applying lca in building design – easier than you think!€¦ · why use of lca is essential to...

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Applying LCA in Building Applying LCA in Building Design – Easier Than You

Think!Design – Easier Than You

Think!

LCA – what is it?Why use of LCA is essential to creating environmentally better buildings

Applying LCA in Building Design – Easier Than You Think!

environmentally better buildings.How LCA can be used in building design.LCA calculators and how they work.Summary

Wood Products Council via Canadian Wood Council and the Wood Solutions Fair is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available on request.

Thi i i t d ith th AIA/CES f ti i

Program Education Credit Information

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

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Learning Objectives

Understand what environmental life cycle assessment is and why its use is essential in design of environmentally better buildings.buildings.Become aware of several on-line, low or no cost, life cycle assessment tools.Learn the basics of accessing and using life cycle assessment tools.

LCA – What Is It?LCA – What Is It?

Life Cycle Assessment

Four phases

Project initiationLife cycle inventoryImpact assessmentImprovement assessment

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Project Initiation

Define:

- Purpose and ScopeSystem Boundaries- System Boundaries

- Data Categories- Review Process

Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)

A life cycle inventory involves use of a sophisticated accounting system to

track inputs and outputs in p pmanufacturing a product, and

sometimes in tracking use, maintenance, and disposal of that

product.


Examination of all measurable:

Raw material inputs

Products and by-products

Emissions

Effluents

Wastes

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Life Cycle Inventory (LCI)May involve all stages in production, use, and disposal, including:

•Extraction

•Transportation

•Primary processing

•Conversion to semi-finished products

•Incorporation into finished products

•Maintenance

•Disposal/reuse


Analyses are conducted using a uniform set of international guidelines and

procedures as published by the p p yInternational Organization for

Standardization (ISO).

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY

Forest Management (Regeneration)(Transportation)

Raw Material Acquisition(Harvest)

(Transportation)

Product Manufacturing

Life Cycle Inventory

OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

WATER (Transportation)

Building Construction(Transportation)

Use/Maintenance(Transportation)

Recycle/Waste Management(Transportation)

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EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY



(Transportation)



OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS


Building Construction(Transportation)

Use/Maintenance(Transportation)


OTHER RELEASES

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY

Forest Management (Regeneration)


(Transportation)



PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS


Building Construction

Use/Maintenance

Recycle/Waste Management

Raw Material Acquisition(Mining, harvesting)

(Transportation)


Raw Material Acquisition

Extruded Aluminum

Wood

Double Hung Window

Life Cycle Inventory of a Window Product

q(Mining, harvesting)

(Transportation)



(Transportation)


Glass


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OTHER RELEASES

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY


(Transportation)


PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

WATER


(Transportation)


Raw Material Acquisition

Extruded Aluminum

Wood

Double Hung Window

Life Cycle Inventory of a Window Product

E

q(Mining, harvesting)

(Transportation)



(Transportation)


Glass

Product ManufacturingE

E

E

INPUTS OUTPUTSMaterials Units Per MSF Materials Units Per MSF

3/8-in. basis 3/8-in. basisWood/resin BarkRoundwood (log) ft.3 6.56E+01 Bark waste lb. 1.31E+01

lb. 1.89E+03 Bark ash lb. 7.75E+00Phenol-formaldehyde lb. 1.59E+01 Total lb. 2.09E+01

Extender and fillers a lb. 8.90E+00Products

Catalyst a lb. 1.11E+00Plywood lb. 9.91E+02

Soda ash a lb. 3.30E-01Co-products lb.

Bark b lb. 1.98E+02

Wood chips lb. 4.25E+02

Dry veneer lb. 6.81E+00

Peeler core lb. 4.62E+01

Green veneer lb 1 51E+01

Green clippings lb. 3.10E+01Veneer downfall lb. 3.44E+00Panel trim lb. 1.07E+02Sawdust lb 9 63E+00

Life-Cycle Inventory results for 1.0 MSF 3/8-in. basis plywood production from the PNW region.Results include plywood production only; no emissions are included for the production and use of

electricity, fuel, and phenol-formaldehyde resin.

