Learn how life cycle assessment (LCA) is used in LEED to comprehensively evaluate the economic performance of buildings and systems over their entire lifespan.
Table of Contents
Question
Which methodology is used to evaluate and study the economic performance of a building or system over its entire life?
A. Energy costing
B. Triple bottom line
C. Materials assessment
D. Life cycle assessment
Answer
D. Life cycle assessment
Explanation
The methodology that is used to evaluate and study the economic performance of a building or system over its entire life is life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA is a technique that assesses the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service throughout its life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal or recycling.
LCA can also include an economic dimension by incorporating life cycle costing (LCC), which estimates the total costs of ownership over the life cycle of a product or system. By combining LCA and LCC, one can evaluate the environmental and economic performance of a building or system in a holistic way, taking into account both the initial investment costs and the long-term operational costs. This can help identify trade-offs and synergies between environmental and economic objectives, as well as opportunities for improving efficiency and reducing impacts.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the methodology used to evaluate and study the economic performance of a building or system over its entire life, from raw material extraction through end-of-life disposal or recycling.
LCA provides a comprehensive framework for quantifying all the inputs, outputs, and environmental impacts of a product or process throughout its complete life cycle. In the context of green building, LCA is used to assess the full cradle-to-grave costs and benefits of a structure or building system, including:
- Initial costs (materials, transportation, construction/installation)
- Operating costs (energy, water, maintenance, repairs)
- Environmental and health impacts
- Disposal, reuse, or recycling at end of life
By considering the complete lifespan and total cost of ownership, LCA helps architects, engineers, and builders make informed decisions to optimize building designs, material selections, and system choices for long-term economic and environmental performance. LEED encourages the use of LCA and rewards projects that utilize LCA-based decision making.
The other answer choices are incorrect:
- Energy costing only looks at energy-related costs, not the full lifecycle
- Triple bottom line refers to considering social and environmental impacts alongside profits, but is not a specific methodology
- Materials assessment focuses solely on material impacts and doesn’t encompass the entire building lifespan
So in summary, life cycle assessment (LCA) is the methodology used in LEED and green building to holistically evaluate the total economic performance of buildings and their component systems from initial construction through end-of-life.
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