A Decision Framework for Sustainable Rehabilitation of Existing Reinforced Concrete Buildings to Reduce Construction and Demolition Waste

https://doi.org/10.46610/IJEMRES.2026.v02i02.007

Abstract

Construction and building activities are significant consumers of materials and contributors to carbon emissions and waste. A comparative decision framework between demolition and reconstruction and structural rehabilitation of existing Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings is presented in this study. Assessment of material quantity, Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, embodied carbon, construction duration, and relative cost for the representative five-story RC residential building in Bangladesh. Based on the illustrative case, it is estimated that the rehabilitation reduces new concrete and new reinforcing-steel requirements by 88.0% and 92.0%, respectively, and the embodied carbon of the considered structural materials by about 89.4%. Construction time is estimated to be shortened from 18 to 6 months and the relative project cost reduced from 100% to 58%. The findings show that substantial material and environmental benefits can be achieved through rehabilitation if the existing structure has sufficient residual capacity, and if the structure can be safely repaired or strengthened. The suggested framework would be for preliminary decisions and should be confirmed by a project-specific structural, economic, and life cycle assessment.