The ReUse Institute of America: An Update

The ReUse Institute (TRI) offers a wide range of consulting, project management and training sevices designed for both large and small scale projects involving deconstruction, demolition, reuse, and recycling. 

In 2007, The ReUse People formed The ReUse Institute as a vehicle to translate its years of on-the-ground experience into workable solutions for organizations interested in diverting materials from demolition and deconstructon sites.

TRI Consulting and Project Management Services

Based on 15 years of practical industry experience, TRP offers building owners, architects, developers, contractors and government agencies a wide range of services, including:

• Strategies for diverting reusable and recycleable building materials from landfills
• Tips and specifiations on building for deconstruction
• Identification of markets for salvaged building materials
• Cost effective deconstruction procedures  
• Development of deconstruction and demolition specifications
• Assistance with writing and implementing public policies encouraging building materials salvage and reuse
• Management of large-scale deconstruction and demolition projects

Today's reuse industry is layered with legal, financial, political and environmental issues that cannot be overlooked by organizations desiring to compete in the world of green building.

With over 15 years of practical field experience, TRP knows what works and what doesn't. In place of anecdotal, secondhand, or out-of-date information, you get practical solutions tailored to the challenges you face today.

The following is a partial list of clients:

Pulte Homes
City of San Francisco
County of San Mateo, California
City of Boulder Colorado
U.S. National Park Service as a subcontractor
Siegel and Strain Architects
State of Michigan
City of Chicago
St. Clair/Superior Community Development Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio

Additionally, TRI can help you:

• Plan your next green demolition (deconstruction) project
• Master the process of materials salvage
• Develop efficient materials distribution plans
• Identify available markets and marketing strategies
• Determine materials valuation
• Write, implement and present materials reuse and recycling plans
• Develop and implement strategic and operating plans for your deconstruction/reuse business
• Implement pilot and demonstration projects
• Plan and manage retail stores, warehouses and other used building materials facilities
• Prepare business and project feasibility studies
• Write funding proposals and grants

TRI Deconstruction Training and Certification Programs

We have trained and certified over 30 contractors and 300 of their employees in the techniques of deconstruction and building materials salvage.

Our expertise in training unemployed and underemployed people has resulted in cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, Dayton, Buffalo and St. Louis requesting our assistance in economic development through job training in building deconstruction and salvage.

We have trained the California Conservation Corps in deconstruction safety, tool usage, building materials salvage and distribution.

The outline shown here represents a two-day (16 hour) course. However, TRP will work with your organization to customize the content to the needs of the participants, so the actual length of training may vary.

• Job Site Safety
• Tools and Equipment
• Overview of Job Site
• Bidding Deconstruction Jobs
• Deconstruction Sequence and Variations
• Handling of Debris
• Understanding Layered Materials 
• Detaching Fixtures and Preparing for Shipment
• Teamwork Strategies
• Loading Materials  

Diplomas will be awarded to all graduates.

TRI Speaker's Bureau

Schedule a TRI speaker for your organization’s next meeting! Our network of speakers includes Ted Reiff (“The Man with the Velvet Crowbar”) and other professionals in green building, materials distribution, training, sales/marketing, and deconstruction/demolition. All speakers are accomplished presenters (many with international speaking experience) and possess considerable hands-on field expertise.

Click here to send a note describing your particular needs and requirements.

Suggested Topics

The Best Payback in Green Building
The Benefits of Deconstruction
The Economics of Deconstruction
Where Green Building and Deconstruction Meet
Deconstructing Large Scale Movie Sets
The Sale and Distribution of Used Building Materials
Merging Preservation and Deconstruction
The Challenge of Reuse Markets
Building Materials Salvage Means Distribution