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The traditional manufacturing, specification, distribution, and waste-management process is a linear path that begins with extraction of natural resources and ends with landfill disposal. In a world of endless resources, this may be a practical approach. However, the reality is that this linear path is neither sustainable nor viable anymore. By contrast, a circular economy is one based on the philosophy of extracting the maximum value from each resource available and then establishing a system that encourages the best use, reuse, and replenishment of natural resources possible. This course will discuss how the building industry is part of the circular economy, and how design and planning allow for more sustainable buildings.
Photo courtesy of Armstrong World Industries
Michigan's Kalamazoo Public Library is a strong example of how design elements like natural lighting, recycled materials, and creative use of space can support a circular economy philosophy.
The Circular Economy
At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, materials that were once meticulously and painstakingly made in small shops or in people’s homes started being mass produced in large factories using heavy machinery. These new and improved manufacturing processes were made possible through technological advances and inventions like the steam engine, which helped power manufacturing equipment.
Textiles, clothing, building materials, and even food were made and processed at a much faster rate than could ever have been imagined before. The invention of the steam engine not only helped boost production but also improved the way that materials were shipped from the manufacturer to the end user.
The Industrial Revolution quickly created a new way of life and a new speed at which raw materials could be turned into consumer goods, building materials, and commodities. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the earth seemed to have more resources than its occupants could ever possibly use. Materials were harvested, manufactured, used, and then discarded.
More than 100 years and many technological advancements later, we have now learned that the earth’s natural resources are not nearly as abundant as they once seemed. Standard manufacturing practices and demand are depleting the earth’s resources faster than they can replenish themselves, and landfills across the globe are filling up. This linear process of take, make, and discard, also known as the linear economy, is no longer a viable plan for our current time or the future.
In 2010, the Ellen McCarther Foundation launched an idea for a new concept called the circular economy, consolidating various schools of thought and ideologies that have been around since the 1970s. These include cradle to cradle, biomimicry, industrial ecology, regenerative design, and natural capitalism.
In a circular economy, every element of what is created or produced is considered a resource, meaning that all materials and the products they make are designed in such a way that they can be returned to the cycle through recycling, biodegradation, composting, or upcycling. The circular economy is focused on reducing or eliminating waste, including material waste from the beginning to the end of the product’s life cycle.
The circular economy concept took off in many industries worldwide as stakeholders realized that it is time to be creative in how we as a society handle population growth and increased housing density, advancements in computer and phone technology, and waste management, to name a few. While the concept of a circular economy can apply to most modern-day industries, it is especially important in the construction industry, which uses more raw materials than any other industry.
Two Main Types of Cycles in a Circular Economy
There are two main types of cycles in a circular economy: technical cycles and biological cycles.
Technical cycles recover and restore products, components, and materials. This is achieved through recycling, repair, and reuse, where materials are manufactured into new products.
Biological cycles refer to “consumption,” for example when food and biologically based materials, such as cotton or wood, are designed to feed back into the system through processes like composting and anaerobic digestion. These cycles regenerate living systems, such as soil, which provide renewable resources for the economy.
Both the technical and biological cycles are currently present in the construction industry, as materials range from those that have been engineered and manufactured to those that are naturally occurring, renewable, and/or biodegradable. Specifying a combination of these materials, takeback, and creating a construction waste plan can help with the sustainability and longevity of a project, as well as the responsible disposal of waste materials.
The Importance of a Circular Economy
The circular economy helps reduce waste and environmental impacts caused by production and consumption of materials, drives greater productivity, helps boost the economy, and reduces scarcity concerns with regard to resources. This all happens at multiple levels and on multiple scales, whether it is being done by large corporations, small businesses, or government entities, on a global or local scale.
This transition to a circular economy not only refers to adjustments aimed at reducing the negative impacts of a linear economy, but it also represents a systemic shift that promotes long-term resilience while generating new business and economic opportunities as well as opportunities for sustainability.
Another benefit to a circular economy is in the reduction of embodied carbon in materials. By using recycled material streams, the burden of these materials is basically “free.” This then reduces the overall carbon footprint of a product.
Identifying Key Players in a Circular Economy
Many industries and entities (including government entities) worldwide are interested in being part of the circular economy. Not only does it make fiscal sense, but it is also an investment in long-term sustainability for businesses, communities, and our economy as a whole. Over the long term, the circular economy will prove to be more cost-effective while also reducing waste and pollution, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.
