After gathering feedback from project teams, this credit includes the next iteration of Pilot Credit 1: Life Cycle Analysis of Building Assemblies and Materials. The intention of this pilot is to tie LCA evaluation to design decisions, and test the availability of LCIA data from product manufacturers. Structural and envelope material selections are often the first decisions made on a project, LCA is a tool best used to analyze the impact of structural and envelope materials before the project’s design is finalized.
The reason for limiting the scope of the Life Cycle Assessment to structure and enclosure materials is due to current life cycle inventory databases populations being concentrated in these materials areas. Further, isolating structural materials targets environmental per-formance of these materials with inherently different nature in buildings.
This updated pilot credit is the next step in the evolution of LEED actively engaging life cycle assessment in material decision making for buildings and thus an initial step in quantifying environmental benefit for materials decisions.
Credit Submittals
General
- Register for Pilot Credit(s) LEEDuser.com, and participate in online forum
- Submit the feedback survey using the link on the USGBC.org credit page; supply PDF of your survey/confirmation of completion with credit documentation
Credit Specific
The ides of this credit is to explore the holistic environmental impacts of material selec-tion for structure and assembly. At a minimum submit summary life cycle inventory and assessment results for the materials and assemblies explored. As well as a comprehensive narrative outlining why the assemblies chosen were compared, any conclusions learned as part of the process, and any decisions made as a result of the study. If the project does not have an energy model ensure the same operational energy use is used in all assessments. The software tools approved for use in this pilot credit are the Athena Impact Estimator, GaBi, and SimaPro. If other tools are used please provide evidence that the tool meets the ISO requirements.
Additional Questions
- What LCA database was used to conduct analysis? Why did you choose it? What did you think of the tool’s usability and technical rigor?
- Was obtaining product or brand specific LCIA data from manufactures difficult (or even possible)? Where there any other major hindrances to earning this credit?
- Do you think it is appropriate for this to be a design phase credit? Why or why not?
- Was the safety of alternative materials chosen a concern? Why or why not?