tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475071731702380318.post3674980016400708175..comments2024-02-17T00:50:47.929-08:00Comments on SEI Sustainability Committee: Q5: LCA Tools and Data CollectionSEI SC Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13949413310949486564noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475071731702380318.post-1533687251733497102015-01-05T07:12:52.861-08:002015-01-05T07:12:52.861-08:00The key is to use best available life cycle invent...The key is to use best available life cycle inventory (LCI) data. Data can come from product manufacturers directly, industry groups, researchers, consultants, etc. However, most importantly, the data should be third party reviewed in accordance with the ISO standards for LCA (ISO 14044) and ISO compliant Environmental Product Declaration, or EPDs (ISO 14025). In both these cases, the data published in these reports have been developed by qualified LCA professionals and peer reviewed by qualified experts to confirm that the best available data was used to conduct the LCA in accordance with the Product Category Rules (PCR). <br /><br />For example, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) recently published (October 2014) an Industry-Wide EPD for Ready Mixed Concrete. Data from concrete plant operations was collected from over 70 companies representing nearly 2400 concrete plants. This data is very good quality since it is primary data. LCI data for concrete ingredients however varies from good to very good depending on the technology represented, age (time), geography, completeness of the data and so on. For example, data for concrete admixtures is deemed to be "very good" by the LCA experts (both the consultant who conducted the LCA and the third party reviewer or verifier) even though the data comes from European sources. I suspect as time goes on, data will become available from North American admixture plants thus making the data even better. But for the time being, the key is to focus on "best available" data. If we wait for primary data from all sources, it’s likely we would never be able to conduct LCAs at all. <br /><br />You can download the NRMCA Industry-Wide EPD at www.nrmca.org/sustainability/EPDProgram which discusses the quality of data sources. You will also find several companies who have published product specific EPDs using similar LCI data and presentation format to discuss data quality.<br /><br />Lionel Lemay<br />LLemay@nrmca.org<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475071731702380318.post-84519221812705607002014-12-04T12:31:48.683-08:002014-12-04T12:31:48.683-08:00In keeping with John's comment above, using in...In keeping with John's comment above, using international data as a substitute for domestic data could be useful, although differences in important factors must be considered (renewable energy used abroad vs fossil fuel energy used domestically comes to mind). It may also be useful to discuss the differing requirements in LCA in various green building standards (IgCC, LEED, CalGreen, etc) and develop a table illustrating the different requirements in scale, scope, or any other relevant factor. Additionally, a table or other comparison of the various LCA programs out there (specifically those that are ISO 14044 compliant - but any others as well?) and their methods, LCI data sources, and other pertinent information could be included in future versions. <br /><br />Lori KochLorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16634898788404575994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2475071731702380318.post-87957190824566808452014-11-04T01:09:37.412-08:002014-11-04T01:09:37.412-08:00Would it also be alright to use LCI data from diff...Would it also be alright to use LCI data from different countries (e.g., European countries with extensive publically available LCI data)? This seems like it would offer a better LCA than omitting information based on a lack of data. <br /><br />John AndersonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com