Rethinking demolition in a carbon-conscious age

The construction industry grapples with a critical decision - to tear down and rebuild, or breathe new life into existing structures? While demolition has traditionally dominated, particularly in fast-growing regions hungry for new infrastructure, a powerful force is pushing for a shift – embodied carbon.

Embodied carbon refers to the carbon emissions associated with a building's entire life cycle, from material extraction and processing to construction and eventual demolition. Alarmingly, embodied carbon often surpasses a structure's operational emissions (energy used during its lifespan). This stark reality highlights the environmental cost of demolition and rebuilds, prompting architects, developers, and policymakers to embrace renovation as a strategy to extend the lifespan of existing buildings and significantly reduce the construction industry's overall carbon footprint. Check out the full blog

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