The results from these comparisons were not intuitive and were contradictory in several
impact categories with respect to the greenness of the product. Life cycle thinking, in theory, has
the potential to improve the environmental impacts of labeling systems but databases currently
are lacking in detailed information about products or sometimes provide conflicting information.
The residential LCA case study showed the energy saving potential of an ICF home. The
energy savings achieved when building products such as ICFs, windows and doors were used in
projected new residential constructions was evaluated. A combination of strategies involving the
use of ICFs, windows and doors were studied and the results compared with targets set by the
McKinsey and Company and Architecture 2030.
When ICFs, windows and doors were used as energy saving building products, the results
showed that they might not be saving as much energy as expected and implementing each energy
saving strategy on its own was not a solution to achieve the energy goals of the McKinsey report
and Architecture 2030. A combination of strategies was the key to reaching end points set by the
standards.