But a recent demolition project in Cary shows that the nonprofit organization has also become a real friend of the environment.

At the request of — and with help from — Raleigh-based Global Earthworks Inc., Habitat recently hauled more than 10 tons of building materials from three apartment buildings on South Walker Street. The materials — oak flooring and wood framing — will eventually be sold at Habitat Wake’s resale store and reused.

The partnerships that Habitat has formed with both commercial and residential clients not only keep materials from ending up in landfills, but they also help people looking for low-cost construction materials.

Those sales in turn pay for the building of more Habitat homes.

“We salvaged quite a bit of oak flooring. We also salvaged close to 60 percent of the framing” from the South Walker Street apartments, said Joel Lubell, deconstruction manager for Habitat of Wake County.

Paul Parker, vice president of Global Earthworks, said once his company got on site he saw an opportunity to salvage some of the building materials. He called Habitat.

“There is so much material that is usable — where there is a will there is a way,” Parker said.

Parker said he started Global Earthworks about three years ago with a vision for helping the environment. He soon realized that salvaging materials, or “deconstructions,” take more time than simply demolishing a building. And often demolition contractors are put under tight time constraints.

“It’s quicker to take it to a landfill,” Parker said. “I could have been done a week ago” had he not called Habitat.

But Parker said he feels it’s worth taking the extra time to recycle.

Parker also has purchased a crushing machine for brick and concrete, which can eventually be reused as a decorative mulch or base for roadways. The South Walker Street apartments were purchased by the Town of Cary for a future downtown park with a recommended location within the block of South Academy, Walnut, Walker and Park streets. The park is part of the 2001 Town Center Area Plan.

The town hired Global Earthworks in September for the apartment demolition. Town real estate specialist Ricky Campbell said it’s the first time he’s aware of that town property has been involved in a large-scale salvage operation.

Campbell said nonprofits such as Habitat — interested in the salvage opportunities — have bid on town jobs in the past but must meet specific bid criteria.

Global Earthworks got the bid because it met all town criteria; it finished the apartments earlier this month.

Campbell agreed with Parker that time constraints often limit what can be done during a demolition; Global Earthworks’ contract time was 30 days. The town gave them a week extension when Habitat got involved.

“We’re big into recycling so of course we encourage that,” Campbell said.

Property owners, the Town of Cary included, often want the job done quickly because of vandalism on vacant sites as well as liability issues.

Copper piping had been stolen and windows busted at the South Walker Street apartments, Campbell said.

Campbell said the town would be willing to negotiate a longer contract time on future jobs if bidders offer deconstruction as an alternative.

Both Parker and Lubell said they think governments need to offer more positive incentives to encourage deconstructions instead of demolitions.

Parker said he’s getting ready to start a project that is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified, meaning 50 percent of the materials must be recycled.

“Europe and the West Coast are way ahead of this area,” Parker said.

“If you want to be philosophical about it, [recycling is] better for our children’s future,” Parker said.