A green-building certification provides not only a perception of quality
but also real energy savings and increased value on a new or
renovation project over the long term. More and more municipalities
are considering policies and ordinances requiring building
deconstruction to be considered along with traditional demolition and
disposal.
Reuse vs. Recycling
The "three Rs" of waste reduction are, in order of priority: reduce,
reuse, recycle. This hierarchy suggests that to be as environmentally
benign as possible we should first reduce our level of material use,
then reuse as many materials as possible, and finally recycle what
can't be reused.
Unbuilding focuses on the reuse and recycling portion of the three Rs,
and it's important to make a distinction between these activities.
Reuse is the heart of the deconstruction effort, by which the primary
focus is to maintain the material or component in its original form. This
might include some cleaning, removal, or replacement of some part.
