hidden costs: product selection with life cycle assessment in mind

HIDDEN COSTS:Product Selection with Life Cycle Assessment in Mind

June 15, 2011

3

Allison Beer McKenzie, AIA, LEED APAssociateArchitectDirector of Sustainability

Carrie Malatesta, IIDA, LEED APAssociate

Senior Interior Designer

Introductions

4

Learning Objectives

• Distinguish between LCA and LCCA

• Appraise the tools and techniques available for LCA/LCCA

• Explore product certifications that use LCA/LCCA

• Assess current examples of LCA/LCCA in the interior design industry

• Apply LCA/LCCA to our own product selection processes

1.0LCCA and LCA Defined

5

6

Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA):

An assessment of the total cost of owning a product over its lifetime.

1.0

7

LCCA Cycle

PurchaseInstallation

1.0

8

LCCA Cycle1.0

PurchaseInstallation

OperationsMaintenance

Repair

9

LCCA Cycle1.0

PurchaseInstallation

OperationsMaintenance

Repair

Disposal

10

Life Cycle Assessment or Analysis (LCA):

An assessment of the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life and death (or rebirth)

1.0

11

LCA Cycle1.0

ExtractionHarvest

12

LCA Cycle1.0

ExtractionHarvest

ManufacturingTransportation

Installation

13

LCA Cycle1.0

ExtractionHarvest

ManufacturingTransportation

Installation

OperationsMaintenance

14

LCA Cycle1.0

ExtractionHarvest

ManufacturingTransportation

Installation

OperationsMaintenance

DisposalReuse

Recycling

15

LCA Considerations:

• Fossil Fuel Depletion

• Toxin Release

• Non-Renewable Resources

• Ozone Depletion/Creation

• Water Use

• Nutrification/Eutrofication

• Acidification

• Embodied Energy

1.0

16

LCA Cycle1.0

Cradle to DeathOr

Cradle to Cradle

Cradle to Gate

2.0LCA Tools and Techniques

17

182.0

ISO 14040 Series Standards:

• Set standards and criteria for creating reliable Life Cycle Assessments

• Aim to establish usable metrics

192.0

ISO 14020 Series Standards:

• Many environmental product certifications use the guidelines established in the ISO 14020 series

• These standards set the criteria for environmental labels and declarations

202.0

ISO 14020 Series Standards:

Type 1: multi-attribute label developed by a third party

212.0

ISO 14020 Series Standards:

Type 1: multi-attribute label developed by a third party

Type 2: single-attribute label developed by the producer

222.0

ISO 14020 Series Standards:

Type 1: multi-attribute label developed by a third party

Type 2: single-attribute label developed by the producer

Type 3: eco-label based on a full lifecycle assessment

232.0

ISO 14020 Series Standards:

Type 3 Labels:

• Contain quantified data on the life cycle of the product

• Enable comparisons between similar products

• Are developed using predetermined parameters

• Are subject to the administration of the program administrator

24

BEES(Building for Environmental and Economic Stability)

2.0

• Uses the LCA approach specified in ISO 14040 to address environmental performance which addresses all stages of product life

ws680.nist.gov/Bees/

25

BEES(Building for Environmental and Economic Stability)

2.0

• Uses the LCA approach specified in ISO 14040 to address environmental performance which addresses all stages of product life

• Allows you to select numerous products from within a category to compare.

ws680.nist.gov/Bees/

26

BEES(Building for Environmental and Economic Stability)

2.0

• Uses the LCA approach specified in ISO 14040 to address environmental performance which addresses all stages of product life

• Allows you to select numerous products from within a category to compare.

• Allows you to assign different weights to the environmental factors that are being analyzed.

ws680.nist.gov/Bees/

AcidificationCriteria Air Pollutants

EcotoxicityEutrophication

Fossil Fuel DepletionGlobal Warming

Habitat AlterationHuman Toxicity- Cancer

Human Toxicity-Noncancer

Indoor Air QualityOzone Depletion

SmogWater Intake

27

BEES(Building for Environmental and Economic Stability)

2.0

ws680.nist.gov/Bees/

28

BEES(Building for Environmental and Economic Stability)

2.0

• Each of the 14 factors can be examined individually to see the impact of each life phase

ws680.nist.gov/Bees/

29

BEES(Building for Environmental and Economic Stability)

2.0

• Uses the ASTM standard LCCA method to assess economic performance which covers initial cost, replacement, operation, maintenance and repair, and disposal.

ws680.nist.gov/Bees/

30

BRE Green Guide to Specification2.0

• Uses the LCA approach specified in ISO 14040 to address environmental performance.

www.bre.co.uk/greenguide/

31

BRE Green Guide to Specification2.0

• Uses the LCA approach specified in ISO 14040 to address environmental performance.

