Short answer
Prioritize refurbishment and adaptive reuse of existing buildings over demolition and new construction to achieve greater sustainability and social benefits.
- Field
- Sustainability
- Source
- Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning (2010)
- Method
- Literature review and policy analysis
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Refurbishing existing buildings is a more sustainable approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use compared to demolition and new construction. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2010 study published in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning. Using Literature review and policy analysis, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Prioritize refurbishment and adaptive reuse of existing buildings over demolition and new construction to achieve greater sustainability and social benefits.
Refurbishment Outperforms Demolition for Sustainable Building Practices
Refurbishing existing buildings is a more sustainable approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use compared to demolition and new construction.
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning · 2010
Key Findings
- 01Demolition and new construction do not necessarily lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- 02Refurbishment offers significant advantages in terms of time, cost, community impact, and infrastructure reuse.
- 03Refurbishment can achieve substantial reductions in building energy use.
- 04Large-scale demolition can exacerbate urban sprawl and fail to address social needs.
Application
Design takeaway
Prioritize refurbishment and adaptive reuse of existing buildings over demolition and new construction to achieve greater sustainability and social benefits.
How to apply
When faced with a project involving an existing building, conduct a thorough assessment of its potential for refurbishment and compare its life cycle environmental impact against that of a new build.
Project actions
- 01When considering a design project involving existing structures, research the embodied energy of demolition and new materials.
- 02Investigate local policies and incentives related to building refurbishment and retrofitting.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a comprehensive overview of a critical debate in urban planning and sustainability.
- +Synthesizes evidence to support a clear argument for refurbishment.
Limitations
The cost-effectiveness and feasibility of refurbishment can vary significantly depending on the building's condition and local labor costs.
Reliability & validity
The study's reliance on existing literature and policy analysis means its findings are dependent on the quality and scope of the sources reviewed. The validity of the conclusions rests on the robustness of the synthesized evidence.
Think critically
Under what specific circumstances might demolition and new construction be a more sustainable option than refurbishment, and what factors would need to be considered?
Design Principles
"Embrace adaptive reuse: Extend the life cycle of existing structures through thoughtful refurbishment to minimize environmental impact and maximize resource efficiency."
This insight is crucial for design professionals involved in the built environment, as it highlights a more environmentally responsible and socially beneficial pathway for development. It challenges conventional approaches and emphasizes the long-term benefits of adaptive reuse.
What This Means for Your Design
It's better for the environment to fix up old buildings than to tear them down and build new ones, as fixing them uses less energy and creates less pollution.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this research when justifying a design decision to refurbish an existing structure, highlighting the sustainability benefits.
- 2.Use the findings to support arguments for the environmental advantages of adaptive reuse in your design process.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The decision to demolish or refurbish existing housing stock has significant implications for sustainability. Research suggests that refurbishment offers clear advantages in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy use compared to demolition and new construction, while also providing benefits in terms of cost, community impact, and infrastructure reuse. Therefore, design projects should prioritize adaptive reuse and retrofitting to achieve greater environmental and social responsibility.
Source
Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning
Housing and sustainability: demolition or refurbishment?
journal · 2010
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about refurbishment outperforms demolition for sustainable building practices?
- Prioritize refurbishment and adaptive reuse of existing buildings over demolition and new construction to achieve greater sustainability and social benefits. Evidence: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning (2010).
- Why does "Refurbishment Outperforms Demolition for Sustainable Building Practices" matter for design?
- This insight is crucial for design professionals involved in the built environment, as it highlights a more environmentally responsible and socially beneficial pathway for development. It challenges conventional approaches and emphasizes the long-term benefits of adaptive reuse.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Prioritize refurbishment and adaptive reuse of existing buildings over demolition and new construction to achieve greater sustainability and social benefits.
- What were the main findings?
- Demolition and new construction do not necessarily lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.. Refurbishment offers significant advantages in terms of time, cost, community impact, and infrastructure reuse.. Refurbishment can achieve substantial reductions in building energy use.. Large-scale demolition can exacerbate urban sprawl and fail to address social needs.
- What research method was used?
- Literature review and policy analysis.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2010 journal from Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Urban Design and Planning.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When faced with a project involving an existing building, conduct a thorough assessment of its potential for refurbishment and compare its life cycle environmental impact against that of a new build.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses primarily on the UK context and may not be universally applicable without considering local building codes, material availability, and cultural contexts.