Stakeholders in the circular economy include engineers, material specifiers, others involved in the design process, material and supply-chain providers, building industry companies, contractors hired for installation and/or deconstruction, occupants, consumers and end users, building owners, government entities that track emissions and waste management, code enforcers, agencies that provide recycling and waste management services, and many others in between.
In a circular economy, it is vital that all stakeholders do their part. Suppliers must responsibly source materials and ensure that they are sustainable. Manufacturers must design innovative solutions and specify quality materials to produce products that will last, have low impact on the environment, and be recyclable at the end of their useful life. Manufacturers should also provide a process to return products for recycling.
Specifiers should limit the use of different types of materials in a single project. Construction waste plans and recycling of each material should be outlined in specifications.
Specifiers should also indicate the use of mechanical fasteners, such as bolts, nails, and screws, instead of adhesives or sealants.
Additionally, specifiers should include requirements in the project specifications for recycling of construction waste and materials. These specs should include detailed instructions with specific programs for each material and key contacts. Most manufacturers provide specification language to use.
When it comes to planning deconstruction activities, it is vital that those involved in the process develop an adaptation or assembly plan in advance, and that they have access to blueprints, building drawings, lists of material types and structural properties, etc. Planning ahead helps allow for workers on the product to move safely and efficiently during the project deconstruction and reconstruction.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides great resources for stakeholders in various stages of the process, including design, manufacturing, construction, and waste management.
The traditional manufacturing, specification, distribution, and waste-management process is a linear path that begins with extraction of natural resources and ends with landfill disposal. In a world of endless resources, this may be a practical approach. However, the reality is that this linear path is neither sustainable nor viable anymore. By contrast, a circular economy is one based on the philosophy of extracting the maximum value from each resource available and then establishing a system that encourages the best use, reuse, and replenishment of natural resources possible. This course will discuss how the building industry is part of the circular economy, and how design and planning allow for more sustainable buildings.
Photo courtesy of Armstrong World Industries
Michigan's Kalamazoo Public Library is a strong example of how design elements like natural lighting, recycled materials, and creative use of space can support a circular economy philosophy.
The Circular Economy
At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, materials that were once meticulously and painstakingly made in small shops or in people’s homes started being mass produced in large factories using heavy machinery. These new and improved manufacturing processes were made possible through technological advances and inventions like the steam engine, which helped power manufacturing equipment.
Textiles, clothing, building materials, and even food were made and processed at a much faster rate than could ever have been imagined before. The invention of the steam engine not only helped boost production but also improved the way that materials were shipped from the manufacturer to the end user.
The Industrial Revolution quickly created a new way of life and a new speed at which raw materials could be turned into consumer goods, building materials, and commodities. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the earth seemed to have more resources than its occupants could ever possibly use. Materials were harvested, manufactured, used, and then discarded.
More than 100 years and many technological advancements later, we have now learned that the earth’s natural resources are not nearly as abundant as they once seemed. Standard manufacturing practices and demand are depleting the earth’s resources faster than they can replenish themselves, and landfills across the globe are filling up. This linear process of take, make, and discard, also known as the linear economy, is no longer a viable plan for our current time or the future.
In 2010, the Ellen McCarther Foundation launched an idea for a new concept called the circular economy, consolidating various schools of thought and ideologies that have been around since the 1970s. These include cradle to cradle, biomimicry, industrial ecology, regenerative design, and natural capitalism.
In a circular economy, every element of what is created or produced is considered a resource, meaning that all materials and the products they make are designed in such a way that they can be returned to the cycle through recycling, biodegradation, composting, or upcycling. The circular economy is focused on reducing or eliminating waste, including material waste from the beginning to the end of the product’s life cycle.
The circular economy concept took off in many industries worldwide as stakeholders realized that it is time to be creative in how we as a society handle population growth and increased housing density, advancements in computer and phone technology, and waste management, to name a few. While the concept of a circular economy can apply to most modern-day industries, it is especially important in the construction industry, which uses more raw materials than any other industry.
Two Main Types of Cycles in a Circular Economy
There are two main types of cycles in a circular economy: technical cycles and biological cycles.
Technical cycles recover and restore products, components, and materials. This is achieved through recycling, repair, and reuse, where materials are manufactured into new products.