Green veneer lb. 1.51E+01Electrical energyElectricity kWh 1.39E+02Fuel for energy

Sawdust lb. 9.63E+00

Hog fuel (produced) b lb. 3.83E+02

Solid dry veneer lb. 6.68E+01

Hog fuel (purchased) lb. 3.40E+01

Total lb. 6.89E+02

Wood waste lb. 5.00E-01

Air emissions

Liquid propane gas gal. 3.59E-01

Acetaldehyde lb. 1.12E-02

Natural gas ft.3 1.63E+02

Acetone lb. 4.80E-03

Diesel gal. 3.95E-01

Acrolein lb. 4.95E-07Benzene lb. 4.77E-04CO lb. 1.91E+00CO 2 fossil lb. 2.78E+02CO 2 non-fossil lb. 2.78E+02Dust (PM10) lb. 2.08E-01Formaldehyde lb. 1.80E-02Methanol lb. 1.28E-01NO x lb. 2.34E-01Organic substances lb. 2.20E-02Particulates lb. 3.47E-01

a These materials were excluded based on the 2% rule.

Phenol lb. 8.27E-03b Bark and hogged fuel are wet weights whereas

SO 2 lb. 7.74E-04all other wood materials are ovendry weights;

SO x lb. 1.01E-01bark weight is included in the “hog fuel (produced)” weight.

VOC lb. 6.26E-01

b

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Reporting Life Cycle Inventory Results

Embodied energy (GJ)GWP (CO2 kg)Air emission indexAcidification potentialHuman toxicityPhotochemical oxidationOzone layer depletionDepletion of non-renewable resources

Water consumptionEutrophicationSolid waste (total kg)

OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTESMATERIALS

ENERGY

WATER



(Transportation)Product Manufacturing

(Transportation)Building Construction

(Transportation)Use/Maintenance

(Transportation)



Impact Assessment• Ecosystem Health• Human Health• Resource Depletion• Social Health

Initiation• Purpose and Scope• System Boundaries• Data Categories• Review Process

Improvement AssessmentExtend product life Red. energy consumpt.Eval substitute matls Improve processesEnhance use/maint. Imp. waste mgmt.

Impact Assessment

Examines costs associated with specific environmental burdens:

• Cleanup costsp

• Health impacts

• Landscape impacts

• Environmental impacts

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OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTESMATERIALS

ENERGY

WATER



(Transportation)Product Manufacturing

(Transportation)Building Construction

(Transportation)Use/Maintenance

(Transportation)



Impact Assessment• Ecosystem Health• Human Health• Resource Depletion• Social Health

Initiation• Purpose and Scope• System Boundaries• Data Categories• Review Process

Improvement AssessmentExtend product life Red. energy consumpt.Eval substitute matls Improve processesEnhance use/maint. Imp. waste mgmt.

Improvement Assessment

Extend product life Reduce energy consumptionEvaluate substitute materials Improve processesEnhance use/maintenance Improve waste management

Why Use of LCA is Essential to Creating

Why Use of LCA is Essential to CreatingEssential to Creating

Environmentally Better Buildings.

Essential to Creating Environmentally Better

Buildings.

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Designation of environmentally

preferable materialspreferable materials under the LEED

program

Point Distribution within Several LEED ProgramsLEED-NC, Version

2.2*LEED-H, Version

2.0**

Sustainable sites 14 pts, 1 pr 22 pts, 2 prWater efficiency 5 pts 15 ptsEnergy and atmosphere 17 pts, 3 pr 38 pts, 2 prMaterials and resources 13 pts, 1 pr 16 pts, 3 prp p p pIndoor air quality 15 pts, 2 pr 21 pts, 7 prInnov. and design process 5 pts 11 pts, 3 prLocation and linkages 10 ptsHomeowner awareness 3 pts, 1 prTOTAL 69 pts, 7 pr 136 pts, 18 pr

* Released October 2005, updated June 2007** Effective January 1, 2008

Point Distribution within Several LEED ProgramsLEED-NC, Version

2.2LEED-H, Version 2.0

Sustainable sites 14 pts, 1 pr 21 pts, 2 prWater efficiency 5 pts 15 ptsEnergy and atmosphere 17 pts, 3 pr 38 pts, 1 prMaterials and resources 13 pts, 1 pr 14 pts, 3 pr

