Sustainable Buildings Canada Research Paper: Decarbonization Through Building Reuse Audits

Canada's building sector stands at a critical juncture in the nation's journey toward net-zero emissions by 2050. With buildings accounting for approximately 12-18% of the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the push for decarbonization has never been more urgent. 84 85 Existing structures, which make up the vast majority of the built environment, offer a massive opportunity for emissions reductions without the high embodied carbon costs of new construction. Sustainable Buildings Canada (SBC), a leading non-profit dedicated to advancing high-performance buildings, has released a pivotal research paper titled Decarbonization Through Building Reuse Audits. This comprehensive study outlines a practical framework for assessing and repurposing existing buildings, emphasizing pre-demolition and retrofit audits to unlock their decarbonization potential.

The paper arrives amid growing federal commitments, including the Canada Green Buildings Strategy, which prioritizes retrofits and reuse to cut emissions by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030. 75 By focusing on audits—systematic evaluations of a building's materials, energy performance, and structural integrity—SBC provides developers, owners, and policymakers with actionable tools to prioritize reuse over demolition.

Understanding Building Reuse Audits in the Canadian Context

Building reuse audits, also known as pre-demolition or reclamation audits, involve a detailed inventory of a structure's components before any teardown or major renovation begins. These audits catalog materials like concrete, steel, timber, fixtures, and mechanical systems, estimating their condition, quantity, and potential for salvage or repurposing. In Canada, where construction and demolition (C&D) waste exceeds 28% of total landfill volume, such audits are gaining traction as a cornerstone of circular economy principles. 73

The process typically unfolds in four steps:

• Site Assessment: Inspectors document the building's layout, materials, and hazards using drones, 3D scanning, or manual surveys.
• Material Inventory: Classify items by reusability—e.g., structural steel (high reuse potential), glazing (moderate), or asbestos-containing materials (low).
• Value Estimation: Calculate economic value, embodied carbon savings, and diversion rates from landfill.
• Report and Marketplace: Generate a public manifest for marketplaces like Green Salvaged Materials, facilitating sales or donations.

SBC's research highlights how these audits can reduce embodied carbon—GHG emissions from material production—by up to 50% compared to new builds, as reusing elements avoids extraction and manufacturing. 85 For instance, in Toronto, Ontario Regulation 102/94 mandates waste audits for large C&D projects, proving the model's scalability.

Key Findings from SBC's Research Paper

SBC's paper synthesizes data from their Embodied Carbon White Paper and Energiesprong retrofit projects, revealing that mid-rise buildings in cold climates like Ottawa emit 25-30% of lifecycle GHGs from embodied sources under high-performance scenarios. 85 Reusing mass timber frames cuts this by 42% versus concrete baselines. Audits identify "low-hanging fruit" like doors, windows, and HVAC systems, which comprise 20-30% of a building's reusable inventory.

Notable statistics include:

The study also models lifecycle impacts using tools like Athena Impact Estimator, showing payback periods for audits under 2 years through material sales and incentives.

Case Study: Energiesprong Toronto Retrofits

SBC's Energiesprong initiative exemplifies audit-driven reuse. In Toronto, audits of solid masonry townhomes identified reusable envelope components, enabling factory-prefab panels for rapid, low-carbon retrofits. Pre- and post-audit energy ratings via NRCan EnerGuide showed 60-80% reductions in space heating demand. 44 This scaled approach, inspired by Dutch models, saved millions in embodied emissions while improving resident comfort.

Case Study: Minto's Castleview Deep Retrofit

Minto Communities Canada's Castleview project used SBC-guided audits to roadmap net-zero by 2050. The assessment revealed opportunities to retain structural core, upgrading insulation and switching to heat pumps—slashing operational emissions by 70% with minimal new materials. 74

Universities are adopting similar strategies; SBC's 2025 Better Buildings Boot Camp at the University of Toronto's Ramsay Wright Building audited labs for reuse, aligning with campus net-zero pledges. For professionals in higher education facilities management, explore higher ed jobs in sustainable design.

Benefits and Broader Impacts

Beyond emissions cuts, SBC's framework delivers multifaceted wins:

• Economic: Material recovery generates revenue; green retrofits could create 777,000-2M jobs by 2050 per CAGBC. 11
• Social: Deconstruction preserves heritage, enhances community resilience.
• Environmental: Diverts 60M+ tonnes of C&D waste annually.

In higher education, reuse audits support career paths in green campus development, positioning universities as net-zero leaders.

Challenges Facing Implementation

Despite promise, barriers persist: lack of standardized audit protocols, skilled labor shortages, and regulatory gaps. SBC recommends mandatory audits for public projects over 600m², akin to B.C.'s policies. Marketplaces for salvaged goods need expansion to match supply-demand.

Policy Recommendations and Canada's Net-Zero Pathway

The paper urges national adoption of audit requirements in the National Building Code, tied to 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. Provinces like Ontario lead with waste diversion targets; federal funding via Green Municipal Fund could scale pilots. Integrating with Zero Carbon Building Standard ensures alignment. 23

Future Outlook: Scaling Audits Nationwide

By 2030, SBC envisions 50% of retrofits audit-led, contributing 20% to sectoral targets. Innovations like AI-driven inventories and mass timber reuse will accelerate progress. For academics and researchers, opportunities abound in research jobs advancing this field.

Photo by Darya Jum on Unsplash

Actionable Insights for Stakeholders

Building owners: Start with free tools like SBC's Retrofit Roadmap. Policymakers: Pilot audit mandates. Developers: Partner via higher ed admin roles for campus projects. Visit Rate My Professor for sustainability experts or higher ed career advice to upskill.

In conclusion, SBC's research charts a pragmatic path to decarbonize Canada's 20M+ buildings, proving reuse audits are not just viable—they're essential. Explore higher ed jobs, university jobs, or Canada academic opportunities to join the movement.