Re-evaluating demolition waste : environmental value in building materials

Abstract

Malta has been experiencing an ongoing construction boom which has increased the magnitude of demolition waste. One asks why we demolish in the first place, as retaining existing buildings remains the most sustainable solution. Heritage literature, as presented in the research, fails to address the data needed to manage demolition waste as a resource. Hence given the climate crisis, preserving existing materials needs to be included in the sustainable model, while considering the environmental value of building materials. One of the main aims of this research was to start a conversation on the embodied energy and carbon within the conservation practice, an approach which is usually taken for only new buildings. Hence, within the research, two chosen case studies are investigated, both distinct in their primary building material, limestone and concrete, reflecting the primary building materials used locally. For each case study, the embodied energy and carbon of these building materials are calculated with the intention to investigate quantitatively the environmental impact of these building materials. This quantitative research gives a clearer understanding of the energy and carbon embedded within the building materials and the energy that would be ‘lost’ when one chooses to demolish a building. In conclusion, the research reveals that maintaining and conserving an existing building to prolong its life is the least energy and carbon-intensive approach.