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Extending the current databases for the LCA of building materials: an EU-USA comparison.
Journal: SETAC Europe Annual Meeting 2008
Manuscript ID: LC04A-3
Day, Time Slot, and Room: WED PM, Kisielewski Hall
Date Submitted by theAuthor:
26-May-2008
Complete List of Authors: Traverso, Marzia
SETAC Europe 2008
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SETAC Europe 18th Annual Meeting,
25-29 May 2008, Warsaw, Poland
Extending the current databasesExtending the current databasesfor the LCA of building materials:for the LCA of building materials:
an EUan EU--US comparisonUS comparison
Traverso M., Rizzo G.Traverso M., Rizzo G.
Dipartimento di Ricerche Energetiche ed Ambientali (DREAM),Dipartimento di Ricerche Energetiche ed Ambientali (DREAM),University of PalermoUniversity of Palermo
vialevialedelledelle ScienzeScienze,,edificioedificio9, 90128 Palermo, Italy9, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Email contact:Email contact: [email protected]@dream.unipa.it;; [email protected]@gmail.com
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The building sectorThe building sector
The construction and operation of buildings consumes overThe construction and operation of buildings consumes overa third of the worlda third of the worlds energy consumption, and 40% of alls energy consumption, and 40% of allthe mined resources.the mined resources.
Buildings;
48%
Transportation;
27%
Industry;
25% EnergyConsumption
of United States
Industry;
29%
Transportation;
30%
Buildings;
41%
EnergyConsumption ofEuropean Union
So striving to make buildings more sustainable, while savingSo striving to make buildings more sustainable, while savingenergy, improving technological equipments, saving constructionenergy, improving technological equipments, saving constructionand operating costs and reducing the waste and environmentaland operating costs and reducing the waste and environmentalimpacts is not only possible and practical, it should be the goaimpacts is not only possible and practical, it should be the goal ofl ofthe building industry and of all national and local administratithe building industry and of all national and local administrations.ons.
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33SETAC Europe 18th Annual MeetingSETAC Europe 18th Annual Meeting-- LC04ALC04A--33
LCA and ISOLCA and ISO
The ISO 14040 series have beenThe ISO 14040 series have beenreleased to standardize the LCAreleased to standardize the LCA
procedure, but there are stillprocedure, but there are still
several differences in the obtainedseveral differences in the obtained
resultsresults, depending of the, depending of the
production cycle of products and onproduction cycle of products and on
the local conditions.the local conditions.
TheStandardization
of the procedure
But different localconditions mean
different results ofLCA
ISO 14041
ISO 14042
ISO 14043
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LCA and databasesLCA and databases During the last years several databases have beenDuring the last years several databases have beencarried out for collecting local data and for inferringcarried out for collecting local data and for inferringdataset for new application in the same geographicaldataset for new application in the same geographical
and technological conditions.and technological conditions.
Then every database supplier is trying to extend theThen every database supplier is trying to extend theown database to other geographical and technologicalown database to other geographical and technologicalconditionsconditions
Main databases and their supplier locations
Simapro
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Some databases in United StatesSome databases in United States
AthenaInstitute
AlluminiumAssociation
EIO-LCA.net
Building DesignAdvisor 1.0
GBtoolLCI database
LCA project
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CMLCA 4.2
DEAM Impact,DEAM
DIM 1.0
ecoinventData v1.2
EIME V2.4
Euroferdata sets
esu-servicesdatabase v1
Eurofer data sets
GaBi 4.2
SimaPro 7
Eco-Quantum
KCL-ECO 4.0
LCA Databasefor the Forest
Wood Sector
ProBas
SALCA 061
IVAM LCAData 4.04
sirAdos 1.2.
Societal Life CycleInventory, Version 0.1
The Boustead Model 5.0.12
WasteTechnologiesData Centre
Some databasesSome databases
in Europeanin EuropeanUnionUnion
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A comparison of some US databasesA comparison of some US databases
CORRIM/Athena Aluminium Steel North
America BRE
Canadian RawMaterials
Database
Data quality
Data specified as primary
or secondary, six DQ
parameters, compare to
published data
DQI values given with data in
appendices; group met an evaluated
each data point
DQI's described
DQ descriptors
described; preferred
sources of data
brief discussion;peer
Estimated/M
issing data
data estimates must be
practical and
approppriate;use process
analysis
average of reported data secondary or
surrogate commercial databases
calculated, based on
average of reported
Uncertainty/
sensivity no discussion ND
mean, max and
stand. Deviation
calculated;
selected
sensitivit anal.
gross calorific value of
economic fuels
extracted
ND
Energy of
Material
resources
energy values as if fuel
burned
higher heating value of extracted
resources ND
combustion values, but
for non-economic
energy sources such as
timber
for material considered
as energy sources
Boundaries excludes construction of
plants, vehicles
exclude capital assets, transportinfrastructure and human activities
associated with production; man.