Points for “environmentally preferable materials” –

8 under LEED-NCIndoor air quality 15 pts, 2 pr 20 pts, 7 prInnov. and design process 5 pts 10 ptsLocation and linkages 9 pts, 4 prHomeowner awareness 3 pts, 1 prTOTAL 69 pts, 7 pr 110 pts, 8 pr

8 under LEED-H

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LEED-NC LEED-HMaterials and Resources

Credit 1.1-1.3 Building reuse Credits 1.1-1.5 – Limit waste in framing, advanced framing systems, off-site framing

Credit 2.1 and 2.2 - Reduction of construction waste

Credit 2.2 (Prereq)–Provide suppliers with notice of intent to specify FSC certified wood. All tropical wood must be FSC.

Credit 4.1 and 4.2 - Use of reused matls or Credit 2.2

Credits Related to Characteristics of Construction Materials Under the LEED-NC and LEED-H Programs

Credit 4.1 and 4.2 Use of reused matls or those with recycled content

Credit 2.2Environmentally preferable productsSelect environmentally preferable products from list – bamboo, cork, linoleum, reclaimed, recycled content (25% post-consumer), FSC certified, finger-jointed studs, concrete (30% fly ash), low or no VOC or no urea formaldehyde, locally sourced; 90% or more by weight or volume. 0.5 points each, 8 points maximum.

Credit 5.1 and 5.2- Local/regional matls(extracted, processed, manufactured)Credit 6 - Rapidly renewable matls(10-year or less harvesting cycle)

Credit 7 - FSC certified wood

LEED-NC LEED-HIndoor Environmental Quality Materials Requirements

Credit 4.4 – Low emitting materials, composite wood, and agrifiber

Credit 2.1, 2.2 – Quality management for durability. (Durability plan, indoor moisture controls, quality mgmt plan).

Innovative Design

Credit 4 – Innovative and regional design.

Credits Related to Characteristics of Construction Materials Under the LEED-NC and LEED-H Programs

Credit 4 Innovative and regional design.Opportunity to use LCA or go over and above regular material credits.

In the LEED program, a “green” credit is awarded

f f l d

In the LEED program, a “green” credit is awarded

f f l dfor use of recycled materials.

for use of recycled materials.

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Interior Non-Load Bearing Wall, Wood vs. Steel

Comparative Energy Use (GJ)Wood Steel* DifferenceWood Steel* Difference3.8 11.5 3.0X

* 30% recycled content.

Source: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, 1993.

Comparative Emissions in Manufacturing Wood vs. Steel-Framed Interior Wall

Emission/Effluent Wood Wall Steel Wall DifferenceCO2 (kg) ,305 965 3.2XCO (g) 2,450 11,800 4.8XSOX (g) 400 3,700 9.3XNOX (g) 1,150 1,800 1.6XParticulates (g) 100 335 3.4XVOCs (g) 390 1,800 4.6XMethane (g) ,4 45 11.1X


Comparative Effluents in Manufacturing Wood vs. Steel-Framed Interior Wall

Emission/Effluent Wood Wall Steel Wall DifferenceSuspended solids (g) 12,180 495,640 41XNon-ferrous metals (mg) 62 2,532 41XCyanide (mg) 99 4,051 41XPhenols (mg) 17,715 725,994 41XAmmonia (mg) 1,310 53,665 41XHalogenated

organics (mg) 507 20,758 41XOil and grease (mg) 1,421 58,222 41XSulphides (mg) 13 507 39X


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• No consideration of total energy consumed in raw materials production, product manufacturing.

• No consideration of emissions to air

• No consideration of total energy consumed in raw materials production, product manufacturing.

• No consideration of emissions to air

LEED Credits – What is Missing?

• No consideration of emissions to air, water.

• No capacity to consider these things.

• No systematic assessment of environmental attributes of construction materials (i.e. no LCA).

• No consideration of emissions to air, water.

• No capacity to consider these things.