Biological cycles refer to “consumption,” for example when food and biologically based materials, such as cotton or wood, are designed to feed back into the system through processes like composting and anaerobic digestion. These cycles regenerate living systems, such as soil, which provide renewable resources for the economy.
Both the technical and biological cycles are currently present in the construction industry, as materials range from those that have been engineered and manufactured to those that are naturally occurring, renewable, and/or biodegradable. Specifying a combination of these materials, takeback, and creating a construction waste plan can help with the sustainability and longevity of a project, as well as the responsible disposal of waste materials.
The Importance of a Circular Economy
The circular economy helps reduce waste and environmental impacts caused by production and consumption of materials, drives greater productivity, helps boost the economy, and reduces scarcity concerns with regard to resources. This all happens at multiple levels and on multiple scales, whether it is being done by large corporations, small businesses, or government entities, on a global or local scale.
This transition to a circular economy not only refers to adjustments aimed at reducing the negative impacts of a linear economy, but it also represents a systemic shift that promotes long-term resilience while generating new business and economic opportunities as well as opportunities for sustainability.
Another benefit to a circular economy is in the reduction of embodied carbon in materials. By using recycled material streams, the burden of these materials is basically “free.” This then reduces the overall carbon footprint of a product.
Identifying Key Players in a Circular Economy
Many industries and entities (including government entities) worldwide are interested in being part of the circular economy. Not only does it make fiscal sense, but it is also an investment in long-term sustainability for businesses, communities, and our economy as a whole. Over the long term, the circular economy will prove to be more cost-effective while also reducing waste and pollution, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.
Stakeholders in the circular economy include engineers, material specifiers, others involved in the design process, material and supply-chain providers, building industry companies, contractors hired for installation and/or deconstruction, occupants, consumers and end users, building owners, government entities that track emissions and waste management, code enforcers, agencies that provide recycling and waste management services, and many others in between.
In a circular economy, it is vital that all stakeholders do their part. Suppliers must responsibly source materials and ensure that they are sustainable. Manufacturers must design innovative solutions and specify quality materials to produce products that will last, have low impact on the environment, and be recyclable at the end of their useful life. Manufacturers should also provide a process to return products for recycling.
Specifiers should limit the use of different types of materials in a single project. Construction waste plans and recycling of each material should be outlined in specifications.
Specifiers should also indicate the use of mechanical fasteners, such as bolts, nails, and screws, instead of adhesives or sealants.
Additionally, specifiers should include requirements in the project specifications for recycling of construction waste and materials. These specs should include detailed instructions with specific programs for each material and key contacts. Most manufacturers provide specification language to use.
When it comes to planning deconstruction activities, it is vital that those involved in the process develop an adaptation or assembly plan in advance, and that they have access to blueprints, building drawings, lists of material types and structural properties, etc. Planning ahead helps allow for workers on the product to move safely and efficiently during the project deconstruction and reconstruction.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides great resources for stakeholders in various stages of the process, including design, manufacturing, construction, and waste management.
The circular economy is the most successful when everyone participates. Fortunately, there are many incentives in place to encourage all stakeholders to take part in the process, including rebates and accreditations that can lead to cost-saving benefits in the future. Many tools exist to help stakeholders follow best practices throughout the process and make decisions that can help build long-term economic, natural, and social capital.
Building Economic, Natural, and Social Capital
In our ever-changing world, growth is inevitable. As populations grow, housing density will continue to increase, as will the need for services and buildings in which to house those services. The design and manufacture of better products creates new jobs, and as materials are recycled and reused more instead of going straight to the landfill, recycling and waste management jobs will also see an increase. The circular economy helps build economic, natural, and social capital through innovation and advancement in technologies and processes.
By shifting our mindset as a society and as an industry, and by putting money and resources into projects and processes that promote sustainability, a circular economy allows manufacturers to design out waste and pollution that was so present in a linear economy. There are a few ways to do this, including the manufacture and use of materials that are built to last longer and are more sustainably made and reproduced. Longer-lasting products not only reduce the amount of waste going into the landfill, but they also reduce additional manufacturing impacts.
While the concept of a circular economy can apply to most modern-day industries, it is especially important in the construction industry. With populations in urban areas growing by more than 200,000 people per day, the construction industry uses more raw materials than any other industry and accounts for 24–40 percent of global carbon emissions.
