Eco-Friendly building analysis with reused building materials

Abstract

In order to reduce the environmental impacts within the building sector, recycling of building materials is on the increase. Projects are carried out on several levels and are often well analysed regarding the economic consequences; however, the actual environmental effects are rarely studied. This paper presents a study of the environmental impacts due to a building from 2007 with a large proportion of reused building materials and components. Two cases were studied; (i) the building as it was built with a large proportion of reused materials and components (ii) the building as if all materials and components had been new. The results showed that the environmental impacts were about 55% of the impacts that would have been caused if all materials had been new. The reuse of clay bricks and roofing clay tiles accounted for the main decrease in environmental impacts. Further, these materials can be transported over quite long distances and still give environmental benefits.

KEYWORDS: sustainable building, recycling, selective demolition.