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Re-Use research project with the city of Baden

Intep collaborated with the Chair of Ecological System Design at ETH Zurich on a project for the re-use of building components at city level. This involved modeling component flows, analyzing the environmental impact and systematically recording the necessary framework conditions for broad application. The city of Baden served as a case study.

The aim of the project was to determine the potential for reusing building components to reduce embodied energy (gray energy) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the city. The results serve as a basis for sustainability strategies for public and private property owners and illustrate how framework conditions can be improved to facilitate a broader implementation of re-use. In addition, options for action were developed for stakeholders in the construction industry.

A model was developed to calculate the long-term reduction of embodied greenhouse gas emissions, embodied energy and overall environmental impact through the re-use of building components. In addition, organizational, economic, legal and social framework conditions for nationwide implementation were identified. Specific recommendations for action and a measures plan for the city of Baden were developed in a workshop with decision-makers. The results are being prepared for knowledge transfer to other cities. The project supports the extension of product life cycles and the promotion of the circular economy in urban areas to achieve climate goals.

The key findings from the report

To achieve the net-zero target for embodied greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector by 2050, re-use alone is not sufficient in the growing city of Baden; additional measures to reduce emissions are required.
However, across Switzerland, re-use could become more important in a more sufficiency-oriented society and through “design for disassembly” buildings. Therefore, the establishment of re-use as a market segment in a circular construction industry should be promoted.
Cities and municipalities can lead by example by applying re-use in their buildings, supporting local developers in pilot projects, and advancing a re-use agenda together with various stakeholders in the construction industry through a roadmap.
The federal government can develop effective instruments such as a standardized system for the inventory of building components and funding measures, integrate re-use more strongly into waste regulations and promote research on the most effective uses of re-use.
There is also a need to identify portfolio holders who can particularly benefit from re-use, evaluate the potential for a national market for structural components, and to develop procurement criteria for resource-efficient construction.