Embodied energy on refurbishment vs. demolition: A southern Europe case study

In this paper, an assessment is made of the cost/benefit ratio associated to two different strategies for intervention on a 40 year old detached single house in Portugal: total demolition vs. refurbishment. Since the building cost of both strategies of intervention was estimated to be similar, environmental impact was considered as a decision criteria. Therefore, an analysis was made of the initial embodied energy, new materials and materials sent to landfill, for two different scenarios: (a) integral substitution of the existing structure by a new house, and (b) partial demolition and refurbishment of existing house. The original house was characterized to provide a benchmark for the comparison of both intervention strategies. In the end, data related to energy and mass were used to sustain a decision regarding the recommended type of intervention.