Course Content
Team and Planning
A work plan is an outline of a set of goals and processes by which a team and/or person can accomplish those goals, and offering a better understanding of the scope of the project. Work plans help a team and/or person stay organized while working on projects. Through work plans, you break down a process into small, achievable tasks and identify the things you want to accomplish (source: https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Work-Plan)
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The importance of sustainability in construction
Why it is so important to understand what sustainability means? After reading this part you will know the meaning of sustainability and the impact to environment which constructions sector brings today
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Green Building
Green building, also known as sustainable building, refers to the design, construction, and operation of buildings that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout their entire lifecycle.
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Passive and Active Solar Design
In this part you will find out, that: 1. Passive solar design involves using the sun's energy to heat and cool living spaces without mechanical devices. This is achieved through the use of proper orientation, insulation, windows, and thermal mass. 2. Passive cooling reduces heat in a building through natural processes such as ventilation, shading, and radiant barriers. 3. Passive solar windows are designed to increase energy efficiency by minimizing heat loss and gain. 4. The roof of a passive solar building is crucial in maximizing solar gain and energy efficiency. 5. Photovoltaic devices convert solar radiation into electricity and are a popular form of renewable energy. Solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source that generates electricity from sunlight. 6. There are three types of solar power systems: on-grid, off-grid, and hybrid. Proper mounting systems for solar panels are necessary for correct installation and positioning in any solar energy system.
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Universal Design
Universal Design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation of specialized design.
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Conceptual Design
In the construction industry, concept design represents the design team's initial response to the client's requirements.
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Non-residential Building(s) and Area Development Project
About Lesson

What is a life cycle assessment (LCA)?

A life cycle assessment (LCA) is the detailed analysis of a product’s complete life cycle concerning sustainability. Each part of a product’s life cycle is cataloged from the extraction of raw materials to production; its inputs, transport, use, and what happens to a product after use.

What are the benefits of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

An LCA provides a detailed understanding of a product’s sustainability credentials enabling companies to see the individual impacts and deliver improvements and savings. It can help shape policy, make product claims, deliver cost savings, influence design, and shape strategy.

An LCA can identify product or manufacturing aspects such as

  • Carbon footprint
  • Greenhouse gas emission (GHG)
  • Energy and water consumption
  • Emissions to land or air
  • Solid waste
  • Raw material impacts
  • Chemistry usage (Eurofins, 2023)

Types of LCA

Many types of LCA exist. A rule of thumb is that the more detail you want, the more complete your LCA needs to be. A report for internal use (for example, a screening LCA) has fewer requirements than a report that will be used for marketing or other external communication (ISO-compliant LCA, more on this later). There are also many LCA-related assessments, such as:

The stages of LCA are typical:

  1. Goal and Scope Definition: Determining the purpose of the LCA, defining the boundaries of the product or system being evaluated, and identifying the life cycle stages to be included in the analysis.

  2. Life Cycle Inventory Analysis: Collecting and compiling data on the inputs and outputs of each stage of the product’s life cycle, including raw material extraction, production, use, and disposal.

  3. Impact Assessment: Evaluating the environmental impact of the product or system, including the impact on natural resources, global warming, acidification, eutrophication, and toxicity.

  4. Interpretation: Analyzing and interpreting the results of the impact assessment to identify the most significant environmental impact points and to determine areas for improvement.

  5. Reporting: Presenting the results of the LCA in a clear and transparent manner, including a summary of the environmental impact and areas for improvement.

These stages provide a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of a product or system throughout its entire life cycle and are an important tool for reducing the environmental impact of the built environment.

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