Designing Materials and Products that Contribute to the Circular Economy
The construction and building industry can contribute to a circular economy in many ways. One of these ways is through innovation and design. When designing a building for new construction or renovations, it is important to consider that at some point in the future, some or all of the building may need to be disassembled as materials need to be replaced. Designing a building to support adaptation, disassembly, and reuse can reduce waste and extend its useful life while also providing economic and environmental benefits for builders, owners, occupants, and the communities. Planning ahead for disassembly during the design phase can help avoid future building removal and allows materials to be easily, cost-effectively, and rapidly taken apart and directed for further reuse. By designing for adaptability, disassembly, and reuse, designers and engineers are finding new opportunities early in the design process to reduce environmental impacts, conserve resources, and reduce costs.
Construction, Deconstruction, Demolition
Specifically in the building industry, the following three concepts play a role in the circular economy: construction, deconstruction, and demolition.
Construction refers to both construction of new buildings as well as construction being done in a renovation project for an existing building. New construction allows for the opportunity to use the latest and greatest materials and best practices to build a sustainable building with quality materials that will not only reduce energy usages and costs in the short term but also reduce the amount of waste and pollution created in the long run. Renovations allow for parts of a building to have better construction or materials and provide an opportunity to implement more sustainable practices, which can also lead to better energy efficiency, greener spaces, as well as healthier materials that make for quieter and more comfortable spaces. As overall building material performance is considered, including acoustics, lighting, and durability, many more products now exist where specifiers do not have to choose between performance and sustainable criteria. Better-performing materials lead to spaces that provide better occupant comfort and safety.
If an existing building or parts of a building need to be removed prior to construction, there are two methods in which this can occur: deconstruction and demolition. Deconstruction is preferred, as it allows for building materials to be taken down piece by piece and potentially reused in a new project or recycled into a new product. This can range from reusing an entire structure or foundation, to select assemblies and systems, to the careful removal of specific materials or items for recycling and reuse. Demolition refers to leveling a building. In many demolition projects, most of the materials end up in the landfill.
Disposal of construction and demolition materials can be a waste of otherwise good material resources and take up space in landfills. When new materials are used instead, additional waste and pollution are created.
Deconstruction can be applied on a number of levels to salvage usable materials and significantly cut waste and reduce disposal. When deconstruction occurs, materials can often be sent back to the manufacturer for recycling. Construction waste management and planning is vital to the success of a demolition. During design, construction, and the planning phases of demolition, it is important to keep track of what materials are used and where, the specifications of the materials, and whether or not those manufacturers have “take back” programs that allow for materials to be returned for reuse or recycling. Manufacturer requirements for recycling programs vary so it is important to plan ahead.
Design and Planning for Sustainable Futures
Sustainable buildings begin with high-quality materials and products that are built to last. Oftentimes, these sustainable materials can be deconstructed, reused, or recycled for other projects.
In renovation or removal projects, complete deconstruction is the preferred and most sustainable method. However, it is not always possible. This depends on the type of building and/or its components.
The following list includes materials that are highly deconstructible in buildings:
- All wood-framed buildings, especially those that use heavy timbers or beams.
- Unique woods such as Douglas firs, American chestnut, and other wood materials that allow for “stick-by-stick” construction. The individual logs or timbers can be easily removed during the reconstruction process and often be reused in other products.
- Specialty materials that have a high resale value, such as hardwood flooring, multi-paned windows, architectural moldings, and unique doors or plumbing/electrical material fixtures.
- High-quality brick-laid construction with low-quality mortar, which allows for relatively easy breakup and cleaning.
- Interior finishes, such as carpet and acoustical ceilings.
In addition to having materials that are highly deconstructible and reusable, materials that can easily be recycled or composted and materials that are biodegradable can also help move the circular economy toward a sustainable future. A material such as bamboo is a natural, biodegradable material that is sustainable, with new plants maturing in just a few short years. The material is also incredibly durable and resilient. Bamboo panels can also be deconstructed and removed from a project for reuse or disposal.
Ceiling tiles from renovation projects can also be easily removed from projects, recycled and repurposed for new building materials.
Photo courtesy of Armstrong Ceiling Solutions
Pallets of old, discarded ceiling tiles await pickup so they can be manufactured into new acoustical ceilings.
Tools to Aid in Deconstruction Planning
To ensure the best possible scenario with regard to waste reduction during deconstruction, the EPA has created a free Deconstruction Rapid Assessment Tool that enables organizations to triage building stock slated for demolition. The tool uses data to help prioritize structures for deconstruction and salvage.
