applying lca in building design –easier than you think! · applying lca in building design...

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Applying LCA in Building Design – Easier Than You

Think!

Applying LCA in Building Design – Easier Than You

Think!

� LCA – what is it?

� Why use of LCA is essential to creating environmentally better buildings.

� How LCA can be used in building design.

� LCA calculators and how they work.

� Summary

Applying LCA in Building Design – Easier Than You Think!

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.

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.

Program Education Credit Information

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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.

� 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 initiation

� Life cycle inventory

� Impact assessment

� Improvement assessment

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Project Initiation

Define:

- Purpose and Scope- 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 manufacturing 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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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 International Organization for

Standardization (ISO).

OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY

WATER

Forest Management (Regeneration)(Transportation)

Raw Material Acquisition(Harvest)

(Transportation)

Product Manufacturing

(Transportation)

Building Construction

(Transportation)

Use/Maintenance

(Transportation)

Recycle/Waste Management

(Transportation)

Life Cycle Inventory

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OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY

WATER

Forest Management (Regeneration)(Transportation)


(Transportation)


(Transportation)


(Transportation)

Use/Maintenance

(Transportation)


(Transportation)


OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY

WATER

Forest Management (Regeneration)


(Transportation)


(Transportation)


Use/Maintenance



Raw Material Acquisition(Mining, harvesting)

(Transportation)



(Transportation)



(Transportation)


Glass

Extruded Aluminum

Wood


Double Hung Window

Life Cycle Inventory of a Window Product

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OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY

WATER


(Transportation)



(Transportation)



(Transportation)



(Transportation)


Glass

Extruded Aluminum

Wood


Double Hung Window

Life Cycle Inventory of a Window Product

E

E

E

E

INPUTS OUTPUTS

Materials Units Per MSF Materials Units Per MSF3/8-in. basis 3/8-in. basis

Wood/resin BarkRoundwood (log) ft.3 6.56E+01 Bark waste lb. 1.31E+01

lb. 1.89E+03 Bark ash lb. 7.75E+00

Phenol-formaldehyde lb. 1.59E+01 Total lb. 2.09E+01

Extender and fillers a

lb. 8.90E+00Products

Catalyst a lb. 1.11E+00

Plywood lb. 9.91E+02

Soda ash a lb. 3.30E-01

Co-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+01

Electrical energy

Veneer downfall lb. 3.44E+00

Electricity kWh 1.39E+02

Panel trim lb. 1.07E+02

Fuel 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-03

b Bark and hogged fuel are wet weights whereas

SO 2 lb. 7.74E-04

all other wood materials are ovendry weights;

SO x lb. 1.01E-01

bark weight is included in the “hog fuel (produced)” weight.

VOC lb. 6.26E-01

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.

b

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Reporting Life Cycle Inventory Results

Embodied energy (GJ)

GWP (CO2 kg)

Air emission index

Acidification potential

Human toxicity

Photochemical oxidation

Ozone layer depletion

Depletion of non-renewable resources

Water consumption

Eutrophication

Solid waste (total kg)

OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY

WATER


(Transportation)


(Transportation)


(Transportation)


(Transportation)

Use/Maintenance

(Transportation)


(Transportation)

Impact Assessment

• Ecosystem Health

• Human Health

• Resource Depletion

• Social Health

Initiation

• Purpose and Scope

• System Boundaries

• Data Categories

• Review Process

Improvement Assessment

Extend product life Red. energy consumpt.

Eval substitute matls Improve processes

Enhance use/maint. Imp. waste mgmt.


Impact Assessment

Examines costs associated with specific environmental burdens:

• Cleanup costs

• Health impacts

• Landscape impacts

• Environmental impacts

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OTHER RELEASES

PRODUCTS

COPRODUCTS

EMISSIONS

EFFLUENTS

SOLID WASTES

MATERIALS

ENERGY

WATER


(Transportation)


(Transportation)


(Transportation)


(Transportation)

Use/Maintenance

(Transportation)


(Transportation)

Impact Assessment

• Ecosystem Health

• Human Health

• Resource Depletion

• Social Health

Initiation

• Purpose and Scope

• System Boundaries

• Data Categories

• Review Process


Extend product life Red. energy consumpt.

Eval substitute matls Improve processes

Enhance use/maint. Imp. waste mgmt.



Extend product life

Reduce energy consumption

Evaluate substitute materials

Improve processes

Enhance use/maintenance

Improve waste management

Why Use of LCA is Essential to Creating Environmentally Better

Buildings.

Why Use of LCA is Essential to Creating Environmentally Better

Buildings.

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Designation of environmentally

preferable materials under the LEED

program

Point Distribution within Several LEED Programs

LEED-NC, 2009* LEED-H, Version 2.0**

Sustainable sites 26 pts, 1 pr 22 pts, 2 pr

Water efficiency 10 pts, 1 pr 15 pts

Energy and atmosphere 35 pts, 3 pr 38 pts, 2 pr

Materials and resources 14 pts, 2 pr 16 pts, 3 pr

Indoor environmental quality 15 pts, 2 pr 21 pts, 7 pr

Innovation and design process 6 pts 11 pts, 3 pr

Regional bonus credits 4 pts 10 pts

Homeowner awareness 3 pts, 1 pr

TOTAL 100 pts, 9 pr*** 136 pts, 18 pr

* Effective April 27, 2009

** Effective January 1, 2008

*** There are also 10 bonus points available (Innovation and design credits and Regional bonus credits)

Point Distribution within Several LEED Programs

LEED-NC, 2009 LEED-H, Version 2.0

Sustainable sites 14 pts, 1 pr 21 pts, 2 pr

Water efficiency 5 pts 15 pts

Energy and atmosphere 17 pts, 3 pr 38 pts, 1 pr

Materials and resources 13 pts, 1 pr 14 pts, 3 pr

Indoor air quality 15 pts, 2 pr 20 pts, 7 pr

Innov. and design process 5 pts 10 pts

Location and linkages 9 pts, 4 pr

Homeowner awareness 3 pts, 1 pr

TOTAL 69 pts, 7 pr 136 pts, 18 pr

Within LEED-H there is a category “environmentally preferable products” –

8 points

Within LEED-NC the credits available under Materials and Resources define what is viewed as environmentally preferable.

