INNOVATION July-August 2013

Construction Process Stage

Benefits & Loads Beyond System Boundary

Production Stage

Use Stage

End of Life Stage

Recovery, Reuse, Recycling potential

De-construction demolition

Raw material supply

Transport

Use

Construction/Installation process

Transport

Operational Energy Use

Transport

Manufacturing

Operational Water Use

Waste processing

Maintenance

Disposal

Repair

Replacement

Figure 2. Modular view of building LCA system boundary according to EN 15978.

Refurbishment

System Boundary

comprehensive North American guidelines to ensure consistent and comparable application of LCA to whole buildings. Until these are developed, the building industry will need to rely on the professional knowledge of those carrying out LCA services and those guidelines provided by green building rating systems rewarding its use. In the meantime, it is critical for professionals seeking to carry out LCA services, particularly those involved in building design, to inform themselves

costs associated with a design. Furthermore, LCA also enables the use of benchmarks and comparison of design options to inform impact reduction strategies as needed. Green building rating systems are promoting the use of LCA to inform building design. For instance, the US Green Building Council is scheduled to release version 4 of the LEED green building rating system in 2013 which proposes to integrate LCA into its evaluation of material and resource use. Whole building LCA and the use of products bearing LCA labeling will replace previous prescriptive requirements for materials such as sourcing local, recycled, and renewable materials. These are the first steps in LEED’s commitment to integrate LCA into the rating system. Other green building systems such as the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), ASHRAE 189.1, and CalGreen have also integrated the use of LCA in their approach to reducing material impacts. The emerging professional opportunities to use LCA in the construction industry are compelling, as LCA is a method that can be applied to address all aspects of a building life cycle much in the same way costing is currently applied to manage costs. Despite the increasing professional recognition for the use of LCA, there is currently a lack of Importance of Life Cycle Assessment Education

about LCA, as its widespread emergence into practice will create new opportunities to better coordinate and invest in impact reduction strategies. Rob Sianchuk, M.Sc., is a life cycle assessment practitioner with experience teaching, advising and practicing LCA in industry and academia. He is Director of Business Development for Coldstream Consulting and a sessional lecturer at the University of British Columbia.

Bull Housser’s lawyers have been trusted to handle some of the largest developments and transactions in British Columbia’s history. Today we have more than 30 areas of expertise, including core BC industries and specialty areas, and remain focused on reaching effective resolutions for our clients. We apply creative approaches to deliver solutions that are practical and cost-efficient. We’ve been around for over a century, but we’re just getting started...

2 9

J u ly/Au g u s t 2 013

i n n o v a t i o n