Going Green for Good

By Kerry Celestini
Photos courtesy of Habitat For Humanity
DeConstruction
For Sarah and Dick Proctor of Raleigh, tearing down their 1930’s Glenwood Avenue home was an emotional decision.“We lived in our house for twenty five years, we raised our children there, said Sarah, but the house required so many mechanical changes that, in the end, we decided to remove the home and rebuild on our lot.”
The Proctors said they chose Habitat for Humanity’s DeConstruction Service to level the house because it was both an economical and environmentally smart choice. Summarily, they added, “deconstruction allowed us to put a home that we loved, to good use.”
Using deconstruction techniques, crews carefully disassembled their home by hand in order to maximize material recovery for reuse in other structures. All non-reusable waste from the job site was transported to a construction and demolition waste sorting facility where shingles, drywall, wood and other materials were recycled.
Once completed, the Proctors received an itemized list of the tax deductible materials that were then donated to the local Habitat ReStore. These materials were sold to the public for reuse with all proceeds supporting the non-profit organization’s mission to end substandard housing.
Habitat affiliates in Durham and Wake County both operate deconstruction programs. Their services range from simple kitchen cabinet removals for homeowners who are remodeling their kitchens to whole house deconstruction jobs which remove an entire home down to the masonry.
Bonnie Ashley, director of the Habitat ReStore of Durham and Orange Counties said, “The ReStore is committed to reducing the amount of salvageable waste that goes into our landfills each year, so our DeConstruction Program is a vital part of our goals.” According to Ashley, “The US EPA has estimated that 92% of building-related C&D waste is from renovation and demolition. So, every consumer that uses DeConstruction services is helping to reduce that number and improve the environment.”
While deconstruction will take longer than traditional wrecking ball demolition, the competitively-priced fees, coupled with the tax advantages of donating the recovered materials to Habitat, make the service an attractive alternative to demolition.

ReUse
Of course, in order for deconstruction practices to be sustainable, there must be a market in which to sell the reclaimed materials. Habitat’s companion ReStores, with more than 500 in the United States, serve this purpose by providing a clearing house for reusable building materials. Old doors, cabinetry, hardwood flooring, roof trusses, and interesting architectural elements are a few of the most common materials gleaned from deconstruction projects. Additionally, new and used items donated from builders, building supply companies and homeowners provide an array of merchandise to stock the shelves at reuse centers.
Debby Lubell is a testament to what a savvy shopper can find. Her home is full of vintage materials she bought at the Habitat ReStore to rehab a historical home in Raleigh’s Boylan Heights neighborhood. “Quarter sawn heart pine flooring, re-milled trim, six-paneled doors and a claw-foot tub were all found at the ReStore at a fraction of their value”, she said, “and using materials from the same era provided the character and authenticity the project deserved.”
John Stees, the director of the Habitat Wake ReStore, believes the ReStores serve the community in a variety ways. Shoppers can find discounted building materials and unique one-of-a-kind items, while donors receive tax deductions for their donated materials and can avoid commercial tipping fees. Stees notes that local ReStores even have a free pick up service for large donations. “Last year”, continued Stees, “over 2,500 tons of materials were diverted from our landfills and sold in our ReStore to support affordable housing – and that’s good for everyone.”
Sarah Musser, of Durham, is a self described scavenger hunter and long-time reuse advocate. To read the rest click here: http://raleigh.newhomebook.com/cms/News/Raleigh-Durham-Chapel_Hill/Articles/fall11_green_living.html