
Ventilation ducts are "passive" elements, and they typically wear less than "working" elements (e.g., motors or fans), which increases their reuse potential. However, due to their relatively low price, reuse is often unattractive for project owners. Therefore, to enhance duct reuse, focus on lengths which suit your projects (as rejoining ducts can be costly).
According to the assessment in Bengt Dahlgren Gothenburg's guide, reusing ventilation ducts can save from 3.5 up to 96 kgCO2_eq/m2, depending on the duct size and shape.
An example of a grassroots initiative in reuse is Swegon's RE:3 project, aiming at streamlining the recycling of cooling and ventilation products. Swegon is a manufacturer and retailer of such products, which resells used products with a repair guarantee.
How to reuse and recycle
check for documentation on ventilation duct specification (especially acoustic, pressure drop, and corrosion-resistance parameters) – if such is not available, reuse the ducts in spaces with the lowest requirements regarding these parameters;
protect during storage and transport, especially from surface damage, deformation, and corrosion.
Sources and further readings
2) Bengt ÅTERBRUKSGUIDEN FÖR INSTALLATIONER, 2022.
3) IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet. BYGGÅTERBRUKSGUIDEN - En vägledning för att underlätta återbruk av byggprodukter i bostäder, 2021.
4) Erfaringsrapport ombruk (Eng. Experience report reuse) - Kristian Augusts gate 13, 2021.
5) Circle House - Denmark's first circular housing project, 2018.
Comments