Life Cycle Assessment applications in the building sector
Résumé
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool has been developed to evaluate environmental impacts of building projects, from construction until demolition. The operation phase is essential, particularly energy processes: therefore LCA is linked to thermal simulation. Several alternatives can be studied. The results, in the form of environmental indicators (e.g., energy and water consumption, contribution in global warming, waste production), have been compared to eight similar tools developed in Europe. Some applications are presented hereunder: the renovation of a social housing apartment block, and a study of the occupants' influence on the performance of a building.