There are several ways to conserve the embodied energy of building materials. The first is through building material re-use. Many items are durable, especially doors, windows, fixtures and lumber. These items can be removed from old buildings and built into new ones instead of being landfilled. The ReUse Center in Ann Arbor accepts and resells used and surplus building materials so that they are not wasted.
Similar operations exist throughout the nation.
Another way to conserve embodied energy is to manufacture and use building materials from recycled materials. For example, manufacturing new steel or aluminum from recycled sources dramatically decreases the energy used. Concrete, wood, gypsum, and metal building materials can be recycled into new building products. Other building materials are made from totally different consumer products. For instance, carpets are made from recycled plastic bottles, insulation from recycled newspapers, and outdoor decking from plastic grocery bags.