• Product ratings are available based on building type such as commercial, educational or domestic and then by component or category, such as floor finishes.

www.bre.co.uk/greenguide/

32

BRE Green Guide to Specification2.0

• Uses the LCA approach specified in ISO 14040 to address environmental performance.

• Product ratings are available based on building type such as commercial, educational or domestic and then by component or category, such as floor finishes.

• The guide grades each of the products in a category relative to each other. The ranking scales may vary by building type and category.

www.bre.co.uk/greenguide/

33

BRE Green Guide to Specification2.0

Climate ChangeWater Extraction

Mineral ExtractionOzone DepletionHuman Toxicity

Ecotoxity to FreshwaterNuclear Waste

Ecotoxicity to LandWaste Disposal

Fossil Fuel DepletionEutrophicationOzone Creation

AcidificationKG of CO2 eq. www.bre.co.uk/greenguide/

34

LCA Calculator2.0

• Evaluates specific products

www.lcacalculator.com/

35

LCA Calculator2.0

• Evaluates specific products

• Relies on detailed information about the product’s production, transportation, maintenance and disposal

www.lcacalculator.com/

36

LCA Calculator2.0

• Evaluates specific products

• Relies on detailed information about the product’s production, transportation, maintenance and disposal

• May be most appropriate for manufacturers

www.lcacalculator.com/

37

Pharos Project2.0

• Subscription Service

www.pharosproject.net

38

Pharos Project2.0

• Subscription Service

• Rates specific products in 5 categories: VOC, User Toxics, Manufacturer Toxics, Renewable Materials, Renewable Energy

www.pharosproject.net

39

Pharos Project2.0

• Subscription Service

• Rates specific products in 5 categories: VOC, User Toxics, Manufacturer Toxics, Renewable Materials, Renewable Energy

• Dependent on public information and manufacturer cooperation

www.pharosproject.net

3.0LCA Certifications

40

413.0

ISO 14020 Series Standards:

Type 1: multi-attribute label developed by a third party

Type 2: single-attribute label developed by the producer

Type 3: eco-label based on a full lifecycle assessment

423.0

ISO 14020 Series Standards:

Type 1 Labels:

• Must look at multiple criteria such as recycled content, toxins and renewable energy

• Enable comparisons between products in the same category

• Includes some aspects of LCA but requirements are not nearly as stringent as those for Type 3

43

Environmental Choice EcoLogo3.0

• ISO 14020 Type 1 label

www.ecologo.org

44

Environmental Choice EcoLogo3.0

• ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Addresses multiple environmental impacts through the life of the product www.ecologo.org

45

Environmental Choice EcoLogo3.0

• ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Addresses multiple environmental impacts through the life of the product

• Different standards are available for different product types

www.ecologo.org

46

Environmental Choice EcoLogo3.0

• ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Addresses multiple environmental impacts through the life of the product

• Different standards are available for different product types

• Available for a wide variety of product types

www.ecologo.org

47

EU Flower Label3.0

• ISO 14020 Type 1 label

www.eco-label.com

48

EU Flower Label3.0

• ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Criteria exist for energy consumption, toxicity, recyclability and waste prevention.

www.eco-label.com

49

EU Flower Label3.0

• ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Criteria exist for energy consumption, toxicity, recyclability and waste prevention.

• All aspects of the product’s creation and use including extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal are examined.

www.eco-label.com

50

EU Flower Label3.0

• ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Criteria exist for energy consumption, toxicity, recyclability and waste prevention.

• All aspects of the product’s creation and use including extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal are examined.

• Available for all product types except food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and medical devices

www.eco-label.com

51

EU Flower Label3.0

• ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Criteria exist for energy consumption, toxicity, recyclability and waste prevention.