When information about the project is entered, the assessment tool examines information about the building’s condition and uses factors like age, structural integrity, environmental hazards, valuable materials and architectural features, etc. to identify candidates for deconstruction by examining information on the building’s condition and salvageable material inventory. This rapid assessment tool can help managers make critical decisions on allocating time and resources by providing guidance on the best response.
Recycling, Reducing, and Reusing
After buildings have been renovated, deconstructed, or demolished, any material that cannot be recycled or reused will end up in the landfill. In the linear economy of “take, make, dispose,” the landfill was the end of the line.
In the time of the linear economy, recycling options were not readily available or were more costly than taking materials to the landfill. Now in the circular economy, landfill costs are consistently increasing as landfill space becomes scarcer and people become more interested in sustainable solutions. The public adamantly opposes landfills near their homes, thus making it difficult to find space for garbage and material disposals after demolitions.
Material waste that cannot be recycled does not always end up in landfills. Sometimes it can end up in the ocean. The world’s largest “landfill” is currently in the Pacific Ocean and is estimated to be anywhere from more than 3,100 square miles large to more than twice the size of Texas. This massive floating island of waste is known as the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” and poses a threat to marine life and ecosystems.
Recycling and reuse of materials can not only be cost-effective by saving the contractor landfill fees, but it can also help reduce a building’s carbon footprint. Policymakers and local government entities are recognizing the long-term value of reduced carbon footprints in cities and states across America. Many major cities and some states have green initiatives in place to reduce their carbon footprint by as early as 2030. While energy consumption and usage is a big part of that footprint, materials and green space also play into the equation.
Recycling old materials into new materials, recycling packaging for building materials, reducing the amount of manufacturing needed to make materials, and reusing existing materials all contribute to the circular economy by reducing waste and also by fueling the building industry’s economy.
Responsibilities of Construction Professionals and Manufacturers
Due to the high volume of materials that are used by the building industry, it is important that waste management plans are considered early and often. Waste can occur during the manufacturing process, when the building is in operation, or at the end of a material’s life cycle, contributing to greenhouse gases and the industry’s carbon footprint.
By designing and manufacturing products with longer lifespans, the need for recycling and/or replacement is reduced.
When a product does need to be recycled, companies that are already set up for manufacturing a product can potentially use their existing processes to recycle and make new products on existing equipment, as is the case with ceiling-to-ceiling products, where recycled ceiling material is actually an ingredient used to manufacture new ceiling panels. When a contractor is ready to recycle materials, start by contacting the manufacturer of the product or centers that are already set up to recycle the material. For example, to recycle scrap metal, contact a metal recycler or metal manufacturer. Asphalt pavement and shingles can potentially be taken by an asphalt plant. Concrete and brick waste can go to a clean fill site. Wood waste can be turned into compost or sent to a wood-chipping facility and then resold to a consumer for future landscaping projects. Ceiling tiles can be returned to their manufacturer to make new high-performing products.
How the Building Industry Affects Emissions and Carbon Outputs
According to The Carbon Leadership Forum, the world builds the equivalent of an entire New York City every month. This level of growth and development can have a huge impact on the environment if not done responsibly. Construction processes can create waste and pollution that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately result in speeding up the effects of climate change. Therefore, reducing the carbon emissions of materials is imperative.
Understanding Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The atmosphere surrounding the earth contains many types of gases, including those known as “greenhouse gases.” Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases are different examples of greenhouses gases that are emitted into the atmosphere. According to the EPA, in 2018, methane made up 10 percent of the gas emissions, while nitrous oxide made up 7 percent, and fluorinated gases made up 3 percent. Carbon dioxide emissions were the source of 81 percent of emissions, which is four times the emissions of the other three types combined.
Image courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency
Total emissions in 2018 = 6,677 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent.
Carbon dioxide (CO2), the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases, enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees and other biological materials, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions, like the ones used to manufacture cement. Plants can help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by absorbing (or sequestering) it as part of the biological carbon cycle.
Methane (CH4) is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions result from the decay of organic waste in solid waste landfills. Methane is also created by livestock and other agricultural practices.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste, as well as during treatment of wastewater.
Fluorinated gasses are powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted during a variety of industrial processes. Examples of these gasses include hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride, all of which are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. While typically emitted in smaller quantities, they are extremely potent and are sometimes referred to as high global warming potential (GWP) gases.