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LEED-NC LEED-H

Materials 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 3.1 and 3.2 – Reuse of materials 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 materials with recycled content

Credit 2.2Environmentally preferable products

Select 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 materials(extracted, processed, manufactured)

Credit 6 - Rapidly renewable materials(10-year or less harvesting cycle)

Credit 7 - FSC certified wood

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

LEED-NC LEED-H

Indoor 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.Opportunity to use LCA or go over and

above regular material credits.

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

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

for use of recycled materials.

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

for use of recycled materials.

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Interior Non-Load Bearing Wall, Wood vs. Steel

Comparative Energy Use (GJ)

Wood Steel* Difference

3.8 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 Difference

CO2 (kg) ,305 965 3.2X

CO (g) 2,450 11,800 4.8X

SOX (g) 400 3,700 9.3X

NOX (g) 1,150 1,800 1.6X

Particulates (g) 100 335 3.4X

VOCs (g) 390 1,800 4.6X

Methane (g) ,4 45 11.1X


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

Emission/Effluent Wood Wall Steel Wall Difference

Suspended solids (g) 12,180 495,640 41X

Non-ferrous metals (mg) 62 2,532 41X

Cyanide (mg) 99 4,051 41X

Phenols (mg) 17,715 725,994 41X

Ammonia (mg) 1,310 53,665 41X

Halogenated

organics (mg) 507 20,758 41X

Oil and grease (mg) 1,421 58,222 41X

Sulphides (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,

water.

• No capacity to consider these things.

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

• No consideration of total energy

consumed in raw materials production,

product manufacturing.

• 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).

LEED Credits – What is Missing?

How LCA Can Be Used in Building Design

How LCA Can Be Used in Building Design

Using LCA in Building Design

� Inform decisions based on LCA

� Pre-rate building assemblies based on LCA.

� Perform whole building LCA

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LCA Calculators and How They Work

LCA Calculators and How They Work





Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability

BEES 4.0

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The BEES Model

An 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 and

economic 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)

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

Product Scoring Under the BEES System

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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1. Select analysis parameters 2. Specify transportation distances

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

User Defined

EPA Scientific Advisory Board

Harvard University

Equal Weights

View Weights

Discount Rate Excluding Inflation (%)

4.2

OK Cancel Help

Transportation

Nylon Carpet Broadloom/Std. Glue

Transportation Distance from Manufacture to Use

161 km (100 mi)

805 km (500 mi)

1609 km (1000 mi)

Select BEES Reports

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Environmental Performance

Nylon Broadloom PET Broadloom/Low

Alternatives

pts

100

75

50

25

0

Score

Acidification

Eutrophication

Indoor Air

Global Warming

Natural Resources

Solid Waste

Nylon Broadloom vs PET Broadloom Carpet


Alternatives

Economic Performance

First Cost

Future Cost

Present Value Cost

PV ($/unit)

10.00

7.50

5.00

2.50

0.00

Nylon Broadloom vs. PET Broadloom Carpet

Overall Performance

Alternatives


Score

Economic Performance

Environmental Performance

pts

80

60

40

20

0

Nylon Broadloom vs. PET Broadloom Carpet

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Steel Framing vs Wood Framing

Steel Framing vs Wood Framing





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The Athena EcoCalculator for Assemblies

Athena EcoCalculator for Assemblies

www.athenasmi.ca/tools/ecoCalculator/ index.html

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.

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Geographic Zones Covered by the Athena EcoCalculator

� Atlanta, USA

� Calgary, Canada

� Halifax, Canada

� Minneapolis, USA

� Montreal, Canada

� Orlando, USA

� Ottawa, Canada

� Pittsburgh, USA

� Quebec City, Canada

� Toronto, Canada

� Vancouver, Canada

� Winnipeg, Canada

� Southern USA

� Northern 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

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

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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

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

and concrete topping

5 options

Cold 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

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Designing a simple structure using the Athena EcoCalculator

Two storey

200’ x 100’ x 20’ ht

20,000 ft.2 footprint

total ft.2 =40,000




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No need to design using a single material.



Comparing EcoCalculator results.

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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)

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)

WOOD vs STEEL



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)

WOOD vs STEEL

+43% +94%

+6% +17%

+505%



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)

CONCRETE vs STEEL

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

+255%te

CONCRETE vs STEEL

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)



te

CONCRETE vs W

OOD

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)



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

te

CONCRETE vs W

OOD

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Athena Impact Estimator

www.athenasmi.ca/tools/impactEstimator/ index.html

SummarySummary

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

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

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

Summary

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

Summary

Questions/ Comments?This concludes the:

American Institute of Architects

Continuing Education Systems Program

Applying LCA in Building Design – Easier Than You Think!

Jim Bowyer

Bowyer and Associates, Inc./Dovetail Partners, Inc.

www.dovetailinc.org

applying lca in building design –easier than you think! · applying lca in building design...

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