page.]
Preservation of Culture and Heritage
Economic Value and Job Creation
Reducing Embodied Carbon / Greenhous Gas Emissions
Public Health and Safety
Deconstruction and material reuse is a major tool to meet environmental goals related to waste reduction, carbon mitigation, and building a green workforce - but it's also incredibly vital for the health and safety of our communities and natural ecosystems. Note that the below descriptions are courtesy of Stephanie Phillips, Deconstruction & Circular Economy Program Manager at City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation.
Environmental Hazards
Demolition generates an array of environmental hazards, from airborne dust and particulate matter to the release of harmful substances like asbestos and lead. These pollutants can have severe health consequences for nearby residents, construction workers, and the surrounding ecosystem.
The practice of pre-demolition walkthroughs and deconstruction as opposed to demolition can reduce the proliferation of these hazards.
Air Quality and Respiratory Issues
Air pollution resulting from demolition activities poses a significant risk to respiratory health. Fine particles and airborne toxins can enter the lungs and exacerbate existing conditions such as asthma and chronic respiratory diseases. These conditions are further exacerbated when air quality is already at unsafe levels due to pollution, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat.
Noise Pollution and Stress
The noise and vibrations associated with demolition can disrupt communities and negatively impact mental health. Prolonged exposure to excessive noise levels can lead to stress, anxiety, and even cardiovascular issues. Demolition happens to people as much as it happens to buildings!
Water Contamination
Demolition activities can also contribute to water contamination, as hazardous materials seep into the soil and nearby water sources. Polluted water can affect local ecosystems and, in some cases, even contaminate drinking water supplies.
Further Resources
For more information on the health effects of demolitions, refer to this article by deconstruction and reuse consultant Sara Badiali.
For a case study on demolitions and their health impacts in New York City, refer to the below paper by Emile Bensedrine (graduate of the Cornell University Urban and Regional Studies program; intern at the Christopherson Center).
Bensedrine SCCCP C&D paper.pdf (15.84 MB)
Reuse and repair of existing buildings preserves the fabric and culture heritage of a community. It can enable the continued habitation and use by a socioeconomic group who has been in the area for a long time, and maintain structures of historic significance. By helping residents repair existing housing through the availability of low cost, salvaged materials from similar structures, it can be a counter weight to the pressures of gentrification. Helping residents stay in their homes preserves cultural ties through proximity and continued social relationships.
For more details on how deconstruction and material reuse can contribute to historic preservation, check out the report from the City of San Antonio and PlaceEconomics report: Treasure in the Walls.
For more on preservation, visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation webpage.
Economic Value and Job Creation
According to architect and researcher Brad Guy, between 2008 and 2022, the deconstruction and reuse sector tripled to about $1.4 billion. The sector now employs about 14,500 people annually.
Older buildings may be comprised of materials with great economic value. For example, the dense, high-quality, old-growth wood that many of New York City's older buildings are made of can no longer be purchased new.
Case Studies:
- Lifecycle Building Challenge - Green Jobs
- Description: Navigate to the "Green Jobs" section of the link below for four case studies on deconstruction and job creation.
Recognition
Green Building Certifications
The LEEDv4.1 BD+C New Construction Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction credit awards up to 5 points for adaptive reuse projects, and up to 4 points for new construction projects that incorporate reclaimed materials in the building structure and enclosure. In reality, this has not been enough to push the majority of LEED projects to reuse. However, networks such as All for Reuse have advocating that the upcoming version of the standard LEEDv5 place a greater emphasis on reuse.
Circular Economy Targets
- Australia
- City of Ballarat is looking to become a circular economy precinct
- The Brisbane 2032 Olympics are aiming to be a net zero circular economy region
Waste Reduction
The following is a breakdown of US construction and demolition (C&D) waste and building material reuse statistics, according to architect and researcher Brad Guy.
| 2022 | 2008 | |
| Number of building demolitions | 310,000 | 270,000 (as of 2003) |
| Annual C&D waste generated | 190 million tons | 164 million tons (as of 2003) |
| Number of building material reuse stores | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| Tons of building materials reused | 1.15 million tons | 350,000 |
| Building Material Reuse (BMR) annual revenue | $2 billion | $700 million |
| Jobs - Full Time Equivalent (FTE) | 16,500 | 8,250 |
Additional notes:
- The amount of building demolition in 2022 equates to about 1,200 demolitions every working-day of the year, or about 5 Manhattans worth of buildings completely wiped out every year.
- Roughly 49% of US "C&D waste" is demolition waste, 41% is renovation waste, and 10% is construction waste.
- Between 2008 and 2022, the reuse store entities that went out of business tended to be (1) mom-and-pop, for-profit, architectural salvage entities, and (2) independent non-profit entities.
- Between 2008 and 2022, the reuse store entities that increased the most were Habitat for Humanity ReStores and reclaimed lumber firms.
More to come with the upcoming release of Build Reuse's "Community Toolkit" report / tool!
For a visual representation of the materials that come from demolition - WaCa Design "explores demolition material at its origin – a gutted Manhattan loft apartment temporarily transformed into a gallery showcasing all the detritus from its renovation.
Reducing Embodied Carbon / Greenhouse Gas Emissions
See the Embodied Carbon pages of this Wiki.
Minimizing Disaster Debris
Building deconstruction and reuse can be a strategy for disaster debris management. Below are several EPA resources on this topic.
- EPA - Creating Disaster-Resilient Buildings to Minimize Disaster Debris (2024)
- EPA - Resiliency and Natural Disaster Debris Workshop Final Summary Report (2022)
- EPA - Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Web Academy Webinar: After Disaster - Deconstruction, Rebuilding and Resilience Lessons from Hurricanes Katrina and Irene Webinar (2020)
Supply Chain Resiliency
Reuse increases materials lifespans, reduces dependency on scarce or non-renewable resources, reduces the amount of new procurement needed in building projects, and thereby can make construction projects less vulnerable to supply chain disruptions.
Affordable Housing
Reuse, especially when implemented at a local level, has the potential to make building materials more affordable.
Resources:
- Design Follows Availability: Affordable Dwelling Units Based on Reclaimed Materials in San Antonio (2023)
- Habitat for Humanity study on possibility of using vacant spaces in mainland Europe to address housing shortages.