Together, these greenhouse gases absorb and retain heat from the sun while also regulating the earth’s climate by holding warmth in an atmospheric layer around the planet's surface. This phenomenon is known as the “greenhouse effect.”
Greenhouse gases are crucial to making earth a habitable planet. Without these gases, the temperature on earth would be 5 degrees Fahrenheit instead of the current 60 degrees Fahrenheit. However, an excess of greenhouse gases can raise global temperatures to the extent that they become harmful.
Greenhouse gases are caused by multiple factors, many of which are naturally occurring without human activity. Some contributing factors can be traced back to solid waste as well as the manufacturer, distribution, and use of products that result in manufacturing waste as well as solid waste.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lead to Consequences of Climate Change
While a temperature increase of 1–2 degrees Fahrenheit may not seem significant on a given day, over time an increase in the earth’s overall temperature could result in catastrophic changes, including more frequent and intense storms, flooding of low-lying areas such beaches and marshes, more precipitation in some areas and droughts in other areas, wider fluctuations in temperatures, and wider distribution of certain diseases.
Earth's atmosphere supports a balanced variety of climates and ecosystems that depend on those climates. Significant changes could damage communities and national economies as well as alter the natural world.
Because greenhouse gases remain in the atmosphere a long time, reversing the effects of climate change could take decades or, in some cases, centuries.
How the Building Industry Can Reduce Greenhouse Gases
A key way the construction industry can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions is through waste prevention and reduction. We have discussed ways that the building industry can design higher-quality materials with longer lifespans, manufacture materials in a way that they can easily be deconstructed for reuse, and recycle materials so that they can be made into new products, using fewer resources than materials created from raw products. Following are some ways that these practices can help positively impact the environment and reduce a company’s and a building’s carbon footprint.
Reduce Emissions from Energy Consumption
Making goods from recycled materials tends to require less energy than making goods from virgin materials and also makes waste prevention even more effective. Using recycled materials means that less energy is needed to extract, transport, and process raw materials. Ultimately, the lowered energy demand leads to fewer fossil fuels being burned and less carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere.
Reduce Emissions from Incinerator and Landfills
By recycling or reusing products instead of incinerating them, fewer greenhouse gasses are emitted into the atmosphere. When materials are diverted from landfills, there is also a reduction in methane gas that is produced when materials decompose.
Protect Forests to Increase Storage of Carbon in Trees
Carbon sequestration is a process in which carbon dioxide is stored in trees. Forests can take large amounts of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it in wood. Waste prevention and recycling of paper products can leave more trees standing in the forest, continuing to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Reuse of deconstructed timbers and wood beams can also help reduce the number of trees cut for construction.
Certifications, Initiatives, and Tools
Selecting the right products and ensuring the best performance can be overwhelming, especially as new materials are developed and new policy initiatives are rolled out. Fortunately, there are many resources for consumers and specifiers alike to help navigate all the options, initiatives, and certifications. There are also tools available that can provide automatic calculations of projected cost savings by product selection.
We will discuss LEED certifications, recommendations set forth by the Carbon Leadership Forum, and free tools available online.
LEED Certifications
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program and is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Its mission is to transform how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated.
LEED v4 includes information and resources for construction and demolition waste management planning. The intent is to reduce the waste caused by construction and demolition from entering landfills or incineration facilities, instead diverting them to recycling facilities or new jobs where the materials can be reused. In addition to referring to materials being used on the job site, it also tracks the disposal of all packing materials that come with the building materials.
LEED credits can be earned for construction waste management and waste diversion. To earn credits, a plan is required, and certain percentages of waste reduction must be met. A project can earn up to 2 points for waste management (total waste less than 2.5 pounds per square foot) and 1 extra point for 95 percent diversion.
When creating the plan, some things to consider are development and implementation, goals (for example, keeping five materials out of the landfill), specifying whether materials are comingled or source separated, determining where materials will be taken, determining how materials will be handled, etc.
Other requirements in LEEDv4 are as follows:
- MR Credit 1.1: Divert at least 50 percent of construction, demolition, and land-clearing waste from landfill and incineration disposal (1 point).
- MR Credit 1.2: Divert at least 75 percent of construction, demolition, and land-clearing waste from landfill and incineration disposal (1 additional point).
