DeepSummary
In this episode, Katie Whelan interviews Joe Connell, the executive director of the Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA), about the organization, its mission, and the landscape of building materials reuse in the US. Joe explains how the BMRA promotes deconstruction and reuse at the national and international levels, working with members like contractors, reuse professionals, and upcyclers. He discusses the types of materials commonly reused, such as lumber and architectural salvage from residential buildings, and the potential for increasing commercial building deconstruction.
Joe highlights the challenges in material reuse, including the lack of accurate cost measurement for raw materials and the need for a system that supports and incentivizes reuse. He also talks about emerging trends like cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction using reclaimed wood and designing buildings for future deconstruction. The BMRA's annual conference, which brings together various stakeholders in the built environment, is mentioned as an opportunity to advance material reuse.
Overall, the episode underscores the importance of localized efforts and grassroots organizations in driving the transition to a circular economy in the construction sector, while also recognizing the need to collaborate with larger players and incorporate new technologies and approaches.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA) promotes deconstruction and material reuse in the construction industry at the national and international levels.
- Common materials reused include lumber and architectural salvage from residential buildings, with potential for increasing commercial building deconstruction.
- Challenges in material reuse include the lack of accurate cost measurement for raw materials and the need for a system that supports and incentivizes reuse.
- Emerging trends include cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction using reclaimed wood and designing buildings for future deconstruction.
- The BMRA's annual conference brings together various stakeholders in the built environment to advance material reuse.
- Localized efforts and grassroots organizations play a crucial role in driving the transition to a circular economy in the construction sector.
- Collaboration between grassroots organizations and larger players, as well as incorporating new technologies and approaches, is necessary for systemic change.
- Deconstruction and material reuse offer social and employment benefits, particularly for underserved communities.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The easy days of taking raw materials out of the earth, shipping them around the world, building a structure and then throwing all of it away 50 years later has to end.“ by Joe Connell
- “Deconstruction, for example, will employ seven people for every one person doing demolition. And that's local jobs that are entry level positions basically for, you know, that really work well for programs serving people with barriers, underemployed folks, things like that.“ by Joe Connell
- “I'd love to be able to call my local lumberyard and say, I need a lift of two by fours delivered next Friday. And the guy who's picked up the phone says, great. Do you want virgin or used?“ by Joe Connell
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Episode Information
Getting In the Loop: Circular Economy | Sustainability | Closing the Loop
Katherine Whalen
4/29/19