
Circular Retrofit Approaches: Linking Building Renovation, Resource Efficiency, and Environmental Sustainability
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v8i8.13268Abstract
Circular retrofit practices are now being more firmly placed as a tool to reshape building renovation to be resource efficient and environmentally sustainable by adding life to assets, minimizing material throughput, and minimizing waste without compromising or impairing building performance. This report summarizes theoretical underpinnings, lifecycle plans, evaluation procedures, and implementation terms to describe the circular retrofits, as opposed to traditional energy-focused renovation. We explain the workings of circular retrofit thinking, with the focus on adaptability and reversibility, as well as value retention as internal design logic by the material, component, building, and district loop levels. Our next approach involves strategies in the pre-retrofit diagnostics, circular design and digital documentation, procurement and contracting, selective deconstruction, and operational practices that support the sustainability of performance and extend the service life of the components. The review assesses impact assessment methods, such as whole-life life cycle assessment, dynamic carbon accounting, material flow analysis, circularity indicators, and life cycle costing, which are vulnerable to system boundaries, baselines, service-life assumptions, and end-of-life allocation. Lastly, we examine barriers and enablers by policy, markets, business models, digital governance, and skills, and determine conditions for pathways that can be taken during the transition of pilot projects to mainstream practice. Future studies ought to focus on common typologies and accountability, longitudinal execution indicators, and composite evaluation systems that are unified in terms of carbon, resources, expense, and resilience.
Keywords:
Circular Retrofit; Building Renovation; Resource Efficiency; Whole-Life Carbon; Construction and Demolition WasteReferences
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