Carbon Footprint Estimation for Academic Building in India
59
emissions which is then followed by discussion and calculations discussed in Sects. 5
and 6 respectively.
2 Life Cycle Assessment
LCA is a methodology that can be used to assess utilized materials, various energy
flows and environmental impacts associated with the products. It helps in quantitative assessment of all materials and processes in a systematic way. It is also effective
in study of various features and aspects of development of life of a product (ISO,
1997)[9]. Another important feature of LCA methodology is that it is a multidisciplinary approach in the way that natural environmental impacts and human relations
to these impacts can be modeled. LCA can also be classified into Process LCA,
Input–Output LCA and Hybrid LCA. The methodological framework of LCA has
four main parts. These are goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis, life
cycle impact assessment and life cycle interpretation [23, 27, 29]. In the first stage
of goal and scope definition, functional unit, application, system boundaries etc. are
chosen. Collection of data, building of system model is associated with life cycle
inventory analysis phase. The next phase, i.e., life cycle impact assessment involves
classification of different inventory parameters in accordance with the type of environmental impacts like GHG emissions, acidification, water footprints, etc. [17]. A
characterization factor is also introduced to express inventory results into potential
environmental indicators. The last phase is life cycle interpretation in which results
obtained from life cycle inventory analysis and life cycle impact assessment are interpreted and further used in recognition of important issues and assessment of results
[23, 28].
In order to study environmental performance of buildings, LCA is a quite effective
methodology and it helps in performing detailed analysis of various environmental
impacts associated with a building throughout its complete life cycle [10]. It is also
helpful in quantification and comparison of different buildings in context with their
environmental performance and energy use. It serves as an effective technique to find
and study various factors associated with a building’s life cycle where improvements
are required to reduce the environmental impacts. Now days, performing LCA using
software further makes the data collection process simpler and less time consuming,
which improves the quality of results. Software like SimaPro, GaBi, Open LCA,
Umberto etc. are quite popular to perform LCA on various products and process.
Carbon footprints can be effectively estimated using LCA method and this estimation
can be further improved and performed in shorter time using software. As already
discussed, LCA requires end to end analysis of a product, which is carried out by
considering all raw materials used and their transportation, operation and disposal.
Estimation of carbon footprints of a product or a service is an important outcome of
LCA, which gives a broad picture of GHG emissions associated with the product or
service.
59
emissions which is then followed by discussion and calculations discussed in Sects. 5
and 6 respectively.
2 Life Cycle Assessment
LCA is a methodology that can be used to assess utilized materials, various energy
flows and environmental impacts associated with the products. It helps in quantitative assessment of all materials and processes in a systematic way. It is also effective
in study of various features and aspects of development of life of a product (ISO,
1997)[9]. Another important feature of LCA methodology is that it is a multidisciplinary approach in the way that natural environmental impacts and human relations
to these impacts can be modeled. LCA can also be classified into Process LCA,
Input–Output LCA and Hybrid LCA. The methodological framework of LCA has
four main parts. These are goal and scope definition, life cycle inventory analysis, life
cycle impact assessment and life cycle interpretation [23, 27, 29]. In the first stage
of goal and scope definition, functional unit, application, system boundaries etc. are
chosen. Collection of data, building of system model is associated with life cycle
inventory analysis phase. The next phase, i.e., life cycle impact assessment involves
classification of different inventory parameters in accordance with the type of environmental impacts like GHG emissions, acidification, water footprints, etc. [17]. A
characterization factor is also introduced to express inventory results into potential
environmental indicators. The last phase is life cycle interpretation in which results
obtained from life cycle inventory analysis and life cycle impact assessment are interpreted and further used in recognition of important issues and assessment of results
[23, 28].
In order to study environmental performance of buildings, LCA is a quite effective
methodology and it helps in performing detailed analysis of various environmental
impacts associated with a building throughout its complete life cycle [10]. It is also
helpful in quantification and comparison of different buildings in context with their
environmental performance and energy use. It serves as an effective technique to find
and study various factors associated with a building’s life cycle where improvements
are required to reduce the environmental impacts. Now days, performing LCA using
software further makes the data collection process simpler and less time consuming,
which improves the quality of results. Software like SimaPro, GaBi, Open LCA,
Umberto etc. are quite popular to perform LCA on various products and process.
Carbon footprints can be effectively estimated using LCA method and this estimation
can be further improved and performed in shorter time using software. As already
discussed, LCA requires end to end analysis of a product, which is carried out by
considering all raw materials used and their transportation, operation and disposal.
Estimation of carbon footprints of a product or a service is an important outcome of
LCA, which gives a broad picture of GHG emissions associated with the product or
service.