Deconstruction Instead of Demolition

In this episode, I am joined by Erich Kruger from Deconstruction Works in VT. Their tagline is Recycling the built environment. Deconstruction is the deconstruction of a building and recycling or reusing the materials vs demolition which is just tearing down the building and disposing of the material.

We talk about what deconstruction is, what happens to the materials, what is involved with donating materials from your deconstruction for a tax donation, what kinds of houses are prime candidates for deconstruction and if you are like me, by the end of the episode you will be sold on this approach for your project.

About our guest:

Erich Kruger has been in the building trades since 1997 when he was teaching carpentry in Antigua, West Indies as part of the Peace Corp/Crisis Corps. In Vermont he has worked for several general contractors and on his own. In 2005 he founded the non-profit ReNew Building Materials & Salvage, and has consulted with, and later ran, the deconstruction program at Finger Lakes ReUse in Ithaca, New York . He holds a degree in Wildlife Management & Environmental Ethics (minor).

Erich is happiest when he is diverting building materials at a job-site in the company of other like-minded conscientious deconstructors, or on the wood floors of a local contra dance with his family. He lives in a straw bale home he built with ecological features, including solar electric, solar hot water, composting toilet, and masonry wood heater/oven.

links

website: https://www.deconstructionworks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deconstructionworksvt/

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