The practice of architectural preservation and green design is not a new concept to those in the business of practicing sustainable architecture methods. Both practices seek to minimize negative environmental impacts by choosing to reduce, reuse, and recycle building materials. Architects employing greater sustainability practices can often benefit considerably when they take into account the opportunities that lay in the construction and demolition (C & D) phase of the design process.
The goal of reducing C & D waste production when preserving or building a structure clearly has its advantages to offer the architectural firm, the clients, and the global environmental movement that is reshaping the industry as we speak. With 7 states already enacting 100% clean energy legislation to reduce the global carbon footprint, and several more in various stages of creating clean energy standards, architects are wise to design, build, and deconstruct with conservation of materials in mind. Becoming an industry leader in green deconstruction practices has great potential to attract more business to your business by avoiding the costly demolition or disposal fees of materials in your bids while providing a green solution to clients who are conscious of the environmental impact of landfill usage either by choice or by law.
The reuse of materials during a deconstruction project also can help towards Zero Waste Project Certification for architects and can earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) points for your clients. Zero waste practices, as stated by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), “ is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.” 1 Offering deconstruction versus demolition is an advantageous selling point architects can profit from- it raises the image of the architectural firm as environmentally friendly, whereby customers feel they have made a good choice using the firm to complete their projects.
Another advantage to going green during renovations or deconstruction are LEED points. The certification program “provides independent verification of a building or neighborhood's green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings.” 2 LEED certification in several states offer various incentives to companies and individuals who choose this path by way of tax relief, expedited permits, reduced fees, and grants or low interest loans.
Our company, The Green Mission Inc., offers architects a way to tackle the C&D waste phase of a project. We approach deconstruction from three interrelated fields of CPA research, deconstruction management, and commercial and residential property appraisals for the use of federal tax deductions. Corporate and residential property income tax deductions motivate clients to choose to deconstruct and donate rather than demolish and increase landfill usage. When industry research shows deconstruction costs are higher than demolition, government tax deductions help to overcome that increase. And while we cannot dispense private tax advice, we do provide assistance to the client's tax professional to determine how deductions are available given each unique tax situation.
Our deconstruction management team also provides front-loaded research needed to assist clients to choose nonprofits and/or government entities in need of commercial materials and personal property such as kitchen cabinetry, furnishings, appliances, desks, computers, cubicles, and other items that are often discarded in a corporate clean-out or a home remodel. Based on the material donation placement as well as recycling source placement, we can often achieve diversion rates of 50 - 75% compared to zero for complete demolition.
When architects choose green practices such as deconstruction over demolition, it's a win-win for all involved. The architectural firm promotes environmental initiatives to reduce the effects of global warming, the clients can often reap tax credit reductions, and even your employees are motivated to know that their work is doing the world good.
