Refurbishment? It all adds up

Refurbishing rather than replacing materials in social housing is the motivation behind Glasgow Caledonian University’s latest research project.

Professor Jim Baird and Dr Charles Russell have received backing from a Scottish Funding Council Innovation Voucher to develop a ‘carbon calculator’ that will help a building services organisation monitor its operational carbon footprint.

Building Finishing Services Ltd (BFS), a company that specialises in housing repairs and refurbishments, has given Professor Baird and his team three months to create the calculator.

Professor Baird said: “The concept of repair rather than replace, thus extending a product’s life, is a core business model in circular economy thinking. Keeping materials in the economic cycle for longer reduces our demands on resources and helps reduce our carbon footprint.

“Intuitively, we expect that repairing and refurbishing windows or a kitchen will save on new resources and costs. But what are the carbon benefits to be gained?  This tool will bring carbon reporting into some of the housing services procured by local authorities and social housing organisations. Initially, however, the carbon calculator will support BFS, who are committed to this approach, by demonstrating both the financial and carbon benefits of repair.”​