Building recycling is on the rise.
The demolition of buildings in the U.S. produces about 124 million tons of debris a year, most of which is carted off to landfills. But that is starting to change: Instead of indiscriminately bashing buildings with wrecking balls, companies are taking a more deliberate approach, dismantling structures and recycling the materials. For instance, PNC Financial Services plans to recycle more than 70 percent of the 11,000 tons of waste generated by the deconstruction of downtown Pittsburgh's former Public Safety Building. Concrete will refill the site, steel will be made into new rebar, aluminum will be reused in other products, and foam-board ceiling tiles will be returned to the manufacturer for reuse. "You are trying to avoid going for new virgin materials and all the embodied energy and associated environmental impact that reflects," says Alan Traugott of the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, said PNC's Gary Saulson, "We're going to save over $200,000 in dump fees alone."
Thanks to Grist Magazine
FULL STORY: Recycling taken to a new level: Buildings
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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