Land Re-use and Climate Change, US Old Buildings Refurbishment, American Real Estate Refurb
Land (Re) Use and Climate Change: Breathing New Life into Old Buildings
June 13, 2022
By Ava Alltmont
The basic concept behind recycling is that it reuses an existing item. In some cases, the item is reused in its existing form: a water bottle is refilled again and again. In other cases, the item is adapted for a new use: a water bottle (well, many water bottles) is transformed into a pair of sneakers or yoga pants.

The water bottle?s new life in the latter example allows for a reimagining that not only keeps the item out of the landfill, but also provides economic benefits, such as supporting jobs (perhaps the wearer needs a new top to go with those pants and/or invests in classes at their local yoga studio). The seemingly simple act of repurposing something can have much broader, positive reverberations. We can apply the same concept at a larger scale ? with even greater impacts rippling out. When buildings are adapted for reuse, this can benefit both the companies and the communities involved by way of reducing environmental impacts, improving quality of life, and maintaining a sense of place.
As concerns for the environment continue to grow and as storefronts and offices remain empty as a result of the pandemic and changing consumer behaviors, the opportunity for adaptive reuse is profoundly felt across the American landscape.

What is adaptive reuse"
As more structures wer...