flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Proposal to add photovoltaic panels to the R2 Standard for electronics recycling

Codes and Standards

Proposal to add photovoltaic panels to the R2 Standard for electronics recycling

Hundreds of facilities in 33 countries could begin recycling PVs.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | May 26, 2021

Courtesy Pixabay

SERI (Sustainable Electronics Recycling International) says that the R2 Technical Advisory Committee is considering a formal proposal to add photovoltaic (PV) panels to the R2 Standard.

The R2 Standard is focused on the effective recycling of electronics products. SERI anticipates incorporating PV panels into the standard would require at least two years of development, public review and comment, and revision before it would be adopted.

“The PV industry is extremely progressive,” said SERI executive director Corey Dehmey. “With much foresight, they took the initiative to create a sustainable plan for when solar panels are removed from use. There are hundreds of R2 Certified facilities in 33 countries around the world who currently do, or could relatively easily, add PV panels to their service offering. We see this as a great way to quickly build reuse and recycling infrastructure for the environmentally sound management of PV panels.”

A workgroup of 24 volunteers from the solar industry met over six months to assess the suitability of including PV panels in the current version of the R2 Standard.

Related Stories

Geothermal Technology | Jul 29, 2024

Rochester, Minn., plans extensive geothermal network

The city of Rochester, Minn., home of the famed Mayo Clinic, is going big on geothermal networks. The city is constructing Thermal Energy Networks (TENs) that consist of ambient pipe loops connecting multiple buildings and delivering thermal heating and cooling energy via water-source heat pumps.

Smart Buildings | Jul 25, 2024

A Swiss startup devises an intelligent photovoltaic façade that tracks and moves with the sun

Zurich Soft Robotics says Solskin can reduce building energy consumption by up to 80% while producing up to 40% more electricity than comparable façade systems.

Codes and Standards | Jul 25, 2024

GSA and DOE select technologies to evaluate for commercial building decarbonization

The General Services Administration and the U.S. Department of Energy have selected 17 innovative building technologies to evaluate in real-world settings throughout GSA’s real estate portfolio.

Office Buildings | Jul 22, 2024

U.S. commercial foreclosures increased 48% in June from last year

The commercial building sector continues to be under financial pressure as foreclosures nationwide increased 48% in June compared to June 2023, according to ATTOM, a real estate data analysis firm.

Codes and Standards | Jul 22, 2024

Tennessee developers can now hire their own building safety inspectors

A new law in Tennessee allows developers to hire their own building inspectors to check for environmental, safety, and construction violations. The law is intended to streamline the building process, particularly in rapidly growing communities.

Codes and Standards | Jul 22, 2024

New FEMA rules include climate change impacts

FEMA’s new rules governing rebuilding after disasters will take into account the impacts of climate change on future flood risk. For decades, the agency has followed a 100-year floodplain standard—an area that has a 1% chance of flooding in a given year.

Sustainability | Jul 18, 2024

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.

MFPRO+ News | Jul 15, 2024

More permits for ADUs than single-family homes issued in San Diego

Popularity of granny flats growing in California

Codes and Standards | Jul 15, 2024

New York City code update changes definition of a major building

Changes affecting how construction projects in New York City are permitted will have significant impacts for contractors. On Dec. 11, the definition of a major building in the city’s code will change from 10 stories to seven, or 75 feet. The change will affect thousands more projects.

Government Buildings | Jul 8, 2024

GSA adopts new accessibility guidelines for federal properties

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) adopted a new rule with new accessibility guidelines for federal buildings. The rule establishes that pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way are readily accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. 

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021