EVALUATION METHODSEVALUATION METHODSProducts listed in this web page have been determined to be more resource efficient than conventional building materials.
The Adviser selects building materials and products that have at least one of the following characteristics:
- pollution to environment
- pollution and indoor air quality (IAQ)
Few outstanding materials have the potential to match closely every one of the criteria for resource efficiency.
Particular attention is give on the selection of reused and recycled building materials and components because these factors represent a powerful tools to minimize resources and energy consumption, a goal that is achievable using renewable or recyclable resources and maximizing resource reuse.
Life Cycle Analysis is an objective process that identifies the environmental burdens of specific products and processes from cradle to grave and quantifies all elements in the process. LCA quantifies the energy consumed, waste generated, and resources used, and evaluates the effects of these factors on the environment.
NOT JUST A QUANTITATIVE METHOD BUT ALSO QUALITATIVE, SPECIALLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHERE QUANTITATIVE DATA ARE AVAILABLE IN LIMITED AMOUNT.
LCA attempts to document the real costs of making materials from CRADLE TO GRAVE.
LCA quantifies the energy consumed, wastes generated, and resources used, and evaluates the effects of these on the environment based on data gathered over their whole life.
We must look at the embodied energy of building materials through their life-cycle-analysis. Compare the net and the cumulative effect of materials on our resources and energy consumption through acquisition, manufacturing, use and final disposal.
LCA is used as an evaluation method that permits the verification of data both from qualitative and quantitative point of view. However this study is focalized in evaluate products and materials more from the qualitative point of view because it is difficult to find and compare non homogeneous data.
The amount of energy required to produce and transport a quantity of material.
Energy used to win raw materials, convert them to construction materials, products, components; transport the raw materials,intermediate and final products; and build them into structures.
Optimizing building shape and materials performance permit to save materials.
Transportation has to be consider as one of the most important factors in determing the total embodied energy. Local availability of a product is a valuable factor of choice.
Reduction of embodied energy is possible if we design for longevity and paying attention to possible reduced energy substitutes for traditional solutions.Recycling of materials is a final and very important aspect.
We can not always consider low embodied energy as a determinant factor, other quality factors have to be considered.
Energy Efficiency: refers to energy saving in the product's manufacturing process, but also to the operational energy saved through the product's life time.
The Embodied Energy cannot give the whole picture of the environmental impact of a building material.
The environmental impact of energy use varies significantly with the type of fuel and how it is consumed. Knowing the quantity of energy used in producing a material is not sufficient, it is important to identify fuels used and their associates pollution profiles. Natural gas produces much less pollution per Btu than coal, for example, and solar energy doesn't produce any.
The resource extraction and manufacture of building materials has environmental impacts other than energy use.
How a material performs after installation in a building is important as well. Factors as longevity/durability, impact on operation energy consumption, maintenance requirements,and eventual disposal or reusability can either offset or reinforce conclusions (5)
created and maintained by Ilaria Mazzoleni: imazzoleni@hotmail.com
© Ilaria Mazzoleni, 1997