Scrap and post consumer ready for
tranport at shipping location; fuel
emissions from North American
factors
capital infra.,
personnel imputs
and outputs
cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-grave, suggest 60
year life, energy to heat
and cool included,
burning waste materials
included, exclude capital
equipment
cradle-to-grave ot
gate; Canadian or
Canadian/U.S.
systems, average
production technology
used
Electricity
grids
regional or smaller
U.S. census regions, Canada
national grid, Weston hydropower,
smelter-based industry supplied
grid, North American used for off-shore
2 NERC regions
for U.S., and also
used for Canadina
operations
UK national grid, or
specific information if
available
Canadian national grid
Co-Product
Allocation use mass or volume energy or mass
mass or economic
value
physical properties
preferred, economic
allowed; two products
from a single stream
allocate burdens on
revenue
mass, or other
physical basis
Recycling
post consumer is free,
other are fully burdened,some latitude given for
gray areas
100% virgin and 100% recycledhandled separately, allocations
unknown
ready fortransport at
shippig location
closed loop: consumer
scrpa unburdened; opne
loop residual value offwaste used; preferred
no burdens to recycles
materials.
pre-consumer and
postconsumer modeledwith no burdens from
virgin systems
Data quality
Estimated/Missing
data
Uncertainty/sensivity
Energy of Material
resources
Boundaries
Electricity grids
Co-Product Allocation
Recycling
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The approach of European PlatformThe approach of European Platform The European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment that the
main purpose is to improve credibility, acceptance and practiceof Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in business and publicauthorities, by providing reference data and recommended
methods for LCA studies.
CMLCA 4.2
ecoinvent Data v1.2
EIME V2.4
Euroferdata sets
GaBi 4.2
SimaPro 7
ProBas
IVAM LCAData 4.04
sirAdos 1.2.
The BousteadModel 5.0.12
WasteTechnologiesData Centre
European Reference Life Cycle Data System(ELCD) with Inventory data and Impact
Assessment factorsLCA information hub to ease the access todata and methods and to facilitate knowledge
exchange.
DIM 1.0
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A weak pointA weak point
AnywayAnyway when youwhen youhave to apply thehave to apply theLCA procedure toLCA procedure toa country withouta country without
any database,any database,you still have toyou still have tocollect local data orcollect local data orto adjust one of theto adjust one of the
existed database toexisted database tothe local condition.the local condition.
It means spending money,time and human resource toresearch on it.
Moreover frequently the
administration (national orlocal) needs to have anidea of the energyconsumption andenvironmental impact of the
considered building processand material in a short time
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A newA newpointpointof viewof view
Severalexisteddatabase
UNTIL NOW
Startingfrom onebuildingproduct of
commoninterest
Every
existeddatabase
Has beenadjusted to
Thedifferent
localconditions
inferring a justifiablerange of values forthe meaningful LCAindexes (EmbodiedEnergy, GWP and soon) From the currentdatabases
Newapproach
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Selection of common building products
of US and EU interest
An accurate survey ofexisted databases
An accurate analysis ofAn accurate analysis of
existing databases, It isexisting databases, It is
important to single outimportant to single outthe dataset relative tothe dataset relative to
the favourite buildingthe favourite building
materials used inmaterials used in
western part of thewestern part of theworld.world.
Singling out aSingling out a
building product orbuilding product or
element of commonelement of common
interest in Unitedinterest in United
States andStates and
European UnionEuropean Union
Market needs
Meaningful productivityCharacteristics of materialMeaningful environmentalimpacts
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The different procedure of selectionThe different procedure of selection
Singling out aBuilding MaterialMarket
needs
Energyintensity
Airemissions
Solidwastes
Wateremissions
LCAre
sultsMaterialproperties
Significance ofproduction
Economicstatistic
s
A chosenbuilding material
Eco-
select
or
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A List of main building materials
This is the first listof buildingmaterials that weare going to take in
account forevaluating thebuilding sector andstarting the newresearch approach.
Building materialsAcrylic Linoleum
Aggregates Lumber product
Aluminium Marble
Carpet tiles Metal building products
Cellulosa insulation Natural stone
Cement Plasterboard
Ceramic Plywood
Clay Poplar
Concrete block Porcelain tilesConstruction aggregates Precast concrete
Face brick PVC pipes
Fiberglass Specialty wood products
Foam insulation Steel siding
Glass Vinyl windowGranite tile Wood veneer
Gypsum wallboard Wood Windows
Hardwood flooring products
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A comparison of the LCI and LCIAA comparison of the LCI and LCIA
valuesvalues After we have selected a common building product, it isAfter we have selected a common building product, it is
important to make a comparison among the different LCI andimportant to make a comparison among the different LCI andLCIA values of this chosen product from different currentLCIA values of this chosen product from different current
databases (databases (SimaproSimapro, Athena, GAbi4 and so on)., Athena, GAbi4 and so on).