• No systematic assessment of environmental attributes of construction materials (i.e. no LCA).

How LCA Can Be Used How LCA Can Be Used in Building Designin Building Design

Using LCA in Building Design

Inform decisions based on LCAPre-rate building assembliesPre rate building assemblies based on LCA.Perform whole building LCA

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LCA Calculators and HowLCA Calculators and HowLCA Calculators and How They Work

LCA Calculators and How They Work



BEES 4.0Building for Environmental and

Economic Sustainability

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The BEES ModelAn LCA-based level 1 product comparison tool for

use at the specification/procurement stage.

Provides detailed results for a wide range of impact indicators.Uses weighting factors to generate environmental andeconomic scores.Based on consensus standards.

Life cycle costing (ASTM E917)Building element classification (ASTM E1557)Environmental life cycle assessment (ISO 4040)Multiattribute Decision Analysis (ASTM E1765)

Product Scoring Under the BEES System

Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), BEES (2009).

Scoring of Products Under BEES


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Environmental Attributes are Rated Against Total Annual Impacts, by Category


Environmental Attributes are Rated Against Total Annual Impacts, by Category


A Weighted Score is Then Assigned to Provide an Indication of Relative Impact


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Products Included Within the BEES System






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No weighting

Environmental Impact Category Weights

Environmental vs. Economic Performance Weights

Environmental Performance %

Economic Performance %

Analysis Parameters

Using BEES(Broadloom nylon carpet, conventional glue vs. broadloom carpet made of PET, low VOC glue)

50 50

Transportation

Nylon Carpet Broadloom/Std. GlueTransportation Distance from Manufacture to Use

161 km (100 mi)

1. Select analysis parameters 2. Specify transportation distances

User DefinedEPA Scientific Advisory BoardHarvard UniversityEqual Weights

View Weights

Discount Rate Excluding Inflation (%) 4.2

OK Cancel Help

805 km (500 mi)

1609 km (1000 mi)

Select BEES Reports

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Environmental Performance

pts

100Acidification

Eutrophication

Nylon Broadloom PET Broadloom/Low

Alternatives

75

50

25

0

Scor

eEutrophication

Indoor Air

Global Warming

Natural Resources

Solid Waste

Economic Performance

e C

ost

PV ($/unit)

10.00


Alternatives

First Cost

Future Cost

Pre

sen

t V

alu

e 7.50

5.00

2.50

0.00

Overall Performance

pts

80

60

Alternatives


Scor

e

Economic Performance

Environmental Performance

60

40

20

0

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The Athena EcoCalculator for Assemblies

Athena EcoCalculator for Assemblies

th i /t l / C l l t /www.athenasmi.ca/tools/ecoCalculator/ index.html

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ATHENA ASSEMBLY EVALUATION TOOL v2.3- Atlanta low-rise building

Columns and Beams Intermediate Floors Exterior Walls Windows Interior Walls Roof

Spreadsheet based. Users fill in values using

only yellow column.

Geographic Zones Covered by the Athena EcoCalculator

Atlanta, USACalgary, CanadaHalifax, Canada

i li S

Pittsburgh, USAQuebec City, CanadaToronto, Canada

C dMinneapolis, USAMontreal, CanadaOrlando, USAOttawa, Canada

Vancouver, CanadaWinnipeg, CanadaSouthern USANorthern USA

Western regions of the U.S., including Southern California, will be added this year.



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ATHENA ECO-CALCULATOR for assemblies – Columns and Beams

Concrete 3 options

Hollow structural steel 3 options

Glulam 3 options

Structural composite lumber 3 options

Wide-flange steel 3 options

Built-up softwood 2 options

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ATHENA ECO-CALCULATOR for assemblies – Exterior Walls

8” concrete block 13 options

6” cast-in-place concrete 13 options

8” concrete tilt-up 13 options

Insulated concrete form 6 options

2x4 steel stud wall 26 options

2x4 wood stud wall 12 options

3.5” structural insulated panel (SIP) 5 options

Curtainwall 2 options

ATHENA ECO-CALCULATOR for assemblies – Intermediate Floors

16 options with 5 more under development

ATHENA ECO-CALCULATOR for assemblies – Roofs

Concrete flat slab 5 options

Precast double-T concrete 5 options

Open web steel joist 5 options

Glulam joist with plank decking 5 options

Wood I-joist with WSP decking 5 options

Solid wood joist with WSP decking 5 options

Wood chord/steel web truss with WSP decking

5 options

Wood truss (flat) with WSP decking 5 options

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ATHENA ECO-CALCULATOR for assemblies – Roofs (Continued)

