Adaptive reuse of existing buildings as a sustainable tool for climate change mitigation within the built environment

Abstract

The current climate change emergency has triggered a global strive for reducing carbon emissions and relevant sustainable planning for low-carbon cities. The adaptive reuse of existing buildings can be adopted to facilitate climate change mitigation progressively. This study explores the applicability of the adaptive reuse concept as a sustainable tool for climate change mitigation.Data was gathered using the systematic literature review (SLR) approach embedded in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol and key informant interviews with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).From the SLR results, 29 benefits and 16 challenges of the adaptive reuse of existing buildings were identified under four main categories each (i.e., for benefits: economic, social, cultural and historical, and environmental; and for challenges: building regulatory requirements and governance, financial, management, and complexities and uncertainties). The interview findings revealed the influence of the identified benefits and challenges, with strategies which were examined to propose a conceptual framework. The framework aims to guide relevant stakeholders on how the adaptive reuse of existing buildings could be used as a practical, sustainable measure to achieve climate change mitigation in the built environment.