Page 62 - Green Builder Magazine Jul-Aug 2021

DESIGN IDEAS
For a sustainable future.

Junkyard myth. Instead of
stockpiled junk, people who
visit reuse organizations find
Second Helping high-quality building goods
at rock-bottom prices.
CREDIT: COURTESY OF BRING

In times of supply shortages, reuse stores
may fit builders’ needs for quality

construction materials. directory, ReuseWood.org, helps connect people with wood reuse
and recycling organizations. There are more than 1,400 listings
in the directory.
BY SOPHIA BENNETT There are definite environmental advantages to shopping
THE MATERIALS SHORTAGE THAT HAS RESULTED from at reuse stores. Besides diverting materials from landfills and
COVID-19 is pushing builders to find new sources of supplies. incinerators, making use of existing items retains their embodied
Places that may be overlooked are local building supply reuse energy, which is significant. A European study found that
organizations. These nonprofits accept used building materials construction supplies make up 24 percent of all raw materials
and resell them to members of the general public. Supplies extracted from the earth. Those materials must then be converted
typically come from one of two sources: a home or business that to usable products such as steel, glass and masonry, which further
was remodeled or carefully deconstructed during demolition, drain the earth’s resources.
or a building site that had excess materials that couldn’t be used There are also practical reasons to shop reuse stores, even
or returned. when building materials are more readily available than they are
The best-known example of a building material reuse currently. The prices can’t be beat. Many older materials have
organization is Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, which has 900 higher-quality construction that simply isn’t available or affordable
locations across the U.S. There are also many independent groups today. Second-hand building materials stores are more likely to
nationwide. Build Reuse, a trade organization for building reuse stock period-specific products, which is helpful for preserving the
organizations, has 50 members from deconstruction firms, character of older homes and a delight for homeowners aspiring
reuse retailers and material appraisers. The association’s online to trendy styles such as the farmhouse or industrial look.

60 GREEN BUILDER July/August 2021 www.greenbuildermedia.com