Cook County Aids “Green Revolution” in Building Materials Education for Architects, Designers, Contractors to increase demand for material reuse

Cook County’s award-winning Demolition Debris Diversion Ordinance was discussed by a group of architects, interior designers and reuse specialists on November 11. Hosted by DIRTT Environmental Solutions, the panel featured Cook County’s Sustainability Officer Deborah Stone; DIRTT's Calgary-based sustainability leader Andrée Iffrig;  Andrew Balster, an architect and executive director of nonprofit ARCHEWORKS, a Chicago-based, multidisciplinary, public interest design school; Anne Nicklin, executive director of the Building Materials Reuse Association; and John Mlade, senior sustainability manager and "living building challenge" specialist for strategic consultant YR&G.

Building materials constitute up to 40% of all waste in metro areas across the country, and manufacture of new building materials is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. The County has spurred over 90% recycling and reuse of materials by its Demolition Debris Diversion Ordinance.