Sustainable construction and design has many approaches to ensure improved building performance. In this posting, I’ll look into various ways to improve the green footprint of a typical interior remodeling, be it residential or commercial. When it comes to green design and planning, there are many important, though individually small, ways to make a big impact.
Perhaps the most beneficial way to deal with construction and demolition waste arising from a construction project is donation. Many local Habitat for Humanity chapters operate ReStore facilities to receive donations of new and good-quality used materials. Some simple research can locate the nearest store. They will let you know what materials they will accept, and the best way to conduct the demolition/removal to protect the material. Most will even pick up the material(s). Many larger cities have similar material exchanges that are non-profits, to re-use materials. Not only do you save on disposal costs, sales at the ReStores help Habitat for Humanity’s mission toward supplying affordable housing, and you can note the value of the donation for tax purposes.
Another often overlooked strategy to limit construction/demolition waste is quality. While not immediately apparent, scrimping on certain details or materials will affect the lifespan of any project. Ensuring the project is high-quality is always a preferable option, as durability means the materials are in use and functional for as long as possible, not taking up space in a landfill. I understand that higher quality often runs up against cost, however, scrimping on materials, craftsmanship, and resources may save money in the near-term, a good-quality project will remain in good condition far longer. We like the motto, “The bitterness of low quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”.
I have discussed demolition waste recycling at a MRF (Material Recovery Facility) in a previous post, but suffice to say, this is a great way to deal with materials you cannot deal with any other way.
Diversion is another way to limit your wastes if MRF’s are not a viable option. When conducting demolition activities, keep several dumpsters on-site for workers to sort removed material(s) by type. With this approach, non-hazardous masonry materials can be used for land-filling and/or crushed for road base. Additionally, metals are kept separate, where they can be taken to any local metal recycler.
The part of sustainability I deal most with regards planning. Proper planning and implementation are important for any project’s sustainability. By planning using current best-practices, as well as master-planning for future needs, we can try to keep a building/project in-service for a longer interval.
Too many times, clients may not have the big-picture, long-term view in mind, and this is not necessarily a problem. Architects and Builders need to understand that our responsibility is to not to only blindly do what is asked of us, but to help educate and inform our client’s so they can understand their options. Only by having an educated and cooperative approach, can we start addressing the issues of real sustainable construction in a meaningful way.
IN-Cambridge Architects is a Northwest Indiana Architectural firm specializing in medical facilities, office buildings, restaurants and other commercial construction projects. Click here to see our portfolio of Northwest Indiana Architectural Projects. We also offer a variety of architectural and design services to facilitate your project from conceptual design through the use of the facility.
Post contributed by: Evan Williams (LEED-Accredited Professional and Architectural Designer with IN-Cambridge Architects)
