Concepts
LCADesign takes the hard work out of finding greener solutions. This software provides fast environmental assessment (ecoprofiles) of building by automating the vast arithmetic of life cycle assessment (LCA). Whilst importing the Building information model (BIM), LCADesign calculates the volume and surface area of every structural element in the building. The material and alternate material makeup of like groups of structural element are assigned directly to the BIM via a simple "tagging" process. The operational estimates are also entered. Then the environmental impact of every separate element is assessed and made available for analysis in any number of combinations.
LCADesign offers objective results for clients to assess and compare their building, fitout and product design, procurement, supply, tenders and bids. It provides dimensionally relevant measures for new and existing commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure development. Users can select one eco-indicator point-score or up to seventy other impact measures including details of climate change, human and ecosystem health, and resource depletion. LCADesign also assesses energy and water use impacts of building operations.
Life cycle Analysis
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is the analysis of the total environmental impact of a product, service or process. The analysis covers extraction of raw materials to production, transportation, use, recycling and final use or disposal. Because the life of a building is long and often indeterminate, and recycling techniques are rapidly evolving, LCADesign considers final use as the end of the life cycle. LCA involves the accumulation of a detailed inventory of energy and water consumption, liquid discharges, gaseous emissions, solid waste, etc., as well as the contribution to the greenhouse effect, acid rain, eutrophication and other phenomena at every separate stage of the process of evolution of materials.
Life cycle Inventory Database
The life cycle inventory database (LCI) includes details of resource consumption and environmental emissions generated during the manufacture of building materials, including embodied pollution and water as well as energy. The individual environmental indicators are nested under three major categories of impact: resource depletion, degradation of the physical environment, and harm to human population.
Cradle to Grave
Cradle-to-grave is the full Life Cycle Assessment from manufacture ('cradle') to use phase and disposal phase ('grave'). For example, trees produce paper, which can be recycled into low-energy production cellulose (fiberised paper) insulation, then used as an energy-saving device in the ceiling of a home for 40 years, saving 2,000 times the fossil-fuel energy used in its production. After 40 years the cellulose fibers are replaced and the old fibers are disposed of, possibly incinerated. All inputs and outputs are considered for all the phases of the life cycle.
Environmental Impact
The consequences of a product, process, approach etc. on the environment. The impact of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, for example, is global warming, while the impact of excess phosphorus in water is eutrophication.
Did you know that we also…
Write
Our consultants are leaders in the field of Life cycle Analysis, and have written numerous papers.
Train
We offer full onsite or online training in LCADesign and its usage of LCI, BIM and database management. This training normally takes a day.
Advise
We will give advice on any aspect of the environmental impact your projects life cycle.
Speak
We give presentations, seminars and lectures at domestic and international conferences.