Abstract:
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a valuable tool to enhance the environmental performance of buildings. However, the increasing number of impact categories required by construction LCA standards makes it difficult to collect primary data and understand LCA results. Furthermore, most LCA studies only analyse aggregated impact results, failing to identify the specific processes that should be optimized to mitigate environmental impacts. This work shows the additional insights that can be gained from analysing disaggregated LCA results. We identify the specific elementary processes and flows causing each environmental impact for a typical Brazilian building used as a case study. This cradle-to-grave LCA study covers the 16 impact categories required by EN 15804. The findings reveal that the environmental impacts of buildings are primarily caused by a few elementary processes and flows. Multiple impact categories share common sources, implying that at least half of the indicators convey redundant information for decision-making as they point to the same actions for mitigating those impacts. Additionally, some impacts are caused by background elementary processes beyond the influence of construction stakeholders. Interpreting LCA results at the elementary process level allows us to reflect on the suitability of LCA to support decisions. It suggests potential strategies to streamline the LCA scope currently specified in construction LCA standards by excluding redundant indicators or impacts determined by uncontrollable background processes. Streamlining LCA can expedite the adoption of the life cycle approach in the construction sector and improve its contribution to informed decision-making.SILVA, Fernanda Belizário; JOHN, Vanderley M. Silva. Actual sources of life cycle impacts: elementar process and flows causing environmental impacts for a typical Brazilian building. Building and Environmental, v.249, 111151, Feb., 2024. 12 p.
Referência:
SILVA, Fernanda Belizário; JOHN, Vanderley M. Silva. Actual sources of life cycle impacts: elementar process and flows causing environmental impacts for a typical Brazilian building. Building and Environmental, v.249, 111151, Feb., 2024. 12 p.
Acesso ao artigo no site do Periódico:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132323011782?via%3Dihub
