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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New EcoDistricts Protocol Aims for Green Building at Scale
March 1, 2016News Analysis
Want to get your neighborhood from here to there—where “there” is more social justice, environmental health, and economic growth? You’ll need directions.
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Carbon and Financial Payback Mismatched in Retrofits
April 6, 2015News 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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Replacing Fluorescent T8s with LEDs: Is It Time?
October 6, 2014Product Review
CREE’s LED T8 sets a new benchmark for linear fluorescent replacements, but LEDs aren’t ready for all applications.
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Young Residents, New Businesses Flock to Old Neighborhoods
June 6, 2014News 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
May 25, 2014News Brief
Industry professionals expect continued growth after LED retrofit installations climbed to 37% in 2013.
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2014 AIA Top Ten Green Winners Highlight Adaptive Reuse
May 5, 2014News Analysis
Federal government projects take three of the top honors for 2014 in the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) awards, which combine sustainability with design excellence.
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Making the Case for More and Bigger Deep Retrofits
March 3, 2014News Analysis
An RMI report details how to calculate the full value of investments in deep energy retrofits and make the case for bigger projects.
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Faade Retrofit Puts An Efficient New Face on Old Buildings
November 1, 2013Product Review
Schüco's ERC 50 Modernization Façade is a modular retrofit system that improves the looks and thermal performance of a building with minimal occupant disruption.
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Largest Net-Zero Retrofit Emerges from Adult-Themed Shop
September 3, 2013News Brief
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Deep Retrofits Next Market for Struggling Architects
July 28, 2013News Analysis
AIA lends business advice to architects facing a down economy: start selling deep energy retrofits.
