Open Access

The construction sector is one of the largest consumers of raw materials and energy, as well as a producer of CO2 in the European Union. To reduce environmental pollution and to preserve raw materials and energy, resource-efficient building elements must be designed. Even if laws demand resource-efficient product design in the building sector, there is no independent evaluation system for the resource efficiency of building elements (e.g., walls, roofs, floors). Such an evaluation should take the whole life cycle into account. The measurement of reusability and recyclability is therefore necessary. This article, therefore, describes the development of an evaluation system for reusability and recyclability to be included in resource efficiency assessment. Existing approaches and the special requirements of the building sector are considered. Finally, a practical example shows that the developed system is suitable for the assessment of reusability and recyclability. It can be used for the comparison of different construction methods or for the comparison of specific designs or products; thus, the evaluation system is helpful for architects as well as for product designers.

In Germany, the current sectoral urban planning often leads to inefficient use of resources, partly because municipalities lack integrated planning instruments and argumentation strength toward politics, investors, or citizens. The paper develops the ResourcePlan as (i) legal and (ii) a planning instrument to support the efficient use of resources in urban neighborhoods. The integrative, multi-methodological approach addresses the use of natural resources in the building and infrastructural sectors of (i) water (storm- and wastewater) management, (ii) construction and maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, (iii) urban energy system planning, and (iv) land-use planning. First, the development as legal instrument is carried out, providing (i) premises for integrating resource protection at all legal levels and (ii) options for implementing the ResourcePlan within German municipal structures. Second, the evaluation framework for resource efficiency of the urban neighborhoods is set up for usage as a planning instrument. The framework provides a two-stage process that runs through the phases of setting up and implementing the ResourcePlan. (Eco)system services are evaluated as well as life cycle assessment and economic aspects. As a legal instrument, the ResourcePlan integrates resource protection into municipal planning and decision-making processes. The multi-methodological evaluation framework helps to assess inter-disciplinary resource efficiency, supports the spatial identification of synergies and conflicting goals, and contributes to transparent, resource-optimized planning decisions.