California Homeowners Recycle 80 Percent of Their Home
John and Joy Kelly of Santa Monica, California, wanted to rebuild their 2,200 square foot home. But rather than just demolish it, they deconstructed it and donated 80 percent of the materials to charity, reports the Los Angeles Chronicle.
The non-profit organization which directed the project is called Deconstruction & Building Materials ReUse Network, Inc. Finished materials like doors, windows, cabinetry, bricks, oak flooring, plumbing and lighting fixtures, were donated to the Habitat for Humanity. The reusable rough framing lumber, including items such as rafters and siding, was sent to Corazon, an affordable home builder and community development ministry in Baja, California.
“It was thrilling for us to reuse so much of this home and to help the Kelly’s and the City of Santa Monica to not only make a significant impact on the environment but to set a standard for other cities to follow,” Lorenz Schilling, president and founder of Deconstruction Network, told the Chronicle. “What the Kelly’s did right was to plan ahead. What the city is doing right is taking a leadership role in this area.”
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