Wood truss (4:12 pitch) with WSP decking 4 options

Structural steel with steel decking 5 options

Cold formed flat steel truss, steel decking 5 optionsand concrete toppingCold formed flat steel truss, wood decking 5 options

Cold formed steel joist, with steel decking and concrete topping

5 options

Solid wood joist with WSP decking 5 options

Cold formed steel joist, wood decking 5 options

Steel truss (4:12) with steel decking 5 options

Two storey

200’ x 100’ x 20’ ht

20,000 ft.2 footprint

total ft.2 = 40,000

Designing a simple structure using the Athena EcoCalculator



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25


No need to design using a single material.



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C i E C l l t ltComparing EcoCalculator results.

EcoCalculator Results for Steel Building:(Hollow structural steel columns, wide-flange steel beams; floors of open web steel joists with steel

decking and concrete topping; exterior walls 2x4 steel studs, stucco cladding, 1” rigid insulation sheathing; roof open web steel joist, steel decking, and modified bitumen membrane)

STEE

L

EcoCalculator Results for Wood Building:(Structural composite lumber columns, glulam beams; wood I-joists and OSB decking system; exterior walls 2x4 wood studs, stucco cladding, WSP sheathing, batt insulation; roof glulam

joists with plank decking, modified bitumen membrane)

WO

OD

vs

S



STEE

L

EcoCalculator Results for Wood Building:(Structural composite lumber columns, glulam beams; wood I-joists and OSB decking system; exterior walls 2x4 wood studs, stucco cladding, WSP sheathing, batt insulation; roof glulam

joists with plank decking, modified bitumen membrane)

WO

OD

vs

S

+43% +94%

+6% +17%

+505%

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vs S

TEEL

EcoCalculator Results for Concrete Building: (Concrete beams and columns; precast concrete double T floor system; concrete tilt-up walls with stucco cladding, rigid insulation; concrete flat plate slab roof and column with modified

bitumen membrane)

CO

NC

RET

E



vs S

TEEL


bitumen membrane)

+70% +165% +342% +145%

+255%te

CO

NC

RET

E

EcoCalculator Results for Wood Building:(Structural composite lumber columns, glulam beams; wood I-joists and OSB decking system;

exterior walls 2x4 wood studs, stucco cladding, WSP sheathing, batt insulation; roof glulam joists with plank decking, modified bitumen membrane)

vs W

OO

D


bitumen membrane)

te

CO

NC

RET

E v

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EcoCalculator Results for Wood Building:(Structural composite lumber columns, glulam beams; wood I-joists and OSB decking system;

exterior walls 2x4 wood studs, stucco cladding, WSP sheathing, batt insulation; roof glulam joists with plank decking, modified bitumen membrane)

vs W

OO

D


bitumen membrane)

+144% +395% +319% +110% +70%

te

CO

NC

RET

E v



Athena Impact Estimatorth i /t l /i tE ti t /www.athenasmi.ca/tools/impactEstimator/

index.html

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SummarySummarySummarySummary

Use of LCA is the only way to accurately assess environmental attributes of materials.

Summary

User-friendly LCA tools are readily available, and low cost or free.

Informing materials selection, design choices using LCA is not difficult.

Unbiased evaluation consistently points to wood as the raw material/product category that has the lowest environmental impact

Summary

environmental impact.

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Questions/ Comments?This concludes the:

American Institute of Architects

Continuing Education Systems Program

Applying LCA in Building Design – Easier ThanApplying LCA in Building Design Easier Than You Think!

Jim BowyerBowyer and Associates, Inc./Dovetail Partners, Inc.

www.dovetailinc.org

applying lca in building design – easier than you think!€¦ · why use of lca is essential to...

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