Renovating Gives Off Less CO2 Than Tearing Down, Building A House

According to a new study by a real estate development company, the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from repairing a house are around half that of demolishing and rebuilding one, Shinya Takagi reported for Asahi Shimbun.

Photo Insert: The findings will be used by the company to highlight the benefits of home renovations while working toward decarbonization and increasing its business.

Sumitomo Realty and Development Co. collaborated with a group of researchers from the University of Tokyo and Musashino University on the project, which involved three residences it was renovating.

The total CO2 emissions from the construction process were 47 percent lower than those seen when reconstructing from scratch.

“Though there is a margin of error, we could show for the first time that there is a certain degree of a CO2 reduction effect,” said Tsuyoshi Seike, a professor at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo.

The researchers itemized and compiled a database on the quantity of CO2 emissions caused by, among other things, replacing outdated house poles, foundations, and integrated kitchens.

The researchers next investigated how much CO2 emissions may be decreased by reusing these products and systems throughout a home renovation. According to Seike, the CO2 emission reduction effect will vary by roughly 10% depending on the materials used in the house.

In the future, experts will look at the disparities in longevity and energy-saving performance, according to Seike. The findings will be used by the company to highlight the benefits of home renovations while working toward decarbonization and increasing its business.

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