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The concept of a circular economy, which focuses on returning, refurbishing, and reusing products, is gaining traction in the resource-intensive building industry. In today's email, we explore innovative examples such as bio-engineered, biodegradable panels developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Schneider Electric's EcoFit program, which refurbishes equipment to reduce waste. If these sustainable business models catch on, they could make buildings less wasteful, more sustainable, and cost-efficient.

Plus, we continue our Propmodo Technology series about energy management. Discover how a multifamily property owner in Toronto saved $24,000 by installing EV chargers equipped with load management technology. This system efficiently distributes electrical capacity among multiple chargers, avoiding costly infrastructure upgrades while maintaining the building's electrical load.

Now, let's dig in!

Is the Building Industry Finally Ready to Go Circular?

Since the term was first coined in the 1970s, there has been growing discussion about the importance of a circular economy. Rather than building, consuming, and then disposing of products, it is much less resource-intensive to find ways to return, refurbish, and reuse goods. As simple as the concept is, it is very hard to implement on a large scale.

Recycling is one example of a circular economy. Certain materials can easily be melted or dissolved down to a state where they can become raw materials once again. This is a great way to limit resource use, but it is still much less efficient than simply reusing something outright. The building industry uses a lot of resources and produces a lot of waste, making it an excellent candidate for a more circular approach.

There are already some examples of circular activities, such as reusing heavy materials like concrete. Buildings that are torn down are often recycled to provide some of the material needed for the new structures that will take their place. But this is just the beginning of what could be done to make buildings less wasteful. To further reduce the energy and resources associated with buildings, materials need to be designed for easy reuse, and hardware needs to be built in a way that allows for easy servicing.

Now, we are starting to see this type of truly circular activity in the building industry. A team of researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has developed a new bio-engineered panel that can replace the steel panels used in the floors of large, multi-story buildings. The best part about these 3D-printed panels, made from “biodegradable thermoplastic-polyester bioplastic derived from corn residue and wood flour from lumber processing waste,” is that they can easily be used to make other products at the end of their useful life. This represents a significant improvement over the materials currently in use and could spur the development of other similar products in the future.

We are also seeing new circular business models emerging in the servicing and maintenance of buildings. Schneider Electric has announced a program for its Canadian clients called EcoFit, where it takes back core components of its equipment to be refurbished, keeping its products out of landfills while providing more timely repairs to clients.

These are just two examples of many products and services that are making the construction and property industry more circular. They represent new ways of thinking about our buildings, helping them be less wasteful and more sustainable while saving money—something particularly important as the economy worsens.

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Propmodo Daily is written and edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.

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