DesignGreen Consulting

Deconstruction Consulting

for Community Health and Legacy

The ancient forests are now in our buildings ... let's reclaim them

reducing carbon ~ empowering communities ~ boosting economies

Environmental, Economic, and Psychosocial Benefits of Deconstruction

Deconstruction is the hand dismantling of structures to reclaim valuable material for building.

This process of building removal and returning materials back into the construction stream dramatically reduces pollution, boosts local economies through job markets, and reduces landfill waste costs , as well as maintaining legacy and cultural identity in communities.

In 2018, 600 million tons of construction and demolition waste streamed in to American landfills. Demolition represented over 90 percent of that waste while construction debris contributed under 10 percent. Deconstruction diverts material from the waste stream back into construction.

Building owners have the choice to fully or partly deconstruct their structures. The amount of material reclaimed depends upon many factors.

In post-Katrina New Orleans more than 30% of one completely destroyed house was recovered for reuse. In Portland, Oregon the ReBuilding Center recovered 98% of a standing home.

Everyone Benefits

Private Property Owners enjoy tax advantages when donating their material to local nonprofit building material markets. There may also be national or local governmental incentives at the time you choose to deconstruct. We can help you answer the question: Should I Deconstruct My Old House?
Commercial Property Owners in addition to receiving tax benefits can enjoy public relations opportunities by publicizing their deconstruction project to promote goodwill for their businesses.
Local Governments find immediate relief from the burden of landfill waste, as well as reducing pollution, increasing jobs, boosting the local economy, and the added benefit of finding training & career paths for those in recovery or formerly incarcerated.
Disaster Response with deconstruction can provide governing agencies with ready-to-go systems for immediately activating reliable processes for removing damaged structures and using the material in rebuilding.
Communities can preserve meaning and cultural legacy from generation to generation as well as facilitate psychological healing after disaster.

We have been designing and directing projects in deconstruction since the beginning of the deconstruction industry as its own branch of construction. Our company provides you with world class, time tested experience in deconstruction decision making in most any circumstance. We can help you from the early stages of exploring options, to navigating governmental and insurance bureaucracies, to working through community concerns, and finding contractors and building material depots that can receive your material.