Embracing Circularity in Building Retrofitting for Sustainable Transformation

The built environment plays a pivotal role in shaping our society, encompassing the spaces where we live, work, and interact. It is, however, a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 26% of the total. As the urgency to address climate change intensifies, transforming existing buildings to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability has become imperative.

Energy-efficient retrofitting stands out as a crucial strategy to reduce emissions, bolster climate resilience, and extend the lifespan of existing structures. While retrofitting offers advantages over new constructions—such as reduced costs and quicker implementation—it risks perpetuating material waste and reliance on virgin resources if circular principles are not adopted.

With the retrofit market projected to expand from an estimated $500 billion in 2024 to $3.9 trillion by 2050, we face a critical question: How can we integrate circularity into building retrofits to minimise waste, recirculate materials, and reduce the extraction of new resources?

2. Aim and Scope

This special issue aims to explore the integration of circular economy principles into building retrofitting to drive sustainable transformation in the built environment. We seek contributions that critically examine strategies, innovations, and challenges in promoting circular practices within retrofitting. The focus spans environmental imperatives, economic viability, and social impacts, advancing both theoretical understanding and practical application.

3. Objectives

• Evaluate Current Practices: Critically assess existing building retrofitting methods to identify limitations related to material use, waste generation, and reliance on new resources.

• Explore Circular Strategies: Investigate innovative approaches for integrating circularity into retrofits, such as design for disassembly, material passports, and the utilisation of recycled materials.

• Analyse Economic and Policy Factors: Examine the economic viability of circular retrofitting and assess how policies, regulations, and incentives influence the adoption of circular practices.

• Assess Social Implications: Explore the social impacts of circular retrofitting initiatives, including job creation, skill development, and community engagement.

• Develop Theoretical Frameworks: Propose new models or theories that conceptualise the integration of circularity into building retrofits, addressing systemic challenges and potential solutions.

4. Key Themes and Topics

We welcome contributions on, but not limited to, the following themes:

• The Need for Circularity in Retrofitting: Analyses of the environmental impacts of traditional retrofitting practices and the potential of circularity to mitigate these effects.

• Innovative Materials and Technologies: Exploration of sustainable materials and technologies that facilitate circular retrofitting, including advancements in bio-based materials and digital tools.

• Design for Deconstruction and Reuse: Strategies for designing buildings that enable easy deconstruction and reuse of components, enhancing adaptability and material lifespan.

• Policy and Regulatory Frameworks: Examination of the role of policies and regulations in promoting or hindering circular retrofitting practices, including proposals for policy reforms.

• Economic Viability and Business Models: Assessments of the financial aspects of circular retrofitting and the development of innovative business models that support circular practices.

• Social Impact and Stakeholder Engagement: Investigations into how circular retrofitting affects social factors such as employment and community development, and strategies for effective stakeholder collaboration.

• Challenges and Solutions: Identification of barriers to implementing circular retrofitting and proposals for overcoming these challenges through technological, economic, or policy interventions.

• Case Studies and Best Practices: Presentations of real-world examples highlighting successes, lessons learned, and replicable practices in circular retrofitting.

• Future Directions: Discussions on emerging trends, theoretical advancements, and future research areas in the field of circular building retrofits.

5. Rationale

The anticipated surge in energy-efficient retrofits offers a unique opportunity to embed circularity within the built environment. Without this integration, we risk exacerbating environmental degradation through continued reliance on virgin materials and increased waste generation. This special issue aims to:

• Stimulate Scholarly Discourse: Encourage critical examination of current retrofitting practices and exploration of innovative solutions for embedding circularity.

• Influence Industry Practice: Provide insights that guide practitioners towards adopting circular approaches, leading to more sustainable outcomes.

• Inform Policy and Decision-Making: Offer recommendations to shape supportive policies and regulations that facilitate circular retrofitting initiatives.

• Advance Academic Knowledge: Contribute to the theoretical and empirical understanding of circularity in building retrofits, identifying areas for future research.

By fostering rigorous scholarship and insightful analysis, this special issue seeks to promote sustainable transformation within the built environment. Integrating circular principles into the retrofitting wave is essential for achieving environmental goals, driving economic value, and delivering social benefits.

We look forward to receiving contributions that will drive forward the discourse on circularity in building retrofitting and help shape a more sustainable future for the built environment.