Quantifying the public value of the environmental impact of reusing abandoned industrial buildings

In the global context of environmental degradation and energy crises, projects to reuse abandoned industrial buildings (AIBs) have become a more effective way to achieve energy efficiency goals because of their sustainability and environmental benefits. However, its societal acceptance is still a topic that deserves further research. We collected discrete energy and resource information on AIBs during the reuse phase taking a bottom-up approach. Seven environmental impact categories were screened in terms of ecosystem damage, resource and energy depletion, and human health damage to evaluate the actual environmental impacts of AIB reuse. The Willingness to Pay (WTP) and distance-to-target coupling methods were used to determine the willingness of Chinese society to accept AIB reuse projects. The results show that there is a significant difference in WTP between different environmental impact categories, with fossil fuel depletion having the lowest WTP (577.082 RMB/m²) and ozone depletion potential having the highest WTP (3.542 ∗ 10⁻³ RMB /m²). Additionally, comparative analyses of building components and materials found that reinforced concrete had a significantly lower WTP than steel structures and floor slabs had a lower environmental benefit than other components. This study innovatively explores the feasibility and appropriateness of promoting AIB reuse in China from an environmental impact perspective. These findings can help to consider the extent to which different life cycle indicators in AIB reuse support decision-making and help to streamline the application of life cycle assessment in the field of renovation of existing buildings.