OVERVIEW
Conventional wisdom might suggest that structural integrity and other kinds of durability are the keys to designing lasting buildings. Real-world evidence suggests otherwise.
The decision to demolish is typically complicated, emotional, and entwined in local political, social, and economic concerns. It’s often more related to deferred maintenance and occupant dissatisfaction—factors that feed a vicious cycle of long-term building degradation.
One thing is clear, though: the embodied impacts of renovation are usually dramatically lower than the impacts of new construction. Here you’ll learn why this is, some strategies for saving buildings, and how to decide when something is just ready to be torn down.
IN-DEPTH
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When Investing in Energy Retrofits Makes Sense
News Brief
Thoughtful analysis and spending across the portfolio can result in better ROI, according to research from the Rocky Mountain Institute.
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New York State Launches Initiative to Scale Net-Zero Retrofits
News Brief
The state has budgeted $30 million to develop a self-sufficient, private sector-based market for deep energy retrofits of multifamily buildings.
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Study Reinforces Carbon Benefit of Renovation
News Brief
A new study of the U.N. headquarters demonstrates how retrofitting existing buildings is a critical strategy for addressing the urgency of climate change.
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BREEAM USA Jolts Existing Buildings Market
News Brief
The forebear of all green building rating systems, LEED included, is arriving from the U.K. as an accessible alternative.
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Six Ways Existing Buildings Can Save the Planet
Feature Short
Renovations, retrofits, and better-informed O&M will determine how quickly the developed world slows its carbon emissions.
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Carbon and Financial Payback Mismatched in Retrofits
News Brief
Lighting, windows, or the chiller? Choosing a retrofit package is all the more tricky when dollar and carbon ROI are at odds.
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Young Residents, New Businesses Flock to Old Neighborhoods
News Brief
Research from Preservation Green Lab suggests that age-diverse buildings contribute more to vital, livable communities.
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LEDs Expected to Eclipse Fluorescents in Retrofits
News Brief
Industry professionals expect continued growth after LED retrofit installations climbed to 37% in 2013.
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Largest Net-Zero Retrofit Emerges from Adult-Themed Shop
News Brief
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Sustainability in Preservation Gets Its Own Guidebook
News Brief
