As we shift our focus toward a truly circular economy, we are discovering that the “greenest” building might not be the one with the most solar panels, but the one that already exists.
This research dives into the critical, yet often overlooked, concept of embodied energy—the total energy already “locked” into the bricks, steel, and concrete of our current building stock.
The study aims to fill a significant research gap: how do we accurately calculate this stored energy to prove that renovating an old building is often more sustainable than tearing it down to build a new, “efficient” one?
To tackle this, the authors conducted a critical literature review and proposed a new, comprehensive calculation method. This approach integrates two perspectives: a retroactive view (the energy already spent in the past) and a prospective view (the energy required for future maintenance or reuse).
By framing these within a life-cycle energy analysis, the researchers created a decision-making tool specifically for urban planners and heritage managers.
The findings highlight that treating embodied energy as a key “decision parameter” can fundamentally change whether a city chooses to demolish or preserve.
Ultimately, the paper concludes that the energy stored in our urban heritage is an untapped asset; prioritizing its reuse is essential for reducing the total carbon footprint of our future cities and ensuring that sustainability is measured over a building’s entire life, not just its daily energy bill.
Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.104284
Reference
Guidetti, E., & Ferrara, M. (2023). Embodied energy in existing buildings as a tool for sustainable intervention on urban heritage. Sustainable Cities and Society, 88, 104284