Whole life cycle environmental impact assessment of buildings: Developing software tool and database support for the EU framework Level(s)
dc.contributor.author
De Wolf, Catherine
dc.contributor.author
Cordella, Mauro
dc.contributor.author
Dodd, Nicholas
dc.contributor.author
Byers, Brandon
dc.contributor.author
Donatello, Shane
dc.date.accessioned
2022-10-28T10:42:37Z
dc.date.available
2022-10-28T03:21:44Z
dc.date.available
2022-10-28T10:42:37Z
dc.date.issued
2023-01
dc.identifier.issn
0921-3449
dc.identifier.issn
1879-0658
dc.identifier.other
10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106642
en_US
dc.identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/578212
dc.identifier.doi
10.3929/ethz-b-000578212
dc.description.abstract
The European Commission has published a framework on the environmental sustainability of buildings, called Level(s), a set of indicators addressing the resource efficiency and environmental impact of buildings. This framework is now a key element of European initiatives to develop a circular economy and aims to address whole life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to drive a renovation wave for existing buildings. Analysis of the whole life cycle environmental impact of buildings, with an emphasis on GHG emissions, is also the focus of initiatives in several EU Member States. To support users, Level(s) was accompanied by a list of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software tools and databases for calculating such indicators. A need was identified for practical, user-orientated information about the scope, consistency, cost, and accessibility of LCA software tools and databases. Therefore, a list of LCA tools and databases used in Europe for the assessment of the whole life cycle environmental impacts of buildings was compiled in 2017–2020 and their characteristics analysed based on a set of criteria. This paper describes the policy context of Level(s) and discusses criteria that can be used for the characterisation of LCA software tools and databases from the list compiled for Level(s). The methods included a literature review, surveys/interviews, and the co-creation of criteria for the categorization of tools and databases. The results are criteria including construction-specificity, system boundaries & scope, indicators, modelling granularity, methodological adherence to Level(s) and EN standards, data quality, transparency and verification, accessibility, data exchange and interoperability, cost, training and support, as well as additional information. By providing greater visibility regarding the features of tools and databases, this paper contributes to the mainstream use of Level(s) and also to the implementation of key EU policy initiatives aimed at enhancing the environmental sustainability of the built environment, such as the EU Renovation Wave, the New European Bauhaus, and the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities.
en_US
dc.format
application/pdf
en_US
dc.language.iso
en
en_US
dc.publisher
Elsevier
en_US
dc.rights.uri
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject
Life cycle assessment
en_US
dc.subject
Whole life cycle environmental impact of buildings
en_US
dc.subject
EU
en_US
dc.subject
Level(s)
en_US
dc.subject
European green deal
en_US
dc.subject
LCA tools and databases
en_US
dc.title
Whole life cycle environmental impact assessment of buildings: Developing software tool and database support for the EU framework Level(s)
en_US
dc.type
Journal Article
dc.rights.license
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
dc.date.published
2022-10-12
ethz.journal.title
Resources, Conservation and Recycling
ethz.journal.volume
188
en_US
ethz.journal.abbreviated
Resour. Conserv. Recycl.
ethz.pages.start
106642
en_US
ethz.size
16 p.
en_US
ethz.version.deposit
publishedVersion
en_US
ethz.identifier.scopus
ethz.publication.place
Amsterdam
en_US
ethz.publication.status
published
en_US
ethz.leitzahl
ETH Zürich::00002 - ETH Zürich::00012 - Lehre und Forschung::00007 - Departemente::02115 - Dep. Bau, Umwelt und Geomatik / Dep. of Civil, Env. and Geomatic Eng.::02604 - Inst. für Bau- & Infrastrukturmanagement / Inst. Construction&Infrastructure Manag.::09750 - De Wolf, Catherine / De Wolf, Catherine
ethz.leitzahl.certified
ETH Zürich::00002 - ETH Zürich::00012 - Lehre und Forschung::00007 - Departemente::02115 - Dep. Bau, Umwelt und Geomatik / Dep. of Civil, Env. and Geomatic Eng.::02604 - Inst. für Bau- & Infrastrukturmanagement / Inst. Construction&Infrastructure Manag.::09750 - De Wolf, Catherine / De Wolf, Catherine
ethz.date.deposited
2022-10-28T03:21:46Z
ethz.source
SCOPUS
ethz.eth
yes
en_US
ethz.availability
Open access
en_US
ethz.rosetta.installDate
2022-10-28T10:42:39Z
ethz.rosetta.lastUpdated
2023-02-07T07:23:42Z
ethz.rosetta.versionExported
true
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