Building Materials Reuse - On Site

return to Living Building Design Studio

What is It?

---

• The reuse of building materials on site is a process to prolong (and hopefully end) the period from cradle-to-grave for existing materials in the renovation of a building. Careful methods of deconstruction and repurposing of materials within the building are included in the process.

• Also known as: Repurposing, New Life Reuse, and in some cases Adaptive Reuse and Up-cycling.

Why is it Important?

---

• Helps to sustain the environment by avoiding landfills.
• Historically preserves the integrity of the building by use of original materials.

When to Use It?

---

• When there are any number of materials available for harvest within the space.
• Reuse of any material on site is preferred unless found to be unsafe.

Green Garage Example

---

Sustainability Goals

• The specific goals we're trying to achieve. This should be the performance outcomes.
• Strive to quantify if at all possible.
• It doesn't describe how...just the outcomes.

Strategy and Conceptual Design

Material	Image	Amount	Reuse	Recycle	Waste
Wood 2"x8" 2"x4" 1"x6"	?	?	Wall Studs Flooring Partitions Furniture Features	Sawdust (soil ph balance)	<1%
Gypsum Wall Board	?	?	Wallboard Thermal Mass Soil (broken)	Company (Joe)	?
Fiberboard	?	?	?	?	?
Glass	?	?	?	?	?
Brick/Block	?	?	?	?	?
Concrete	?	?	?	?	?
Pipe	?	?	?	?	?
Cellulose	?	?	?	?	?
Electrical Fixtures	?	?	?	?	?
Fiberglass Insulation	?	?	?	?	?
Duct Flex/Steel	?	?	?	?	?
Carpet	?	?	?	?	?
Wiring	?	?	?	?	?

Resources

---

• Provide valuable links to help make it easier for others to pursue this pattern.