How Deconstructing a Home Makes Environmental and Financial Sense

Recycling a home makes environmental sense as well as economic sense. When a home suffers from too many structural issues to renovate efficiently, there is an opportunity to adopt a green way to approach the task of a teardown.

Recycling or Deconstruction Helps the Environment

Deconstruction is a purposeful dismantling of a home with the intent to salvage as much of the materials as possible, benefiting the environment, community, and homeowner. “A study from the American Institute of Architects has found that up to 40% of the nation’s solid waste that ends up in landfills is building waste.” Deconstruction helps the environment by diverting tons of demolished building waste from landfills and repurposing or recycling it.

A proper deconstruction of a house reduces the amount of raw materials needed for new construction and also reduces the amount of material extraction needed. The impacts of avoiding demolition include reduced water pollution, energy usage, and habitat loss, as well as improved air quality. Reusing and recycling recovered materials also generates fewer greenhouse gases than resource extraction and the manufacture of building products from new materials. Deconstruction also has social benefits including job creation and lower costs for housing and renovation projects.

Things to consider if you are thinking about deconstruction:

1. Research to find a Deconstruction or Recycling expert in your local area.
2. Consider reuse and recycling during the pre-demolition planning.
3. Identify any harmful materials present to ensure safe reuse and recycling.
4. Consult an expert for material reuse or resale
5. Educate yourself about the environmental impacts of your decision.
6. Learn about the cost considerations including income from the salvaged materials, transport costs, lower cost of building materials, and tax benefits.
7. Contribute to the green approach by reducing the consumption of new resources, freeing landfill space and extending the life of landfills.

Overall, deconstruction helps environmentally and financially to help make a greener world.