• All aspects of the product’s creation and use including extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal are examined.

• Available for all product types except food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and medical devices

• The official environmental product label for the European Union

www.eco-label.com

52

Cradle to Cradle Certification3.0

• Not officially an ISO 14020 Type 1 label

mbdc.com

53

Cradle to Cradle Certification3.0

• Not officially an ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Criteria exist for material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship and social responsibility.

mbdc.com

54

Cradle to Cradle Certification3.0

• Not officially an ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Criteria exist for material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship and social responsibility.

• All aspects of the product’s creation and use including extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal are examined.

mbdc.com

55

Cradle to Cradle Certification3.0

• Not officially an ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Criteria exist for material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship and social responsibility.

• All aspects of the product’s creation and use including extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal are examined.

• Available for all product types

mbdc.com

56

Cradle to Cradle Certification3.0

• Not officially an ISO 14020 Type 1 label

• Criteria exist for material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship and social responsibility.

• All aspects of the product’s creation and use including extraction, manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal are examined.

• Available for all product types

• Has four levels of certification: basic, silver, gold and platinum

mbdc.com

4.0Industry Examples

57

58

Industry Certifications4.0

59

Industry Certifications4.0

60

Industry Certifications4.0

61

Industry Certifications4.0

62

Industry Certifications4.0

63

Industry Certifications4.0

64

Industry Certifications4.0

65

Industry Certifications4.0

66

Industry Certifications4.0

67

Interface4.0

• Metrics have been developed for:

• Energy• Climate• Waste• Facilities• Transportation

• Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) focus on LCA

www.interfaceglobal.com/Sustainability/Interface-Story.aspx

68

Antron Carpet Fiber4.0

• Total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis addresses one aspect of LCCA

• Investigates the impact of carpet fibers that require less maintenance over the product life span

antron.net/content/toolbox/ant05_01.shtml

69

Antron Carpet Fiber4.0

• Life cycle impact (LCI) calculator identifies potential energy and emission reductions

• Investigates the impact of carpet fibers that reduce material use and disposal by having a longer serviceable life

antron.net/content/toolbox/ant05_06.shtml

70

DIRTT ICEberg4.0

• The ICEberg program helps compare long term costs of conventional and modular construction through LCA techniques

• The software takes into account environmental considerations of both systems such as CO2emissions for transportation and likely waste generation

dirtt.net/public/sustainability/proof.php

71

DIRTT ICEberg4.0

• The program even accounts for occupant health and comfort levels during the use phase with analysis of VOCs and Acoustics

dirtt.net/public/sustainability/proof.php

5.0Applying LCA/LCCA

72

73

Applying LCA/LCAA

STEP 1: Ensure that you understand the elements of LCA/LCCA

74

Applying LCA/LCAA

STEP 1: Ensure that you understand the elements of LCA/LCCA

STEP 2: Use LCA tools like BEES or the BRE Green Guide to keep LCA considerations in mind when comparing product type options such as resilient flooring vs. carpet vs. ceramic tile

75

Applying LCA/LCAA

STEP 1: Ensure that you understand the elements of LCA/LCCA

STEP 2: Use LCA tools like BEES or the BRE Green Guide to keep LCA considerations in mind when comparing product type options such as resilient flooring vs. carpet vs. ceramic tile

STEP 3: Look to product certifications and manufacturer tools to help you choose between products of the same type

76

Tips

• Pick you battles- whole building LCA is still evolving

77

Tips

• Pick you battles- whole building LCA is still evolving

• Is LCCA enough? Understand when delving deeper into LCA is crucial

78

Tips

• Pick you battles- whole building LCA is still evolving

• Is LCCA enough? Understand when delving deeper into LCA is crucial

• Compare data from multiple sources if possible

79

Tips

• Pick you battles- whole building LCA is still evolving

• Is LCCA enough? Understand when delving deeper into LCA is crucial

• Compare data from multiple sources if possible

• Manufacturer tools can be very helpful but keep an eye out for greenwashing

Thank You!Allison Beer McKenzie

amckenzie@shp.comwww.buildingmygreenlife.com

Carrie Malatestacmalatesta@shp.com

8

www.shp.com