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Streamlining the Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings by Structured Under‐Specification and Probabilistic Triage

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  • Paolo Tecchio
  • Jeremy Gregory
  • Elsa Olivetti
  • Randa Ghattas
  • Randolph Kirchain

Abstract

Life cycle thinking plays an important role in sustainable development in the building sector. However, the complexity of data collection and scope definition limits life cycle assessment (LCA) applications. Even if the inventory data have already been collected, tabulated, and indexed, the method is still time‐consuming, which may be discouraging for designers. This study demonstrates how the LCA of buildings can be robustly streamlined using structured underspecification of impact data combined with an effective and efficient triage of the data collection. Tests were conducted with a series of building typologies that were analyzed with a cradle‐to‐gate approach. The probabilistic triage approach was tested to identify selected activities requiring detailed specification because they contribute most to total impact, thereby reducing data gathering effort. Impacts such as global warming, acidification, eutrophication, and smog creation were assessed, and results showed that 40% to 46% of the bill of materials components represent 75% of total impacts of single‐family houses and multifamily buildings. By specifying only a prioritized subset of the bill of materials to the highest level of specificity, results proved to be reasonably accurate and obtainable with less effort.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Tecchio & Jeremy Gregory & Elsa Olivetti & Randa Ghattas & Randolph Kirchain, 2019. "Streamlining the Life Cycle Assessment of Buildings by Structured Under‐Specification and Probabilistic Triage," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 268-279, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:23:y:2019:i:1:p:268-279
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12731
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    1. Matthias Finkbeiner & Erwin M. Schau & Annekatrin Lehmann & Marzia Traverso, 2010. "Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(10), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Xianzheng Gong & Zuoren Nie & Zhihong Wang & Suping Cui & Feng Gao & Tieyong Zuo, 2012. "Life Cycle Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emission of Residential Building Designs in Beijing," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(4), pages 576-587, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Patricia Schneider-Marin & Hannes Harter & Konstantin Tkachuk & Werner Lang, 2020. "Uncertainty Analysis of Embedded Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using BIM in Early Design Stages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Zhuyuan Xue & Hongbo Liu & Qinxiao Zhang & Jingxin Wang & Jilin Fan & Xia Zhou, 2019. "The Impact Assessment of Campus Buildings Based on a Life Cycle Assessment–Life Cycle Cost Integrated Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-24, December.

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