LCA and the Building Envelope: Challenges and Opportunities

Hoff, Jim

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106719 Copy

Description

Title

LCA and the Building Envelope: Challenges and Opportunities

Author(s)

Hoff, Jim

Issue Date

2011-09-15

Keyword(s)

• life cycle assessment
• green buildings

Abstract

Environmental researchers agree that Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a promising method for assessing the overall environmental impact of the buildings in which we live, work and play. Although LCA is acknowledged to be an important tool in the reduction of environmental impact, public understanding of LCA is limited. And because LCA can be a complex and expensive process, many building-related industries have not yet fully implemented LCA programs to support their products. At the same time, emerging environmental standards and codes in the United States are placing increasing emphasis on LCA, which eventually will lead to increased demand for LCA-based information for building products and systems. This seminar provided an overview of the impact of LCA within a major building envelope market segment: nonresidential roofing. Responsible for the supply and installation of over 3 billion square feet of new roofs in the United States each year, the nonresidential roofing industry provides a unique platform for reducing environmental impact. In addition to the traditional role of keeping water out of buildings, modern roofing systems can increase building energy efficiency, serve as a platform for new sources of clean energy, reduce solid waste, renew our air and water, and extend the building life cycle. And because of this unique potential for environmental contribution, nonresidential roofing offers an unmatched opportunity to review the issues, challenges and opportunities of LCA. These key topics were discussed in the seminar: • The Elephant in the LCA Room: Durability and Asset Management • LCA Approaches: Product / System / Whole-Building Alternatives • Applying LCA: Importance of the Use Phase • Measuring LCA: Weighting & Rating Systems • Mandating LCA: Emerging Building Codes and Standards

Series/Report Name or Number

Sustainable Seminar Series

Type of Resource

• text
• still image

Language

en

Permalink

• https://youtu.be/8Y0fB4NY-ME
• http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106719

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