Retrofitting and recycling will help cut construction’s carbon footprint – but too often we overlook the safety risks in the process, says Lesley McLeod.
On World Environment Day, it’s sobering to think that about a quarter of all the world’s waste can be traced to the construction sector. So, it’s not hard to see how construction and demolition recycling could make a major difference to the planet and in helping us reach net zero. Retrofitting could help cut energy use, offset greenhouse gases and protect scarce natural resources. It could even create quality jobs.
But, too often, the fad for thrusting, new statement buildings blinds us to the damage we are doing: filling landfill with dangerous and contaminated materials; using up scarce resources; and taking great bites out of our green spaces. All without considering energy used in making and transporting new materials when we could be reusing the things we have to hand.
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