ABSTRACT
Until now, little has been known about the climate change reductions that might be offered by reusing and retrofitting existing buildings rather than demolishing and replacing them with new constructions. This life-cycle analysis of Bent’s house was carried out as an exploratory study to find out whether preserving historical buildings will have a quantifiable environmental impact beyond the cultural benefits that are known by the public. This research paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential environmental impact reductions associated with building reuse using Bent’s opera house as a case study. Utilizing a life-cycle analysis (LCA) methodology, the study compares the relative environmental impacts and primary energy consumption of a historical building, building renovation, and new construction over the course of a 75-year life span.
