The CE Meter: An instrument to assess the circular economy capacity of buildings

A direct connection can be made between adaptive building and sustainability (Wilkinson 2011). Market developments show increased demands by for flexibility and sustainability by users and owners as well as a growing understanding of the importance of a circular economy (Eichholtz 2009). Circular Economy (CE) is a rather recent way of looking at sustainability, based on thinking in circular supply chains, maximizing the value of materials in which products can be re-used, remanufactured or/and re-cycled (Ellen MacArthur Foundation 2012). In 2014 a paper was presented at the International Union of Architects World Congress UIA2014 in Durban SA, titled Adaptive Capacity of Buildings (Geraedts 2014). A report was given of an extensive international literature survey and the development of a method to determine the adaptive capacity of Buildings. In total 147 indicators were described with accompanying assessment values. The most important recommendation for the next step was the development of an easy to use assessment method with a limited number of important flexibility performance indicators (FPI). This paper will explore the further development of this easy to use instrument with a limited number of important assessment criteria. These criteria will also be related to the concept of circular economy. The final result is an easy tool to assess the adaptive capacity of a building, and will also be the first tool to assess the circular economy level of a building as well.