A matrixapproach
GABi 4 SIMAPRO SIB LCA
tool Boustead BRE DIM 1.0 Athena
And so
onYears of dataGeographical
referenceBoundaries
Technologicalequipment
consideredEnergy mix
consideredData qualityValue of Embodied
Energy
Value of Global
Warming Potential
Value of
AcidificationValue of
Eutro hicationRecycling
And so on..
Age of dataGeographical
referenceBoundariesTechnological
equipment
Energy mixData qualityValue of Embodied
Ener
Value of Global
Warming Potential
Value ofAcidificationValue of
Eutro hicationRecyclingAnd so on..
gp
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A comparison of the LCI and LCIAA comparison of the LCI and LCIA
valuesvalues Where it is possible connecting and justifying theWhere it is possible connecting and justifying the
differences with reasonable motivations such as: differentdifferences with reasonable motivations such as: differenttechnological equipments, different phases of life cycle,technological equipments, different phases of life cycle,
different kinds of fuels and so on.different kinds of fuels and so on. Moreover trying to understand the most meaningfulMoreover trying to understand the most meaningful
environmental steps of production of the consideredenvironmental steps of production of the consideredmaterial, according to the European Ecolabel criteria, whenmaterial, according to the European Ecolabel criteria, whenthey are available.they are available.
At last you can have a range of values of the main indexesAt last you can have a range of values of the main indexesof LCA procedure for the chosen building product.of LCA procedure for the chosen building product.
Lowvalue
HighvalueBest
BAT Best Energy mix Others
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Then it is important to calibrate data and inferring one or
more parameters for applying existing dataset of resultsin different places.In particular these parameters should allow you to passfrom the American data to European and vice versa.So, when the local data is not available it would be
possible to estimate the embodied energy and theenvironmental impact of the considered product with areasonable approximation.
Moreover it is particularly meaningful for country and
region as Sicily, where there is not a local database, andcollecting these data means spending and using a bigamount of money and human resources.
The main affecting parameters in aThe main affecting parameters in aproduct built in two different sitesproduct built in two different sites
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ConclusionsConclusions
This work has tried to introduce a newThis work has tried to introduce a new
challenge and a procedure for facing up itchallenge and a procedure for facing up itand a tentativeand a tentative guidelinesguidelines for approachingfor approachingthe merging of different dataset, applying it tothe merging of different dataset, applying it todifferent productive and geographical situations.different productive and geographical situations.
It is possible to summarize the main stepsIt is possible to summarize the main stepsfor dealing with this purposefor dealing with this purpose
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Conclusions:Conclusions:
the main steps of new approachthe main steps of new approachAnalysis and selection of the existing databases inAnalysis and selection of the existing databases in EU and USEU and USwith building productswith building products
Selection of common building product of US and EU interestSelection of common building product of US and EU interest
also by using different procedures (Economic statistics, LCA andalso by using different procedures (Economic statistics, LCA andEcoEco--selector tool).selector tool).
Comparison of the current LCA database results of the chosenComparison of the current LCA database results of the chosenbuilding product by a matrix approachbuilding product by a matrix approach
Inferring a range of resultsInferring a range of resultsof embodied energy and otherof embodied energy and otherindexes of LCA of the chosen element by current databases.indexes of LCA of the chosen element by current databases.
Inferring the main affecting parameters for allowing to adjustInferring the main affecting parameters for allowing to adjustthe range of the results with reasonable approximation, in twothe range of the results with reasonable approximation, in two
different sites of US and EU.different sites of US and EU.
Finding suitable parameters for assessing theFinding suitable parameters for assessing the ecoprofileecoprofileofofproducts for countries where data are not available.products for countries where data are not available.
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ConclusionsConclusions
Of course this is a long research that could involve a largenumber of researchers for years in order of analyzing the most
utilized building products. Anyway it could lead to a dramatic
improvement of the life cycle thinking in the aim of improving
the LCA procedures starting from the reliability of the adopted
data set.
By the way this new approach want to be a useful tool for the
first approach of LCA in a new conditions and particularly forspreading the procedure to all local administrations and driving
them to build their datasets.
This new challenge can not be facedThis new challenge can not be faced
without the cooperation amongwithout the cooperation among
suppliers and scientific experts in LCAsuppliers and scientific experts in LCA
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Thank you for your kindThank you for your kind
attention!attention!
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