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Sustainable Earth recently published an article about deconstruction and reuse which features input from our own, Mike Gable, president of Build Reuse, and fellow Build Reuse member Karen Jayne, CEO of Stardust Building Supplies.
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Demolition vs. Deconstruction: How Shifting to Reuse Impacts the Environment and Economy
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By Beth Cochran
Rethinking the Old System
Even though reuse has become a more favorable option for many architects, designers and owners, there are several big challenges that stand in the way of it becoming mainstream, including:
- Matching the supply to the demand
- Educating owners about what can be reused and recycled
- Connecting the resources
- Changing old habits, perceptions and misconceptions
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“One of the biggest challenges is we’re working against a system that’s been completely designed to make it easy for people to throw things away,” said Mike Gable, president of Build Reuse and executive director of Construction Junction, a nonprofit that supplies surplus construction materials. “It’s cheap to landfill materials so there’s not a really strong economic incentive to look for opportunities to not throw things away. The whole system is very much geared toward making it convenient to throw things away.”
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Reuse Industry Survey 2022
Build Reuse is collecting data to develop a Community Reuse Toolkit that will be used by community members, NGOs, governments, and private sector stakeholders to assess current conditions within a community for the establishment of reuse of building materials of different kinds, and to help new or mature organizations prioritize strategies for their stability and growth. The Community Reuse Toolkit will be made publicly available when complete.
This survey will take about 15 minutes. We ask that the survey be completed by a person in your organization who has an in-depth knowledge of your reuse operations. This email or the survey link can be forwarded as needed. All responses will remain confidential. At the end, you will be asked if you would like to enter a raffle to win a free Build Reuse one-year membership or registration to the virtual Build Reuse annual conference in October 2022. Participants in the raffle will also receive the results of the survey. Survey responses are due by August 9, 2022
Please let us know if you have any questions about the survey at buildreusesurvey@gmail.com
We greatly appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge!
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University of Maine Researchers: Circular Economy Concepts May Be Overlooking Environmental Justice | Waste Dive
The circular economy can offer “transformative promises” and potential job creation, but a recent literature review found many reports overlook EJ’s role in sustaining such systems. Cindy Isenhour, associate professor of anthropology and climate change, and Michael Haedicke, associate professor of sociology, are two of the eight researchers who contributed to the study. They spoke with Waste Dive about how sustainability experts can broaden their views and help avoid further entrenching inequities into new circular economy plans through better stakeholder engagement.
Read the Waste Dive interview
Boise, Idaho’s All Carrots, No Sticks Approach to Deconstruction!
The Valley of the Sun Deconstruction/Reuse Work Group’s June meeting explored the City’s innovative Industry Task Force to build a working framework for public/private collaboration, and its Deconstruction and Demolition Material and Waste Management Plan. The Plan provides contractors with a process to identify and track materials diverted from the landfill for recycling or reuse. After only 12 months, 22.6 million pounds of materials have been diverted! Use Passcode: M8!%8$Zb to Watch the Recording
Hennepin County Minnesota Expands its Building Reuse Grant Program
Hennepin County has funding available for projects that reuse and recycle building materials instead of mechanical demolition in the destruction, alteration, or renovation of a building. To help make these options more affordable option, funding is available for a variety of building projects including Residential Deconstruction grants, Commercial Deconstruction grants, Structural move grants, and Used Building Material Installation grants.
Residential deconstruction flyer (PDF)
Commercial deconstruction flyer (PDF)
Structural move flyer (PDF)
Used building material installation flyer (PDF)
Building Renovation: Where Circular Economy and Climate Meet
European Environment Agency (EEA) recently published a briefing which examines how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation. It finds that, through 2050, circularity can significantly reduce the use of materials and contribute significant additional reductions in the CO2 emissions embedded in Europe’s buildings.
Read the Full Briefing
Four Benefits Of Using ARPA Funds To Create Circular Economies
Read the Forbes article
Circular is Better: Recyclable Buildings to Save the Planet
Inspiration from the EU: House units which can be reassembled into other buildings. Citizens’ groups volunteering to renovate the existing stock with natural materials. And an EU project testing innovative solution, to involve users and institutions in a new sustainable model.
Read the article at youris.com
UB Architecture School Partners with PUSH Buffalo to Train Workers in Green jobs
The Community Climate Leadership Program will prepare trainees for decent, stable and living-wage employment, while developing “citizen architects” who can take on a greater advocacy role on behalf of their communities.
Learn more
A Pavilion with a Focus on the Circular Economy by Henning Larsen
Fritz Hansen pavilion designed by Henning Larsen prides itself on a through and through sustainable design. Located in the garden of the Designmuseum Danmark, Grønnegården, the pavilion impresses with its focus on natural light and materials that allow it to be fully disassembled and make it circular economy friendly.
See the pavilion published in floornature.com
Reuse Job Opportunities
Zero Waste Manager - College of Charleston (Charleston, SC)
Rebuilding Exchange - Various Positions (Chicago, Evanston)
Have news to share from your community? Submit to be featured!
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Sustainability and Circular Economy Conference: Present and possible Future Corporate Paradigms
Wednesday, July 27, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm ET (Virtual)
Presented by Georgia Tech Center for International Business and Research, Global USA Business Forum, USA India Business Summit and Novelis, Focus areas of the virtual seminar include:
Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Goals
Reducing waste to landfills and reduction in energy intensity & water consumption for manufacturing
Global Diversity and Inclusive environment
Advancing corporate social responsibility
STEM education / Recycling awareness
Learn more
Valley of the Sun Deconstruction/Reuse Work Group
Meetings resume in September and occur monthly, 2nd Monday of the month from 1-2 p.m. Phoenix time via ZOOM. To join the work group mailing list email Karen Jayne: kjayne@stardustbuilding.org
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Finger Lakes ReUse : Enhancing Community, Economy and Environment through ReUse
Finger Lakes ReUse is a nonprofit organization with a triple-bottom line mission to enhance community, economy, and environment through reuse. It operates two community-oriented warehouse, shopping, and educational centers where the maximum reuse of materials is a priority; where safety, cleanliness, customer service, good business, education, and creativity are stressed; where living wage jobs are created and supported; where mentoring opportunities are available; and where education in the skills of repair and reuse is offered.
Learn more about Finger Lakes ReUse, including employment opportunities.
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Deconstruction + Reuse '22 to feature Michaël Ghyoot of Rotor, a Brussels-based non-profit firm engaged in promoting and facilitating the reuse of building components as a strategy on the path towards a more resource-efficient materials economy. Rotor's spin-off project RotorDC, a cooperative that organizes the reuse of construction materials; dismantling, processing and trading salvaged building components.
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Conference registration opening soon! Keep an eye on your inbox!
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Reuse is local. It builds economies, it builds lives, it builds community. We believe that, dollar for dollar, an investment in reuse is one of the wisest investments a community can make. However - our impact is only as strong as our membership! Join our growing community of reuse advocates, business owners, policymakers, and leaders today.
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