The pressure on cities and built environment is ever increasing with urbanization rate at 57% in 2023. This trend is likely to grow in the future primarily because of better employment opportunities, access to social services such as healthcare, quality education and modernized societies. As a consequence, there will be a higher demand for construction of both residential and commercial buildings in some ratio, which currently attribute for 26% of total energy-related GHG emissions.

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(Problem 1) The data forecast for the aggregated floor area of buildings suggests that the value will increase from 201 to 290 billion square meters between 2022 and 2030. It is also imperative that the energy intensity (energy consumed per sq. m.) reduces by 35% compared to that in 2022 to achieve Net-Zero Emissions (NZE)

(Problem 2) One third of total waste by weight is Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste with around 15% of material waste from the construction phase itself. These waste also emit GHG emissions.

One solution that addresses the above two problems is Building Circularity.

The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.

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Circularity in building refers to incorporation of circularity principles and strategies in building design such as reducing (by design) the overall consumption of raw materials used for construction, reusing materials for increased longevity.

(Refer this article for understanding the 5Rs of Circular Economy)

Key challenges and solution directions for circularity in buildings:

There are several advantages to designing buildings for circularity, including cost savings over time, resource conservation, a reduced carbon footprint, and the promotion of creativity and innovation in the construction industry. The Nordic Council of Ministers and a research study from Loughborough University, UK, highlight the key challenges as follows:

Here are key strategies to promote circularity in the construction and building sector:

1. Materials: Incentivize material reuse through tax benefits, reducing initial costs, and encouraging widespread adoption. Consider materials with Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification. Utilize materials passports for informed construction material use. Implement strategies for local sourcing of materials to enhance sustainability.
2. Design Innovation: Plan buildings with easy disassembly in mind, employing modular construction methods for seamless assembly and disassembly. Choose deconstruction over demolition to promote material reuse across different projects.
3. Technology Use: Implement Building Information Modelling (BIM) to manage and track materials throughout their life cycle. Utilize software tools to measure the Building Circularity Index (BCI) through life cycle assessments, identifying areas for improvement and guiding decisions toward sustainable options. Adopt the latest technology across different stages in the total construction value chain.
4. Awareness: Promote a culture of circularity among all stakeholders and encourage collaboration.

Integrating these strategies into the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings enables the construction industry to significantly contribute to achieving circularity and reducing its environmental impact. This requires a holistic approach, involving collaboration among stakeholders and a shift in mindset toward a more sustainable and circular building industry.