Ground-up construction is frequently regarded as the best channel for incorporating various green measures, yet some of the most effective sustainable projects are reinventions of existing properties, as discussed last week at the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild conference. The building sector accounts for roughly a third of global fuel consumption, and in turn, adaptive reuse projects are on the rise as our understanding of embodied energy grows.
One example is the UCLA Center for Health Sciences in Los Angeles, which was originally a hospital. Instead of being demolished, the 60-year-old science building was transformed into lab space for students. And, by reusing the existing building, the renovation will reduce the property’s carbon footprint by 48% over 20 years.
Q: How does adaptive reuse satisfy the three pillars of sustainability?
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