This research created a residential life cycle assessment (LCA) framework by comparing
traditional wood home and a home built of a new building product called insulating concrete
forms (ICF). This framework was utilized in analyzing the green building product labeling
system and recommendations provided for improving the use of LCA in labeling of products.
The framework case study results were evaluated for their potential for energy savings in the US.
The national implications of using emerging and existing energy saving building products were
quantitatively examined.
This study quantitatively measured ICFs’ performance through a comparative LCA of
wall sections comprised of ICF and traditional wood-frame. The life cycle stages included raw
materials extraction and manufacturing, construction, use and end of life for a 2,450 square foot
house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Results showed that although building products such as ICFs are energy intensive to
produce and thus have higher environmental impacts in the raw materials extraction and
manufacturing phase, the use phase dominated in the life cycle. A residential LCA framework
was created as part of this study and was utilized in evaluating the green product labeling system
for building products.
This study compared generic and green-labeled carpets, paints and linoleum flooring
using the Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES) LCA database.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT MODELING FOR GREEN
BUILDINGS AND BUILDING PRODUCTS
Neethi Rajagopalan, PhD
University of Pittsburgh, 2011
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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.