101 In a context of increasing pressure on resources, the longevity of buildings is becoming a key issue. A building that does not last always consumes more resources. Every major repair, every premature replacement, every demolition/reconstruction requires considerable amounts of raw materials, water, and energy, and generates new CO2 emissions. Sustainable construction thus means building to last. How? By extending the life of existing buildings through renovation, but also by incorporating reversibility and modularity into the design from the outset, enabling the building to adapt to different uses over time. It also means incorporating circularity as an essential factor. Reuse of components, high-quality recycling, traceability via material passports: buildings are set to become a reservoir of usable resources rather than a stockpile of future waste. Lastly, the issue of resources reveals broader vulnerabilities. Water stress is already affecting a growing proportion of urban areas, forcing us to rethink building design, water management, and city planning. This chapter explains why conserving resources has become a prerequisite for the development of sustainable construction practices, and explores the solutions now available to sector stakeholders to meet this challenge. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION ALSO MEANS Conserving resources PART
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