Study Quantifies Modular's Wood Waste Savings

The results, which will be released at MBI’s 2024 World of Modular, show that modular construction does a better job of keeping wood waste out of the landfills. The research compared the raw weight of lumber removed from the job site (roll-off weight of dumpsters processed by the waste hauler) with the wood waste created at the modular plant. Those amounts were then divided by the square footage and the total wall height of each project to come up with an average amount of waste.

When asked if he was surprised by this result, John Killingsworth, associate professor in the construction management program at CSU, said no. “To be a good scientist you want to be unbiased and have an open mind to accept whatever the data says, and we were. We took two measurements, square footage and ceiling height, to ensure that the data is compared equally. But, no, I wasn’t really surprised.”

The results stand even though modular construction uses more overall lumber than stick framing.

By its nature, modular multifamily developments have twice the ceilings, floors, and walls as stick framing. This is one of the major advantages of using modular, as it reduces noise transmission, leading to quieter living spaces.

The wood waste study was primarily backed by MBI with some assistance from the university. Killingsworth hopes modular construction companies and designers will use this data to market the advantages of modular construction and help grow its market share.

Killingsworth comes to his teaching role with a background in the trades. He worked in the field for 16 years and gained skills in both project management and site management, before going back to school to get his advanced degree. After earning his PhD at the University of Nebraska, he taught in Wisconsin for a few years before moving to Colorado State University.

He is no stranger to modular construction or construction research. During his time in Nebraska, he worked under a Department of Labor grant to provide workforce development focused on modular construction. Then, after he moved to Colorado, he participated in a Department of Energy grant-funded study that compared the energy performance of traditional stick-built multifamily construction with modular, specifically in areas where energy codes are strict (California, Pennsylvania, and Seattle, Washington). The final results of this study, which will be released soon, show that modular performed better. And the relationships with modular builders that were created in that study were leveraged in the recent MBI study on wood waste.

Killingsworth uses his early experiences in the field to give his students context to what they’re learning. The construction program at CSU focuses on the dynamics of construction management at many levels, including superintendent, project manager, and during preconstruction. Topics include estimating, scheduling, contracts, quantity take offs, BIM tools, and construction finance. Students are required to complete two summer internships, which gives them more exposure to the real world and helps with job prospects. The majority of CSU graduates will go into commercial construction management, whether for general contractors or trade contractors.

As far as future research is concerned, Killingsworth hopes that the industry will look at the potential waste savings for other building materials, like steel, or product packaging, like cardboard and Styrofoam. He’d also like to see the industry study the labor savings of modular versus traditional construction. “We don’t really have any empirical data to speak to that. And if we’re going to have a true conversation on circular economics, it’s not just materials, but we’ve got to look at labor efficiencies and the financial impact.”

“We can argue about the improved quality of modular construction, the better energy performance, the lower environmental impact, and the reduced waste, and those are easy arguments to win. But ultimately, if the owner can’t make as much money, then it’s difficult to change their mind. So that’s why I would love to be able to specifically say modular construction is actually equal to or less expensive than traditional construction when you consider the time value of money and lifecycle costs.”

Killingworth intends to use his upcoming sabbatical next year to dive into more specific research on circular economics and construction. A circular economy looks to keep products and materials in service for as long as possible. It focuses on reducing material use, redesigning materials and products to be less resource intensive, and recapturing waste as a resource to manufacture new materials and products. In 2009, the EPA and other federal government agencies adopted a sustainable materials management approach that embraces circularity. The ultimate goal is to transform how we view and handle natural resources, materials and products, and waste. Their vision is a waste management system that is inclusive, more equitable, and reflects the urgency of the climate crisis. Modular construction can be at the forefront of this vision.