Life Cycle Analysis

A Life Cycle Analysis, or LCA, provides a detailed assessment of the environmental implications of the materials selected to construct a building. This graph represents the environmental impact of specific assemblies of a building in terms of smog, ozone depletion, eutrophication, respiratory effects, acidification and global warming potential as well as weighted resource use and fossil fuel consumption.

Whole Building LCA

Undertaking an LCA allows designers and building owners to truly understand how their building affects our environment. By pulling data from specialized BIM models, the results of a LCA can be used to select materials at a very detailed level or to evaluate the comparative environmental impact of specific assemblies.

As an example of a Life Cycle Analysis of specific building assemblies the design team of the Pine Falls Personal Care Home and Traditional Healing Centre asked which of three potential roof assemblies, a flat roof option or a shed had the lowest environmental impact a flat roof or a shed roof with organic based or fiberglass shingles.

Flat Roof

Shed Roof Organic Shingles

Shed Roof Fibreglass Shingles

The results of the analysis actually revealed that the roof option with the lowest environmental impact was the fibreglass shingle roof, it also happened to be the lowest cost option, reducing both the environmental impact of the project and its capital cost.

Life cycle analysis is also an effective tool in evaluating the potential environmental impacts of not only new materials but in estimating the type and volume of construction waste that will be generated by demolition so those waste materials can be most effectively managed, especially in more complex projects like the additional and renovation of this courthouse facility.

Through BIM based Life Cycle Analysis the elements of the existing courthouse that would remain intact were identified.

The interior elements of the existing building that would be demolished as part of the renovation were also identified and the quantity and type of waste was calculated to optimize construction waste management.

Then the building assemblies of the projects newly renovated interior and addition were evaluated to determine the overall lifecycle impact of the newly constructed elements of the project. As expressed in the graph pictured here.

Leveraging the power of Building Information Models created in house, we are able to perform Life Cycle Assessments quickly and efficiently in order to provide feedback to the design team so critical decisions can be made earlier.

The Benefits of Life Cycle Assessment

Performing LCA’s early in the design process allows for the selection of materials / products with the least environmental impact because the entire lifecycle (extraction, manufacturing, transportation, demolitions, ect.) is considered. Undertaking an LCA allows designers and building owners to truly understand how their building affects our environment.