Sustainability: Recyled content | Features | Building

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Summary of recycled content in the York Building
Whole building	Materials value (£)	Recycled content by
Structure	1,719,892	32.95%
Shell	2,382,061	22.39%
Finishes	823,122	7.46%
Services	3,949,076	20.00%
Whole building	9,822,160	20.84%

Sub and superstructure	Shell	Finishes
Foundations: Piles, retaining walls, basement slab	Glazing/louvres Reconstituted stone columns/cornices	Offices: Raised flooring/carpets; false ceiling; partitions; core finishes
Structure, above ground: Columns, beams, slabs, staircases	Facade–roof connection	Residential: Flooring; ceiling; partitions; core finishes
(All are concrete elements)		Roof finishes

Potential for increasing recycled content in the York Building
Materials value of recycled content
Total material cost (£)	As-built (£)	Standard (£)	Good (£)	Best (£)
9,822,160	2,047,363	2,026,497	2,356,549	2,809,863
Percentage recycled content	20.84%	20.63%	23.99%	28.61%

Options for cement replacement and their implications for recycled content
	Standard level	York Building level	Additional potential increase
Cement replacement	100% Portland cement	25% GGBS	50% GGBS
Columns	44%	46%	48%
Beams (downstand)	49%	51%	52%
Upper slabs	32%	34%	37%
Piles	100% Portland Cement	30% PFA	70% GGBS
	27%	31%	36%
% increase (whole building)	0%	0.25%	0.45%
Cost difference: Use of cement replacement is usually cost neutral or cheaper than 100% Portland Cement concretes. However, in very high concentrations there can be a small cost premium

Options for increasing recycled content in the shell elements
	York building		Higher recycled content products
Element	Specification	Recycled content	Specification	Recycled content	% Increase	Impact
Roof-facade connection – coverings	Zinc coverings	31%	Aluminium coverings	73%	0.15%	Aluminium has a different colour and more difficult installation
Roof paviors	Pre-cast concrete paviors	0%	Pre-cast concrete paviors	70%	0.40%	A negligible additional cost might be incurred
Flat roof insulation	Extruded polystyrene	0%	Expanded polystyrene	20%	0.10%	EPS is expected to have similar performance to XPS
*Total % increase for shell elements - 0.65%*

Options for increasing recycled content in internal finishes
	York building		Higher recycled content products
Element	Specification	Recycled content	Specification	Recycled content	% Increase	Impact
Suspended Ceiling	Galvanised steel suspended ceiling	3%	Mineral fibre ceiling tiles	75%	0.60%	Slight variation in thermal and acoustic performance
Raised Floor	Galvanised steel raised floor	15%	Calcium sulphate raised floor	95%	1.40%	Similar to other systems but heavier
Floor Carpets	Generic floor carpets	0%	Recycled nylon and rubber	86%	1.10%	Carpets with high recycled content maintain same properties
Plasterboard finish	Generic gypsum plasterboard	36%	High recycled content gypsum board	84%	0.60%	High recycled content plasterboard maintains same properties
*Total % increase for internal finishes - 3.7%*