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Welcome to our brand-new website!

Our Environmental 
& Social Impact

Building materials have an outsized impact on carbon emissions; even a few of our choices can significantly enlarge or shrink our personal footprint. Extending the life of useful building materials is one way to help keep the climate sustainable for the next generation. 

Global CO2 Emissions

40%

of global CO2 emissions are from the built environment. This includes construction and operation of buildings, bridges, homes, and all other built infrastructure.

37%

of global greenhouse gas emissions are from building materials. The production and use of materials such as cement, steel, and aluminum have a significant carbon footprint.

Reusing Building Materials

10 ft of cabinetry

Reusing 10 ft of kitchen cabinetry and manufactured countertop saves approximately 5 metric tons of embodied carbon. That’s nearly 1/3 of a person’s carbon footprint for an entire year!

10 sq ft of ceramic tile

Reusing 10 square feet of ceramic tile saves emissions equivalent to driving 25 miles.

1 vinyl window

Reusing a typical vinyl window saves CO2 emissions equivalent to driving 200 miles.

Zero Carbon Building

The Reuse Center building at Boston Building Resources has been certified as zero energy by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), representing one of the highest aspirations in energy performance for buildings. All the energy needed to heat, cool, and light the building on an annual basis is produced through a carbon-free renewable source—namely, an array of 114 rooftop solar panels (46 kilowatts). All-electric HVAC equipment provides heating and cooling, and a well-insulated building envelope (5-inch R-38 roof, 4-inch R-31 walls) keeps the conditioned air in. An electric vehicle charger in the parking lot is also powered by the rooftop solar array. Lighting fixtures are efficient LEDs.