Construction Materials Assignment - Life-Cycle Assessment
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Added on 2020-03-16
Construction Materials Assignment - Life-Cycle Assessment
Added on 2020-03-16
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Construction materials 1. Life-cycle assessment, (LCA), also referred to as life-cycle analysis or even life-cycle eco-balance among other names is a method which is used to assess the environmental impacts which are related with the stages of product life (Finnveden et al., 2009). The assessment is able to involve the analysis of the different stages which a product is able to pass through until it reaches its final product. That means from the analysis of the product from the raw material stages during extraction then the processing, manufacturing, distribution, usage, repairing and maintenance stages then the disposal or recycling stages. This process is key to analyze the products and it helps the designers of the different products to critique and analyze their products properly. Most importantly, this process is able to avoid narrow outlook on environmental issues in relation to the products. Some of the key environmental issues which are analyzed in this process revolve around the compilation of inventories, which are related to energy and material inputs and their impacts to environment when released. Moreover, this process is related to evaluation of the potential effects which are related to the identified product inputs and the effects of their release to the environment. Lastly, this process is able to interpret the result from the data derived from the different products stages in relation to the environment (Finnveden et al., 2009). This stages helps to derive an informed decision in dealing with the effects of the product life-cycle to ensure it enhance the environmental protection.
The main aim of LCA is to enhance the comparison of full range environmental impacts assigned to products and services through quantification of all inputs and outputs of material flows. It then goes to an extend of assessing the effects of material flows to the environment (Singh & Bakshi, 2009). The acquired information helps to improve the product processes , enhance policy support and enhance decision making in environmental conservation. The process aims to provide fair and holistic assessment of the product cycle processes to enhance proper environmental conservation. There are two key types of LCA, which include attributionalLCA and consequential LCAs. Attributional LCAs looks to establish the burdens which are relatedwith productions and use of products or which are related to a services at any given moment. On the other hand, consequential LCAs looks to identify any environmental consequences resulting from a decision or change of system which is under observation. It extends to monitoring of market and economic implications which are achieved due to a decision which is taken. Lastly, another key LCA which is under development is the social (Steinbach and Wellmer, 2010). This looks to analyze the social effects and can be seen as a complimentary to the environmental LCA. 2. Give the definition of operational and embodied energy?Green energy has to key aspects which are related. These are the aspect of green energy at the manufacturing or production method or the green energy at the application point. These two aspects are able to differentiate operational and embodied energy. Embodied energy is related with the cumulative energy which is used in extraction of raw materials, their manufacturing and transportation of the product to the final application destination (Adams, Connor and Ochsendorf, 2010). In other words, this is the energy which is consumed by all processes during
the production stage. Nevertheless, the embodied energy does not include the operations and disposal energy produced during the product life-cycle. The operational energy is related to amount of energy a product is able to consume or use after it has been installed to the system or applied to it (Hamilton, 2011). Occupants and their usage of energy is able to contribute to the overall operational energy amount. 3. How do you conduct an impact assessment?Impact assessments are procedural and are able to follow a systematic procedure. This is because the processes on which the impact assessments are done a systematic in nature. The selection of impact categories is the first process which is carried out. The existence of the different impacts during the assessment is a key step which has to be identified earlier enough to ensure that the assessment has a specific goal to achieve. Category indicators and characterization models are developed at this stage to enhance the assessment criteria on the impact extend (Curran, 2011). Classification stage is the other stage which is followed when the impact assess men is being conducted. Inventory parameters are assigned different impact categories to enhance proper achievement of the results. Lastly, impact measurement is the last stage which is carried out during the conducting of the impact assessment. Specified methodologies are usually followed to ensure that impact measurement are well achieved. Recommendations on the impact assessment improvement is usually carried out at the end to ensure that the cons are mitigated to ensure that the enhancement of the different factors is achieved. The criteria of impact assessment ensures that different stages are able to monitor the different aspects of each process and come up with viable solution at the end of the assessment.
4. How do you conduct an LCA? There is a systematic way of conducting an LCA in order to achieve the set goals. As noted, an LCA can be conducted to Achieve different scopes and goals. This goals vary from different aspect such as the products being considered to the impacts and relation of processes and the environment (Cooper & Fava, 2006). Nevertheless, each LCA has a defined procedure which canbe followed in order to achieve the set goals. The process of conducting an LCA starts with definition of goals and scope of the assessment. Th definition of the goals and scope is a key strategy mechanism, which is key for any LCA. This process defines the need and what need to be achieved at the end of the assessment period. The perfect elements of each LCA are addressed at this stage, whereby the relevant question are asked and their solution be searched. The needs to of the LCA are addressed since the key questions will aim at achieving the key goals and scope of the assessment (Malmqvist et al., 2011). Additionally, this area will ensure that the required sustainability of the assessment approach is achieved. In the aim of answering the questions raised, the process will look to use economical means to enhance the adoption. Inventory analysis is another key step which is required during the conduction of the LCA. The elements assessment are placed on table and measured accordingly. Analysis of the depth of the product and the key measurement are done at this stage. This stage is able to enhance the understanding of the key elements of the product and the way to achieve the required goals. The inputs and output of the assessment are analyzed at this stage to enhance the achievementof the products assessment (Malmqvist et al., 2011). Data collection and verification in order to enhance adoption of the proper solution is carried through this stage. The inventory analysis is
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