ABSTRACT
Only recently has the evaluation of the embodied carbon of building materials and construction processes been possible. Practical and timely embodied and operational carbon accounting is an evolving science, with life cycle thinking being the key to organizing the information and bringing clarity to decision making processes. This paper considers the state of environmental life cycle analysis (LCA) within the United States from a structural engineer’s perspective. It includes recent information from the concrete, steel, masonry, and timber industries; efforts to collect, disseminate, or manage life cycle data; and the results of three case studies on its use. The paper also proposes guidelines for considering environmental LCA data for triple-bottom-line decision making. Aligning with the principles behind a USA LCA Practice Guide for Low Carbon Construction that is under development, a multi-step process is suggested with LCA evaluations within the design, procurement, and as-built milestones of a project.
