B_2009_Editors_Letter

Lies, Damned Lies, and Life-Cycle Statistics

Nov. 20, 2009

At November’s Greenbuild show in Phoenix, I attended a session where researchers from the University of Tennessee discussed their life-cycle assessment (LCA) of different cladding materials.

The researchers used two different assessment tools: the Athena Institute’s EcoCalculator and the BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) 4.0 program, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The results? Wildly different – the programs varied by a factor of more than 70 percent in assigning final environmental impact scores to stone, aluminum, and glass façades.

LCA is a complex business. It attempts to benchmark a construction product through the circle of raw material acquisition, manufacture, transportation, installation, use, maintenance, disposal, and recycling. Some LCA tools also provide a rating for economic performance by considering the costs of initial investment, replacement, operation, maintenance, repair, and disposal. At every step of the way, bundles of assumptions are made that affect the outcome, which is a numerical rating.

Of course, the authority and persuasive power of numbers can fool us into thinking that they’re final and objective. Or, for the sake of convenience when making a difficult decision, we accept a number as the final say. As that flinty journalist H.L. Mencken said, “For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.”

LCA is in its early stages. As manufacturers increasingly use various methods for qualifying their green building products, a welter of conflicting numbers will be tossed around. In time, LCA tools will be refined to yield more congruent ratings. In the meantime, the situation may remind us of Mark Twain’s complaint: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.”

But taking the long view – which is what LCA is all about – is good for business in the long run.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Buildings, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Building Better Schools

Download this digital resource to better understand the challenges and opportunities in designing and operating educational facilities for safety, sustainability, and performance...

Tips to Keep Facility Management on Track

How do you plan to fill the knowledge gap as seasoned facility managers retire or leave for new opportunities? Learn about the latest strategies including FM tech innovations ...

The Beauty & Benefits of Biophilic Design in the Built Environment

Biophilic design is a hot trend in design, but what is it and how can building professionals incorporate these strategies for the benefits of occupants? This eHandbook offers ...

The Benefits of Migrating from Analog to DMR Two-Way Radios

Are you still using analog two-way radios? Download this white paper and discover the simple and cost-effective migration path to digital DMR radios that deliver improved audio...