Calculations can be done by weight or by volume, but they must be consistent throughout. The minimum percentage of debris to be recycled or salvaged for each point threshold is show in the LEED Construction and Demolition Calculator available on the LEED website.
Image courtesy of LEED
The LEED Construction and Demolition Waste Calculator is free and available for use online.
The Carbon Leadership Forum
The Carbon Leadership Forum is based out of the University of Washington and is accelerating transformation of the building industry to radically reduce and ultimately eliminate the embodied carbon in building materials and construction. The forum works to inspire cross-sector collaboration and spur collective action toward net-zero embodied carbon in buildings and infrastructure.
The group is made up of architects, engineers, contractors, material suppliers, building owners, and policymakers who want to provide a better future and make a great collective impact. Together they provide research and resources and help incubate member-led initiatives around their shared goals.
One of the tools created and provided by the Carbon Leadership Forum is the EC3 tool.
EC3 Tool
The Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) is a free tool provided by the Carbon Leadership Forum. It is easy to use and allows for benchmarking, assessment, and reductions in embodied carbon, focused on the upfront supply-chain emissions of construction materials.
The Carbon Leadership Forum built the EC3 tool with input from nearly 50 industry partners, and utilizes building material quantities from construction estimates and/or BIM models and a robust database of digital, third-party-verified environmental product declarations (EPDs).
The EC3 tool can be used in both the design and procurement phases of a construction product and help review a project’s overall embodied carbon emissions. This allows the specifier to select and procure options that will produce the lowest amount of carbon.
The EC3 tool can also be used by owners, green building certification programs, and policymakers to help created EPD requirements based on supply-chain data and to set carbon limits and reductions at the construction material and product level.
This tool is having an impact on the industry by driving demand for low-carbon solutions and by incentivizing manufacturers and suppliers of construction materials to disclose information and provide transparency on which types of materials provide lower carbon emissions.
The main functions of the EC3 tool are to: find and compare materials, plan and compare buildings, declare products, and verify and audit.
The EC3 tool is hosted and managed by Building Transparency, a 501c3 organization that began in early 2020 to provide resources and education needed to ensure its adoption.
Building Transparency was established by leaders of the EC3 tool development team so that they could continue the management and development of the EC3 tool, as well as provide the resources and education necessary to ensure its adoption. Implementation of the EC3 tool is done by C-Change Labs, a software company dedicated to enabling climate change action.
Tools and Recycling Programs Implemented by Building Companies
In addition to tools created by government entities, associations, and collectives, individual companies have also created tools that can be used to help determine waste calculations and to specify projects to ensure long-term sustainability.
Materials and construction companies not only play a vital role in ensuring that recyclable or reusable materials are available, but they also have a responsibility to ensure that those materials can be safely and efficiently recycled, otherwise the building manager or contractor may not be as inclined to recycle or reuse.
In the design phase, a specifier or architect can consult with building companies ahead of time to learn about their recycling programs. When it is time to recycle, contact the manufacturer of the building to see what options are available and to understand the steps involved to recycle materials.
Each manufacturer may have requirements or stipulations to participate in its recycling program. It might also provide a list of steps to take to prepare the materials before they can be recycled. For example, a manufacturer may stipulate that materials containing asbestos or that have been installed below asbestos-containing materials cannot be recycled. It may also specify not to send any products that are wet, moldy, or weathered. Materials might not be allowed to come back on pallets with debris, garbage, or construction waste.
At the time of demolition, it is the responsibility of the building owner and the contractor to coordinate demolition work, especially work related to but not limited to building insulation, gypsum board, light fixtures, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and sprinklers.
Conclusion
A circular economy is based on the philosophy of extracting the maximum value from each resource available and then establishing a system that encourages the best use, reuse, and replenishment of natural resources possible. By specifying high-quality materials that are built to last and can be recycled at the end of their useful life and by shrinking waste, we can reduce greenhouse gases and get the most out of every material used in a building’s life cycle.
End Notes
1Breene, Keith. “Can the circular economy transform the world’s number one consumer of raw materials?” World Economic Forum. 4 May 2016. Web. 14 May 2020.
2R.W. Beck Inc. “U.S. Recycling Economic Information Study.” National Recycling Coalition. July 2001. Web. 14 May 2020.
3“Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Recycling and Composting.”
Jessica Jarrard is an independent writer and editor focusing on health, science, and technology. She contributes to continuing education courses and publications through Confluence Communications. www.confluencec.com
