Buildings
D.P. Peck (TU Delft - Environmental & Climate Design)
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Abstract
The construction sector in the European Union is the biggest producer of waste when compared to other economic sectors. Waste prevention could reduce greenhouse emissions by up to 80%. Much of the material demand is from primary mined material sources and both this demand and primary supply have seen an exponential rise in the twenty-first century. In addition to conventional “bulk” materials, there is an increasing demand for a wider palette of technology materials driven by the need for smart, energy-efficient buildings. The current pattern for building construction and refurbishment tends to follow the linear economic model of ”take-make-waste.”
In this chapter an overarching approach is taken to circularity in buildings, in which the how, who, when, and what are considered. Circular Built Environment models are explored to see which approach facilitates modular design, which in turn facilitates product life extension strategies followed by enhanced recycling. The proposition of this chapter is that product life extension strategies in a Circular Built Environment context can deliver enhanced recycling activities.