Evaluation of LCA tools for assessing the potential

Evaluation of LCA tools for assessing the potential environmental impact of renovation measures Karin Farsäter Department of Building and Environmental technology, Division of Building Services, Lund University Karin. farsater@hvac. lth. se

Background § Growing interest for environmental impact assessments § Fulfil the goal of reduction of carbon emissions § Potential of carbon emission reduction when renovating buildings? § Lowering the energy need § LCA standardised method § Several developed simplified LCA tools for the construction sector

Aim and goal This study aims to evaluate the challenges and limitations of performing an LCA with simplified LCA tools

Method § Comparing the different tools § § § § included data (accessible data) environmental categories Generic data (renovation measures) transparency of calculation and input data presentation of results uncertainty analysis of input data Adaptability § Using the tools for a case study § Installation of an mechanical (exhaust) and supply ventilation with heat recovery

Scope § Only environmental impact § Include § material production § energy use (user phase) § Only used generic data from the simplified tools

Case study § Included § Energy use § Added material § Supply duct system § Supply air handling device § An Air handling unit with heat recovery

Simplified LCA tools § Developed to help and support the implementation of LCA in the construction sector § Free to use § Beceren § Renovation § Formulate goals § Also includes cost § BM (Byggsektorns miljöberäkningsprogram) § Comparing different construction options § Product and construction phase § Reno. Build § Compare renovation measures § Also includes cost and social aspects

Complex LCA tool § Open. LCA § Links different databases § Method databases § Product databases § Economic and social aspects can be added § Monte Carlo simulations

Environmental impact GWP /(kg co 2 -equiv. /m 2) 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 BM 1. 0 Beceren Reno. Build Product (A 1 -A 3) User (B 6) diff before and after Open. LCA

Main differences Beceren BM Reno. Build - More adaptable than BM and Reno. Build - Generic data for specific renovation measures (limited) - Perform energy calculation in the tool - More generic data than Beceren - More generic data for the construction phase - Do not include the user phase - Limited in the included database - More generic data for - More adaptable the any different renovation of the others measures than Beceren - More environmental and BM categories - Generic data for specific renovation measures (limited) - Locked values - Specify a change from exhaust to exhaust and supply with heat recovery - Duct system - No energy use - Duct system Air handling unit Supply air devices Energy use Open. LCA - Duct system - Energy use

Karin Farsäter Karin. farsater@hvac. lth. se