Hybrid Deconstruction: Commercial Case Study

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Barriers to Deconstruction – How far are we from zero waste?

Fortunately….• Our estimate: 95+ % of people we’ve interviewed

want deconstruction vs. demolitionUnfortunately….• Our estimate: 95% of people we’ve interviewed do

not want it to take much longer than demolition

• Our Estimate: 95% of people we’ve interviewed do not want it to cost much more than demolition

Barriers to Deconstruction – Is this how to compete with demolition??

• Strategy: Some groups are ‘offering’ unusually large tax-deductions to ‘pay’ people to deconstruct

• Result: IRS has started an investigation into these non-profits similar to the car-donation scams a few years back

• Strategy: Combining government assistance to start programs + sell the public on the benefits of deconstruction in order to get them to pay more

• Result: Funding runs out or limits the operation’s growth and the environmental ethic falls victim to schedule and budget

Mainstream Decon

OUR GOAL : To make building deconstruction a mainstream

choice for building removal. To do this we must overcome barriers to deconstruction.

Decon-

A series ofpluses and

minuses

The road to full deconstruction has many stops on the way.

Demolition Deconstruction

Moving structures or preserving them in place is off the chart. Demolition is a dead end street for your community.

RE-USE Consulting

Not just homes….

Reversing the FlowReduce waste• 1000+ cities that can

support a reuse/deconstruction operation

• They would be capable of diverting 2.5 to 5.0 billion pounds via reuse and recycling

• Create 20-50,000 jobs

Avoid producing new waste• One pound of reuse avoids

the waste associated with the production of one pound of new building materials

• One pound of reuse also avoids the reduction in energy that would have been used to produce new building materials

If reusing material avoids both new materials and their associated waste, then we should build with highly reusable materials .

Betraying our missionThe path to zero waste doesn’t start with zero waste

Some zero waste efforts have led to high priced projects.

It takes infrastructure and planning Costs rise without all pieces in place

Designing for Deconstruction

RE-USE Consulting’s new RE-Building Project

We are experimenting with keeping sections of the building intact (sometimes even including the drywall !) in order to build smaller structures out of them

By keeping them together we:1. Preserve more of the embodied

energy2. Save time on both sides of the

equation

• Adhesives can ruin materials (so let’s use them to our advantage - panelization)

Designing For DisassemblyZero waste is impossible when waste is

designed into new structures

• Stricter codes limiting reuse; lack of time(expedite permits when deconstruction is chosen)

• Fasteners are one of the reasons buildings are not deconstructed

(new fastening systems and reuse options are on the way!)

Designing for Deconstruction

Workforce Training/ Job Creation Decon/pickup/salvage workers:Nail pullers Raking / Clean upTruck loaders Site laborDecon lead assist Truck DriverMachine operator Decon leadSite lead Decon managerDecon estimator/logistics Pickup/salvage crewStore workers:Store cleaner Sign maker Store stocker Store sales associate Store assistant manager Store manager General positions:Maintenance worker MechanicValue added shop positions:Value added shop clean up Value added laborValue added lead Value added designerAdmin positions:General manager Marketing specialist Accountant Book keeperController / office manager Executive Director

Construction – Service Industry – Retail – Marketing – Management – Manufacturing

No comment…

National Efforts To Promote Decon• CT – Decon Group to change laws regarding who can perform

demolition and to redefine demolition

• WA – General contractors learning how to deconstruct to keep their employees employed vs. subbing out demolition

• NY – Gov’t funding for recycling and reuse enterprises

National Efforts To Promote Decon• OH – Multiple cities using stimulus money to promote decon

• CO – Deconstruction surveys and more

• OR – Funding for facilities and deconstruction projects

• IL – Job training for the Olympic Games project and new Chicago deconstruction training project (85 jobs for three years)

The Future of Deconstruction

• Deconstruction replaces most demolition work

• Rising disposal costs = more deconstruction

• Buildings designed to be deconstructed eliminate waste and limit costs

• Deconstruction grows to a point where everyone can see the benefits in saving energy, natural resources, and job creation

RE-USE Consulting – Sustainable Alternatives To Demolition

David Bennink 360-201-6977www.reuseconsulting.com