🌱Overview

🌍 Regenerative Development

Built By DAO is committed to regenerative development—building in ways that restore ecosystems, reduce waste, and create lasting value for communities and the planet.

---

🎯 Our Commitment

Principle	Implementation
♻️ Circular Economy	Materials salvaged, processed, and reused
🌱 Carbon Reduction	Low-carbon and carbon-negative materials
🏚️ Adaptive Reuse	Renovate existing structures first
🏘️ Local Economy	Source materials and labor locally
🎓 Education	Train members in sustainable practices

---

🌍 The Problem

🌍 The Problem We're Solving

Traditional construction is one of the most environmentally destructive industries:

Issue	Impact
🚧 C&D waste	600+ million tons annually in the US
⚡ Building operations	40% of global energy consumption
🏭 Cement production	8% of global CO2 emissions
⛏️ Material extraction	Habitat destruction, water pollution
🏠 Inefficient buildings	Ongoing energy waste for decades

Built By DAO addresses these through systematic change in how we build.

♻️ Circular Economy

🏗️ Construction

⚡ Energy

---

🏚️ Adaptive Reuse

Before building new, we look to renovate existing structures.

New Construction	Adaptive Reuse
🚧 Demolition waste	♻️ Preserves embodied energy
⛏️ New material extraction	🏠 Uses existing structures
🌍 Higher carbon footprint	🌱 Lower environmental impact
🏢 Generic design	🎨 Unique character

Process

Step	Activity
1️⃣	Assessment — Structural evaluation, environmental review
2️⃣	Planning — Design for new use while preserving character
3️⃣	Remediation — Address hazardous materials safely
4️⃣	Renovation — Update systems, improve efficiency
5️⃣	Activation — Bring building back to productive use

Adaptive Reuse

---

🧪 Living Lab

The Foundry serves as a living laboratory for sustainable practices:

Function	Description
🧪 Testing	New materials and techniques
🎓 Training	Members in sustainable construction
🏛️ Demonstrating	What's possible to the community
📚 Documenting	Lessons learned for replication

Living Lab

---

🌳 Environmental Stewardship

Beyond construction, Built By DAO practices environmental responsibility:

Area	Practices
🌍 Land Use	Native landscaping, permeable surfaces
💧 Water	Stormwater management, rain gardens
🦋 Biodiversity	Wildlife corridors, pollinator gardens
🏘️ Community	Urban gardens, green spaces

Stewardship

---

📊 Measuring Impact

We track sustainability metrics across all operations:

Metric	What We Measure
♻️ Material Recovery Rate	% diverted from landfill
🌍 Carbon Footprint	CO2e per project
⚡ Energy Performance	kWh/sq ft in buildings
💧 Water Use	Gallons/resident/day
🚮 Waste Diversion	% of operational waste recycled

---

🎓 Training & Education

🌱 Basic Training

All members receive sustainability training:

Topic	Content
♻️ Circular economy	Principles and practices
🚮 Waste sorting	Processing and handling
⚡ Energy conservation	Daily practices

🎓 Advanced Certifications

See Training Programs for details.

---

💡 Why This Matters

Traditional development extracts resources from communities and the planet. Built By DAO's model:

Benefit	Impact
♻️ Keeps materials in use	Rather than sending to landfills
🌱 Reduces carbon emissions	Through thoughtful material choices
💰 Builds community wealth	Instead of extracting it
👷 Creates green jobs	In a growing sector
🏛️ Demonstrates alternatives	To business as usual

---

🔗 Related Pages

Our CommitmentBuilding StandardsConstructionEnergyCircular EconomyAdaptive ReuseStewardshipLiving Lab🏭Overview